By COLlive reporter
Photos: Yechezkel Itkin
A crowd of relatives and friends recently gathered in Kfar Chabad for an evening of memorial and tribute to commemorate the Shloshim since the passing of Mrs. Miriam Bentolila, Chabad Shlucha in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mrs. Bentolila passed away on the eve of Shvi’i shel Pesach 5781 at the age of 52 after silently and bravely battling an illness. They left behind a husband, children, grandchildren and many who has been inspired by her over the years.
The evening was emceed by Rabbi Hillel Menachem Gehz, and was addressed by Rabbi Michoel Shlomo Avishad, Rov of the Chabad community in Bet Shemesh and Rosh Kollel Torah Ohr in Beitar Illit, and Rabbi Yaakov Chaviv, member of Badatz Ihoud Harabonim Lemehadrin.
The keynote speaker was Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, former Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel and Tel Aviv and Chairman of the Yad Vashem museum in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Lau had a close friendship with Mrs. Bentolila’s father Rabbi Yeshua Hadad OBM, Shliach and Rabbi of the Synagogue of Via Guastalla at the Great Synagogue of Milan, Italy.
Rabbi Lau praised the dedication of Mrs. Bentolila and her husband Rabbi Shlomo Bentolila who were sent by the Rebbe in 1991 as Shluchim to Kinshasa, then the capital of Zaire and their work to to establish Chabad-Lubavitch of Central Africa.
Under the leadership of Rabbi Bentolila and his wife, Chabad is now working in 13 countries in Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Republic, Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, Namibia, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Mali and Senegal.
In moving remarks, Rabbi Bentolila highlighted his late wife’s humility and dedication to the Rebbe’s will and transform the landscape of Judaism in Africa with the goal of reaching out to every Jew.
He said she went on Shlichus “with joy and gladness of heart” even while the country was devastated by two major wars in 1996 and from 1998 to 2003 which the country, despite being extremely rich in natural resources.
Rabbi Bentolila said his wife has been especially focused on providing authentic Jewish education to children and spreading Yiddishkeit to thousands over the years.
The evening was concluded with a Siyum made in her memory by her son Rabbi Binyomin Avraham Bentolila who serves as a Shliach in Paris, France.
Wishing long life to the family was the evening recorded would love to get chizuk