Russian N’Shei Hold Annual Gala

By Miriam Ilyayev
Photos: Eliyahu Belinskiy

Russian Junior Nshei Chabad celebrated its 19th Annual Farbrengen last Sunday, Rosh Chodesh Shvat, at United Lubavitcher Yeshiva hall. More than 200 Russian speaking ladies from all over New York came to participate at this exquisite, one of a kind event.

“Planning our annual banquet is much more than planning a chasuna,” explain Nurit Sarytchev and Rochel Faygen, the heads of RJNC. “The amount of effort, organization, and detail that goes into planning the program, also tons of the details involved in the design of the hall. It is a major undertaking and couldn’t be done without our top designer Chana Komarovskiy!”

This year’s theme was Geula. It was planned as if all the participants found themselves in Yerushalayim in the future. The ladies sat in the hall decorated as if the walls of Yerushalayim surround them and in front of them was a huge image of the Third Beis Hamikdash, the size of the wall. On the tables stood vases filled with Sheva minim, ready to eat. Around the entire room were magnificent paintings of different parts of Yerushalayim, with real, tangible displays; material sold at the shuk and spices in sacks. It was so real and spoke to all of the senses. One of the displays was a wolf peacefully grazing next to a lamb. This incredible atmosphere opened up the ladies hearts to Divrei Torah, which were flowing in abundance. Ladies also took upon themselves good hachlotos to learn more Torah and give more Tzedakah, as a result everyone who did, was placed into a raffle for a beautiful piece of jewelry, sponsored by Kirsh Jewelry and an anonymous donor.

This evening was catered by the master chefs of Turk Catering and the dance floor was packed dancing away to the nigunim and music by the one and only Mr. Fitche Benshimon.

Mrs. Chana Weisberg came to inspire us and taught us how to have perspective and be able to reframe our life events and see them as only good.

At the end, many happy faces left each with a gift and of course some bigger gifts from the auction. Among some winning items included a 12” sheitel sponsored by Zlata wigs and a very lucky winner had the privilege to win a $20.00 bill from the Rebbe, which was generously donated to the organization by Esther Cohen.

“This Farbrengen was a tremendous success! It left ladies inspired, rejuvenated and thirsty for more,” organizers said.

All new participants contact information was recorded and are now in our database to stay in touch throughout the year and participate in the many programs we run on a weekly and monthly basis. We feel that our goal was accomplished. We wanted to make every single woman to feel like a million dollars; to feel like true royalty, so her inspiration can be a light to all of the outside world when she leaves. And we believe our mission was accomplished!