Yud Tes Kislev in South Africa can sometimes occur during the December holidays season when many people are away. This year, it was a tremendous celebration for the entire community just before schools ended. To enhance the festivity of the auspicious festivity, a guest speaker arrived and many events were scheduled.
Rabbi Levi Garelik dazzled hundreds of people in Johannesburg, during his 48 hour trip to South Africa. During his short visit he managed to inspire young and old with 10 unique events.
His visit commenced with an impromptu address to the Chabad Seniors Club which takes place daily at Johannesburg’s central Chabad House, the hub of all Chabad activity in the city. He made his way to the Torah Academy School speaking to the primary school as well as the Boys and Girls High Schools. In the evening he addressed an exclusive group of Chabad supporters during a special dinner.
In honor of Yud Tes Kislev and in loving memory of Raymond Milner, four speakers shared their incredibly inspiring perspectives and stories to a crowd of 500 strong at the Sandton Shul hall. Each of the speakers, Brigitte Youngworth, Hilly Milner and Sean Bacher enthralled the audience with personal stories of inspiration and their connection to Chabad and the Rebbes.
Rabbi Garelik spoke with humor and scholarship explaining the basics of chassidus starting with the first published Chabad work of Taya and concluding with the Rebbe’s last delivered maamer of VeAta Tezaveh. He illustrated how novel scientific findings were commonplace knowledge to Torah scholars long before they were discovered more recently discovered. The event culminated Chabad House’s annual book publication, this year of “Nurturing Faith.”
The central Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengen was at Chabad’s Goodness & Kindness Centre in Sandton’s CBD and was dedicated to the yahrtzeit of Mrs Tzipora Kievman. Rabbi Garelik farbrenged with fellow anash, bouchrim, shluchim and rabonim until very late night.
Before departing back to New York, he gave a shiur on a variety of complicated questions in halacha to a group of shluchim.
All of the events were organized and coordinated by Rabbi David Masinter and Rabbi Michael Katz of Chabad House and driven by Miracle Drive.
As a Bochur, I’m grateful to Rabbi & Rebbetzin Kievman for opening their Shul for such an inspiring Farbrengen with rabbi Garelik. We Farbrenged with him until almost 3am and it was really geshmak. Whenever we have the chance to spend Shabbos at their Shul it’s always amazing how kind and genrous the Kievmans are to us. Keep up your good work
Amazing event! Rabbi Garelik is brilliant and all the other speakers were so great as well.
Well done to Rabbi Masinter, Rabbi Katz and the rest of the team!