By COLlive reporter
Photos by Mendy Kurant
The Global Yarchei Kallah summit, an annual gathering of Chabad’s leading rabbonim, Roshei Yeshiva and Mashpiim, came to a close on Motzoei Shabbos with a festive Melave Malka.
Held at the large shul of Camp Gan Israel in Parksville, NY, the evening was dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schneerson, of blessed memory, father of the Rebbe and Chief Rabbi of Ekaterinoslav (in Ukraine).
In fact, the entire summit was established to honor Reb Levik, as he was called, and his steadfast heroism to sustain Yiddishkeit in the Soviet Union, despite harsh oppression and subsequent exile.
Starting on Wednesday evening, the 20th of Av, the participating rabbis who came from around the world dedicated the following days in intense study of Torah, halacha and chassidus.
The Rebbe himself has taken a keen and personal interest in Yarchei Kallah, once commenting that the gathering is considered his own fulfillment of the Mitzvah of honoring a parent even after his passing and that this is done by learning Torah.
Over Shabbos, the rabbis joined the davening of campers and staff and then continued to the Shabbos meals, extending it into Chassidishe farbrengens with inspiration and stories.
On Motzoei Shabbos, as the rabbis stood together for havdalah, the organizer Rabbi Avraham Shemtov provided participants a pleasant surprise in the form of a hard-carved wooden box containing besomim spices.
Rabbi Shemtov, head of camp who also serves as Head Shliach of Philadelphia, told how the Rebbe would give him aravos each Hoshana Rabba to give to Philadelphia’s Chief Rabbi Ephraim Yolles, following a practice of the Frierdiker Rebbe.
Rabbi Shemtov recalled that in 5738 (1977), when the Rebbe suffered a sudden massive heart attack on Simchas Torah, “I heard from the mazkirim that one of the first things the Rebbe has was send aravos.”
“On one of the years, the Rebbe gave me aravos (to bring to Rabbi Yolles) and he then gave me a hadas and said, ‘you should put this into the besomim’,” Rabbi Shemtov told. “I asked around and haven’t heard of such an instruction, although some put in on their own. But here the Rebbe instructed to do that.”
At the Melava Malka, speakers included Rabbi Yoel Kahn, the Rebbe’s choizer; Rabbi Shemtov, Rabbi Moshe Wolberg, a Rosh Yeshiva in Manchester, England. It was chaired by Rabbi Zalman Wilschansky, Rosh Yeshiva of Tomchei Tmimim in Morristown, NJ.
The Global Yarchei Kallah is organized by Rabbi Avraham Shemtov and hosted by Camp Gan Israel directed by Rabbi Yossi Futerfas and catered by Rabbi Shlomo Futerfas and staff.
Yarchei Kallah is coordinated by Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin, a Chabad Shliach and Associate Rabbi of Cong. Young Israel of Tucson, AZ, with the assistance of Aryeh Dovid Yarmush of Montreal, Sholom Ber Pewsner of Paris, Mendy Demichovsky of Kfar Chabad, Zevi Lipsker of Nachlas Har Chabad and the dedicated staff of camp.
