This Shabbos Dedicated to Shliach

By COLlive reporter

Chabad shuls around Israel and the world are being asked to dedicated the farbrengens this coming Shabbos Parshas Bereishis in merit of the speedy recovery of the beloved Shliach Rabbi Aaron Lazer Ceitlin.

Rabbi Ceitlin’s colleagues at the Vaad Hashluchim to Eretz Hakodesh announced the request on Wednesday in a public letter sent to rabbis, Shluchim and gabboim in Lubavitch communities.

“It is well-known that what a chassidishe farbrengen can achieve, the Angel Michoel cannot achieve,” they wrote. “With a chassidishe farbrengen imbued with achdus and ahavas yisroel, we will achieve a full and speedy recovery” for Rabbi Ceitlin.

Rabbi Ceitlin, one of the Shluchim the Rebbe personally sent to Israel, has been battling a malignant type of tumor since before Pesach 5775. With support of the public, he has been receiving treatment in New York City.

In the last weeks, his medical condition has deteriorated. Nevertheless, Rabbi Ceitlin spent Simchas Torah day in the Rebbe’s room at Lubavitch Headquarters – 770 Eastern Parkway which is used as a shul.

He was honored with holding the Rebbe’s small Torah as he was doing the ‘Hakafos’ rounds while sitting in a wheelchair. “It was heartbreaking to see him hugging the Torah with such strength and yet crying,” one participant commented.

Rabbi Ceitlin was given the “Chasan Torah” aliya which concludes the final portion of the Torah, alongside members of the Rebbe’s secretariat, Rabbi Leibel Groner and Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky.

With the Torah beginning anew this Shabbos, farbrengens are traditionally held in Chabad circles and Rabbi Ceitlin’s fellow Shluchim in Israel made “a passionate call and heartfelt request” to dedicate it to the long-time Shliach from Tzfas.

Rabbi Ceitlin is known for traveling around the world and motivating young and old in Chassidic farbrengen gatherings and personal discussions. He is the founder and director of the Chabad Kindergarten Network in Tzfas which 34 branches educating some 1,500 children.

He is now “in dire need of heavenly mercy and full and speedy recovery,” the Shluchim in Israel wrote and blessed him to return to full activisity “together with all the Jews who are in need of a full and speedy recovery.”

To donate to the medical costs, note “Rabbi Ceitlin” at chesedcenter.org/donate.