By COLlive reporter
Photos: Shmuel Amit/COLlive
An evening of strength and inspiration took place in Crown Heights Sunday to mark the first yartzeit of Rabbi Aharon Yaacov Schwei OBM, Rov of Crown Heights who passed away last year.
Speakers at the event held at Oholei Torah Ballroom included Bais Din Rabbi Yosef Braun, Rabbi Sholom Moshe Paltiel of Chabad of Port Washington, Rabbi Aaron Dovid Gancz of Tomchei Temimim Morristown, and Rabbi Aaron Ginsberg, Shliach in Boro Park.
Speakers noted Rabbi Schwei’s dedication to helping many in the community, his life as a devoted Rov, and his living with the imminence of the Geulah.
At the conclusion of the event, an announcement was made of the establishment of a new institution in honor of Rabbi Schwei to benefit the community.
The new organization, named “Oisher,” is the acronym of “Ahava V’achva V’sholom V’reus,” Rabbi Schwei’s son-in-law Rabbi Aaron Ginsberg explained. It will be founded “with the mission of providing and collecting the Rebbe’s directives on how to approach shidduchim, engagement, and the foundations of building a home al taharas hakodesh,” he said. The focus will be on educating the bochurim and girls as they begin the Shidduchim process, and will carry into the establishment of their new homes.
The new organization was developed after many months of consultation with Rabbonim and Mashpiim all over the world, especially those involved in the institution of Shidduchim and building a Torah home at every stage of the experience, Rabbi Ginsberg related.
Rabbi Schwei was for many years invested in enhancing the peace for many couples in Crown Heights, and was involved in helping people who were going through shidduchim and shalom bayis challenges that many are experiencing.
“It weighed very heavily on Rabbi Schwei that there was a decline in the Chasidic approach to shidduchim and marriage, and how it sadly affected many homes which were challenged in the area of shalom bayis,” Rabbi Ginsberg said. “Certainly an area that deserves and warrants an infusion bringing the true bracha of life into every home, the true Ahava, Achvah and Shalom which it brings to a home that has the shechina there, which brings the greatest brachos.”
His family has therefore undertaken to establish a new institution in his memory, “with the advice and strong encouragement of Rabbonim, that it is time to make a real change in the approach in shidduchim and marriage, and all the aspects of it.”
“A whole team is involved in compiling and collecting in print the Rebbe’s directions on this topic, and they will also arrange shiurim and classes on the topic,” Rabbi Ginsberg said. “It’s time to bring on the light that will respond to this great need.”
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Can be connected with an older couple for guidance,
A very positive initiative