Rabbi Ari Shishler, a dynamic South African shliach, lit up Chabad Houses across the West Coast around Gimmel Tammuz, inspiring half a dozen communities.
Kicking off with a Shabbaton and keynote lecture at Chabad of Irvine, Rabbi Shishler’s engaging and heartfelt messages challenged listeners to find the greatness the Rebbe would see in them.
Participants loved his humorous presentation on managing stress and were moved by the Shabbos farbrengen. Rabbi Alter Tennenbaum, director of Chabad of Irvine, remarked that it was most unusual for the crowd to remain at the farbrengen until Mincha on a summer Shabbos.
Next stop? Oxnard. Rabbi Shishler ran a stress-management workshop overlooking the Oxnard marina. Over Friday night dinner, he held the crowd spellbound with stories of the Rebbe’s prophetic guidance to Jewish South Africa. “Rabbi Shishler resonated with the crowd,” said Rabbi Dov Muchnik of Chabad of Oxnard. “He delivered talks that were interesting, engaging, and packed with humor and depth. Each talk drew a different crowd, making it really special.”
Phoenix, Arizona, was up next, where Rabbi Shishler wowed the audience at their Gimmel Tammuz event. “He speaks phenomenally,” one of the local shluchim commented. “Humorous but on point. He read the crowd and delivered a universal message for Lubavitchers, modern folks, and those not yet frum. The farbrengen was very geshmack.”
Back in California, Rabbi Shishler brought his inspirational tour to Chabad of Tarzana and Chabad of Agoura on the nights of Gimmel Tammuz. Both events saw packed houses and enthusiastic responses. His ability to engage and connect with diverse audiences left attendees deeply inspired. Rabbi Moshe Bryski called it, “One of the best Gimmel Tammuz talks I’ve ever heard.”
