By COLlive reporter
Member for National Assembly in South Africa Michael Bagraim was the guest speaker at a special evening of inspiration in preparation for the Rebbe’s Yarzeit of Gimmel Tammuz, at Chabad of the West Coast in Cape Town, directed by Rabbi Oshy and Zeesy Deren.
The evening opened with a fascinating video of the Rebbe’s perspective on faith in Hashem, and in people, and the impact it had on people, from the late Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, to a delinquent orphaned child that had been thrown out of every Jewish day school in the neighborhood.
In the context of South Africa, the Rebbe’s blessings on the day that Mandela walked out of prison, encouraging South African Jewry to walk out of exile, was a perfect opening to the night’s speaker.
Michael Bagraim, member of the National Assembly, the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, spoke of the Rebbe’s instructions to him, via his mother, to remain in South Africa and build this country – which he continues to do until this day.
The Rebbe’s letter to community leaders in the early 80s in passionate defense of building South Africa was the most reflective thing that he has done to this day. (Click here for the letter)
Bagraim shared his deep understanding of the evolution of South Africa from the challenging days of the early 70s over the next fifty years until today. While very clear about the challenges (especially antisemitism rising across the globe and on social media), he remained firm in his responsibility to live up to the task he (and all of us) were given by the Rebbe then, to build this country. The audience was very taken by his candid but forward-thinking views.
Rabbi Deren’s father Rabbi Yisroel Deren joined via video, sharing a magnificent personal story showing that the Rebbe can receive and respond to messages that cross the boundaries of time and space were a most poignant opening to the Farbrengen with Rabbi Avraham Vigler who shared inspiring stories, personal experiences, and Torah life lessons from the teachings of the Rebbe.
A surprise visitor to the Farbengen was Rabbi Moshe and Yocheved Raskin, Directors of Chabad of Uganda in Kampala, who joined the Farbrengen and shared beautiful insights and ideas.
