R’ Lazar’s Suggestion for Shluchim

By COLlive reporter

Chabad Lubavitch Shluchim in the New York area met Motzoei Shabbos to mark the 56th anniversary of the founding of Lubavitch Youth Organization (Tzach) on Iyar 2, the birthday of the Rebbe Maharash.

Seated around tables for a full meal at the Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights, participants watched a video of the Rebbe saying a Sicha on the occasion of the 2nd of Iyar.

The Rebbe’s kapital in Tehillim was read by Rabbi Tuvia Teldon, Head Shliach of Long Island.

Additional Tehillim was said for Rabbi Dovid Raskin, the elder Chairman of Tzach, for a long and healthy life.

The master of ceremonies was Rabbi Menachem Mendel Silberstein, Shliach in Westchester County, who spoke about the special privilege of serving as a shaliach of the Rebbe, and how one can always receive direct inspiration from the Rebbe.

Rabbi Moshe Goldman, Secretary of Tzach, noted the great privilege of belonging to an organization actively working to prepare the world for the ultimate Redemption by Moshiach.

Today, he said, we can clearly see the worldwide revolution wrought by the Rebbe and the accomplishments of his shluchim everywhere, who serve at their positions with true self-sacrifice.

Rabbi Shmuel Butman, Executive Director of Tzach, pointed out that although the Rebbe spoke on 24 Nissan, 1955, about establishing Tzach, the Rebbe always emphasized that its actual establishment was on the 2nd of Iyar – Tiferes Shebtiferes (a unique date, according to the Kabbala, in the seven weeks of Counting the Omer) – the birthday of the Rebbe MaHaRaSh, whose motto was L’chatchila aribber.

“This emphasizes how the Rebbe bestows upon everyone connected with this organization the capability of operating in two unique modes – one enabling us to accomplish and act in a mode of Lechatchila aribber, and at the same time in a mode not only of Tiferes (splendor) but of Tiferes Shebtiferes (splendor of splendor.)”

Rabbi Butman continued by recalling the Rebbe’s remarkable address 20 years ago on the 28th of Nissan, 5751 (1991), when he referred to our continued exile as “something utterly incomprehensible.”

“The Rebbe raised that question then, and perhaps we can say that the 2nd of Iyar, coming just four days later, responds to the question that the ultimate Redemption will come in a manner of L’chatchila aribber,” he said.

Rabbi Kasriel Kastel, Program Director of Tzach, discussed the astounding success of Shluchim in and around New York, where there are currently almost 60 Chabad Houses. He forecast future success to an even greater degree, and proposed several ways to further reinforce and expand their operations.

He was followed by three speakers who have joined the ranks of Tzach during the past year:

Rabbi Nachman Dov Wichnin, appointed as Shliach in Brooklyn College, spoke about the great potential that exists at the college, where thousands of students are Jewish.

“The fact that it is so close to Lubavitch World Headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway particularly facilitates cooperation with members of the Crown Heights community and yeshiva bochurim, enabling them to participate in programs benefitting students at the college,” he said.

Rabbi Mordechai Hirsch, director of the Mitzvah Tanks Office, appointed as a Shliach this year, spoke about the great effect of the Tanks parades held several times a year. He also described the Sukkah-mobiles campaign and the Tanks that visit many neighborhoods every week, including a new Tank donated this year.

He offered to help any Shliach who is interested in one or several Tanks to visit their community for one or several days. He also offered to give the Shluchim all the technical help required and to provide the Shluchim with experienced crews who will operate according to the shluchim’s instructions.

Rabbi Betzalel Laufer was appointed this past year to coordinate the Mitzvah campaigns for the residents of Crown Heights. His range of activities includes, in the Rebbe’s words, “working on oneself and with others.”

He spoke about his activities to get community members more involved in mitzvah campaigns throughout the year, including Lulav and Esrog on Sukkos, candles on Chanukah and the parade of lights, Megillah on Purim and Matzos on Pesach. “The success is more and more evident every single day.”

The guest speaker was Rabbi Berel Lazar, Head Shliach and Chief Rabbi of Russia, who emphasized the importance for a Shliach to realize at all times that he is an emissary, and who it is who has given him his mission, and that one needs to remain attached to him constantly to ensure his success.

In this connection, Rabbi Lazar suggested that, as he himself does, everyone should write a weekly report to the Rebbe. “Besides the constant connection to the Rebbe that this provides, it has the advantage that, the awareness that one will need to write a weekly report forces him to make sure he should have what to write every week.”

Rabbi Lazar related several anecdotes about his activities with the top government figures in Russia and how this brings a great kiddush Hashem and helps the work of all shluchim throughout the former Soviet Union.

Concluding the event, Rabbi Butman said: “We could see how the Shluchim present were deeply motivated with sincere dedication to the Rebbe who has given them their Shlichus, and to the goal of their Shlichus.”

Indeed, the atmosphere at this unique gathering was charged with a spirit of unity and brotherhood and, above all, dedication to the Rebbe and to his activities.