Shluchim Visit Historic Homes

By COLlive reporter
Photos: Yan Pekar

Hundreds of years after great Jewish giants such as the Ramban and Rabeinu Yona walked in these very same alleys and courtyards, the city of Girona was revived for three days.

Forty-eight Chabad Shluchim from 25 small countries in Europe and Central Africa gathered together to participate in the first ever Regional Kinus Hashluchim of its kind.

While citizens of the Catalonia region in Northeastern Spain are dealing with the issue of their country’s independence, visitors and residents to the city of Girona saw a very interesting sight.

Dozens of Rabbis striding in the picturesque alleyways of this historical city, from the mikva to the minyan in shul, from the Torah classes to various workshops, from the Ramban’s home to strengthening the local Jews.

The revival began when the home of Rabeinu Yona was redeemed by philanthropist Shimon Aminov who turned it into the local Chabad House and brought out the Shliach Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Rozenberg about two years ago.

At the helm of the Kinus stood Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky of the Merkos L’Inyonei Chinuch, who together with the Shliach in Barcelona Rabbi Dovid Liebersohn, planned the program down to the last detail.

Their goal was to ensure that the shluchim would be able to gain the maximum in these few days and go back to their places of shlichus with renewed strength and energy for the rest of the year.

Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar flew in from Moscow together with his friend Mr. Aminov who graciously sponsored the Kinus.

The opening of the Kinus was attended by the Guest of Honor, President Generalitet de Catalonia, who expressed his appreciation and admiration of the shluchim who flew in from near and far.

Later in the evening, at a special tribute event, he commended Rabbi Kotlarsky, and the self-sacrifice of all of the Rebbe’s shluchim throughout the entire world.