The phones at Lubavitch Youth Organization in Crown Heights were ringing constantly on Chol Hamoed Sukkos.
Rabbis and community leaders of New York City’s five boroughs were calling in with the same request, “please don’t forget us.”
They asked for a delegation of Lubavitcher Chassidim to visit their Shuls on Simchas Torah, a custom the Rebbe initiated to add simcha.
Coordinating the project were Rabbi Yossi Butman with the help of Rabbi Yosef Goldwasser and Shlomo Zalmanov. It was coordinated with the NYPD (as per an instruction from the Rebbe).
And out they went. Close to 2500 Chassidim and bochurim marched to some 350 synagogues and Shtibles to help dance and bring joy to thousands of Jews on Friday.
Chabadniks marched to Queens (3 hours each way), Howard Beach, (3 hours) Flatbush, Long Island City (3 hours), Sea Gate (close to 3 hours) Lower and Upper Manhattan (2.5 hours) Starret City, Bensonhurst, Canarsie, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay and Bay Ridge.
In many communities they were asked to speak about the significance of the day. Many Rabbis exclaimed that “without Lubavitch the Yom Tov would not be the same.”
One of the groups were dispatched to the Maimonides Medical Center in Borough Park, where for over 3 hours the jolly Lubavitchers visited each floor and spoke to the hospitalized men and women and their families.
Coming back through Williamsburg, some of the marchers were were greeted with a hearty “Git Yom Tev.” Many said that they see that “Lubavitch is alive.”
“You can witness here the dedication of Lubavitch Chassidim to inconvenience themselves to a great extent only to fulfill the wish of the Rebbe,” said Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Executive Director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization.
“Lubavitch is not only alive, Lubavitch prospers and expands as the Tahaluchos (marches) become bigger and bigger each year.”
i went by myself to talucha and we dont know how people get excited and happy you neveer know
i met like ten staff members from camp
i was so happy to see them
tahalucha is rebbe’s march and all those that participate are soldiers, BUT – there should be some self-reflection and thought about where one goes and what one does when they do go. the point of this ‘exercise” is to spread / share yom tov joy – either by divrei torah or dancing/song/happiness. so – if you notice that more than 20 people are going to a shul, pick another shul to go to. do not come drunk or get drunk. that is ugly and creating a chilul hashem and lubavitch. stay home if you must drink to drunkness honor and… Read more »
I’m not a Chabadnick however I Daven at a Shul on Bedford and Ave I, Simchas Torah a Young Lubavitcher Rov came Named Mendel Kalminson I never heard of him or heard him before however me and another 150 people sat listening for over a hour it was Gevaldik!!!!
The next day we all spoke about how great these ypung Lubavichers are.
We see the dancing groups pass through Williamsburg every Simchas torah 🙂
good job!!!
I was at Chabad of Great Neck (Long Island) for Simchas Torah and 9 bochurim and one yungerman walked from the Ohel 3.5 hours, danced for 4 hours straight and then walked back 3.5 hours to the Ohel. I felt bad for the bochurim’s feet! They told me that there were bochurim that went from the Ohel to Merrick which is a four hour walk!
I felt that the Ohel Tahlucha groups deserve mention as well. Thanks Abba Refson and whomever his helpers are!
BS”D
You missed the Bronx. A group walked to Chabad at Einstein – 17mi aprox 5 1/2 hours…