By COLlive reporter
“Printed in Havana, Cuba.”
The last time that line was written on an edition of the Tanya, the fundamental text of Chabad Chassidic philosophy, was 30 years ago.
So when Rabbi Simon Aisenbach, Director of Chabad Friends of Cuban Jewry (CFCJ), got a call suggesting that another edition be printed, he was game.
“Due to the circumstances on the island, the task was not a simple one,” he notes, but his response was “we will do whatever we can to try to make this a reality.”
Urging him to print were Rabbi Shalom Jacobson from Brooklyn who oversees the Tanya printing project and R’ Zalman Spitezki who is an encouraging force for numerous Tanya printings in new locations worldwide.
Rabbi Aisenbach contacted Levi Shemtov and Yitzchok Glassner, the two bochurim he sent to Havana to work with the Cuban Jewish community.
CarefuLly weighing the options in the Communist island, Aisenbach says that “there was a heavenly energy which moved all obstacles aside and allowed this momentous project to be actualized.”
In a relatively quick manner, Shemtov and Glassner were able to make the idea a reality and subsequently (as has also been requested by the Rebbe) taught a few insights of the Tanya to some Jewish locals.
This printing project was dedicated in memory of R’ Shmuel ben R’ Yehoshua Eliyahu (Sami Rohr OBM) and honored the 200th yartzeit of the Alter Rebbe, author of the Tanya.
lets bring moshach now!
Remembering the old days in Caracas, Your Learning Davening Like in Lubavitch! You ARE & will ALWAYS be a true inspiration! Ot Shloft a Chosid, Geht & breathes & learns & davens a CHOSID! ASHRECHA!
good to see you
your brothers father in law
your the best
i believe it’s the first time the tanya was fully printed, 100 copies etc. in Cuba. there’s a story which im not very familiar with the details that rabbi shlomo levy from buenos aires printed some of it in the government building in havana and the Rebbe said it needs to be printed in full and 100 copies.
someone please fill me in
This is completely revolutionary. The bochurim involved here are boys of courage and commitment. this just goes to show the quality of Bochurim we are producing. i am sure that this will get a them a shidduch quickly. For this displays pure devotion.
Always sending Bochurim to help out Cuban Jewry
Itchy – always involved in good things
Hail to the Chief!
Anyone?
GO ITCHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
go levi!!!
Wait, the communist regime & leadership of Cuba permits religious observance, davka Yiddishkite?
!
Rabbi Kotlarsky has a very nice story to tell about his mission to Cuba.