Dear fellow brothers and sisters,
These past few weeks have been really hard to cope with and make sense of what has transpired. We were all touched to the core as we all mourned together the loss of our fellow Shliach and Shlucha, Gabi and Rivky HY”D.
Being the same age as Rivky, A”H was, I wonder, was it her short life down here that I was able to relate to? Was it her choosing the same lifestyle, to move out on shlichus (though I am humbled by India), being a mother too? Perhaps it was Moishe’le crying for his mother? Or maybe it was all of the above? I think the selfless life and dedication they led, living so far away, giving up a lot of personal comforts and future chinuch for her dear Moishe’le, is what touched us all.
When the Sefer Torah in the Chabad House was opened, the bullet hole was right by the Parsha of Acharei Mos. Often only after a person passes on do we appreciate the life and sacrifice they lived.
Fellow Chassidim: There are so many of the Rebbe’s shluchim TODAY that are at the forefront of the battle, giving up proper chinuch for their children and other comforts just to help another Jew. There are so many shluchim like Gabi and Rivky that don’t like the limelight and do their work as faithful soldiers. There are so many Shluchim that have not made it on the websites and yet dedicate their lives to Jews from all backgrounds, backpackers, businessmen and of course, their own communities.
As we have just completed the week of Shiva, the Rebbe empowers his Chassidim to transform this pain into action.
Here is one humble suggestion how.
Having grown up in Crown Heights, I feel blessed to have parents and family to be able to visit, and the very hospitable yeshivos that give my children the opportunity to get a “taste” of yeshiva life. There is so much that the Rebbe’s Shchuna has to offer. The stores, 770, the Jewish Children’s Museum, but most of all the warm and welcoming people living there.
YET, THERE ARE MANY SHLUCHOS THAT DON’T EVER GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE THIS FULLY. Having no relatives or particular friends that can host them, some shluchim and shluchos are only able to come in for a day, go to the ohel, do some shopping, and leave. They don’t have the opportunity of having their children really see what it means to live amongst Chassidim of their very own. They don’t have the opportunity for their children to really sit in a classroom with a Rebbe or Morah, instead of sitting at the computer with their virtual teachers.
In honor of Gabi and Rivky, perhaps now is the time to “adopt a shaliach.” Be their adopted Bubby and Zeidy. Or if you are a younger family, their adopted Aunt and Uncle. Someone that truly cares not financially, but emotionally, for a Shliach and Shlucha. There are times such as winter break, spring break, chof bais shevat….it would be so comforting for the Shlucha-Shliach to know they always have a home to go to, like I do when coming to Crown Heights.
Now is the time that Yissochor and Zevulon equally can really pair up together in the one goal that we have – to bring our Rebbe back with us!
How can you help? By either responding to this letter in the comments with your contact information, or e-mail [email protected] that you would like to adopt a Shliach, Shlucha and their family.
What do I need to help? 1. A heart! 2. A basement or some extra living quarters so if they do call that they would like to come you truly do have the space for them.
Like Gabi and Rivky, all the shluchim out there are tirelessly working on creating “a home away from home” for all our fellow yidden, and thanks to our extended Crown Heights family, you can ensure that our fellow Shluchim can now have a home away from their home. A place where they can feel comfortable and welcome, as they so tirelessly do for others.
I have complete confidence that when looking at the achdus and love that we have for each other, Hashem will have pity on us and allow us to be united with our Rebbe with Moshiach now.
Signed,
A fellow Shlucha and lover of Crown Heights!
Yehudis Bluming
Shlucha in North Carolina
do something
open your homes
why doesnt anyone care..
thank you for this wonderful idea of true ahavas israel!
I am a shaliach with no family in C”H. When I came for chof-beis shevat, there was nowhere to stay because everyone else had their mishpocho staying- fair enough. I had to rent a basement which cost a fortune. Now it seems a lot of people charge for hospitality. Some cannot afford not to but for those who could host a shaliach for a few days, we’d really appreciate it!
what a beautiful idea. Practical. and will yield to tremendous achdus!!!
I hope many families respond.
Thanks rebbetzin Bluming
Wow really nice and inspiring to see such active people and taking things further.
I hope people will contact Mrs. Bluming and sign up for this. What a wonderful peula.
I am signing up right now. this is such a nice thing.
i didnt realize she submitted her email in the article please make that part more viewable. type that part in bold or make the letters larger or put it in the beggining or end be well hatzlocho after the question that i have to COL is the ikkar to post the article or is it to get families to have a place to stay thank u for ure kindness
even easier let the families do the posting make a section on the site to submit information not for public eyes though
this is amazing besides spreading this letter around as she stated how can there be a coordination and assignment of families to shluchim that would be nice unless!! i got it!! whens the ladies convention(my question mark is broken) soo the secretariat of the convention should put the word out that all families of crown heights should give their name and number and how many places they have and when the shlucha signs in she will be assigned a family kind of like a hachnosas orchim when people looking for places for shabbos its quite str8forward a computer with a… Read more »
very well written. a very nice idea!