By COLlive reporter
Photos: Yossi Jerufi/COLlive
The General Session of the Kinus took place at the Armory on Bedford Avenue in Crown Heights on Thursday night, beginning with a poignant moment.
Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky, Vice Chairman of Merkos and Chairman of the International Kinus Hashluchim, was greeted with a standing ovation as he began his speech to the thousands of Shluchim.
“This year’s theme is to uplift ourselves, our environment, and, through that, the world,” Rabbi Kotlarsky said. “The world today looks to us for answers, for leadership. Let’s focus these few days on the clarity the Rebbe showed us in challenging times. Returning to our respective locations dedicated to those ideals, we will surely be an indomitable uplifting force.”
Thousands of the Rebbe’s Shluchim prayed for the well-being of the Jewish people in Israel during the event.
Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, delivered words of blessing on behalf of Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch.
The Rebbe’s Shliach in Be’er Sheva and head of the Torah Shleimah organization in the city, Rabbi Moshe Ariel, delivered words of blessing.
Rabbi Levi Jacobson from Toronto, Canada, was the MC for the event.
Among the speakers were Rabbi Chaim Kaplan, the Rebbe’s Shliach in Tzfas; Rabbi Asher Yaras from Rochester, New York; and Rabbi Eliezer Gurkov from Ontario, Canada.
