On Sunday night, the Gala Banquet of JLI’s visit to the Holy Land took place in the main ballroom of the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem.
The evening opened with a speech by Israeli infrastructure minister Uzi Landau, who spoke about the importance of Jerusalem and its place in Jewish history.
He then officially welcomed the over 200 participants from around the world and thanked them for their visit to Israel, while mentioning the great activities of Chabad around the world.
Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky opened his remarks with the following story:
“Years ago the rabbi of a Reform community in Russia turned to me with a question: How is it that you help Chabad and their emissaries?
“I turned to them and said: “When you do what Chabad is doing in Siberia and elsewhere around the world, with such devotion, dedication and self sacrifice for the Jewish nation, then maybe I will change my behavior.”
He added by saying: “I got to know the organization JLI closely in the past number of years, and it is important for me to inform you, that this organization is helping to preserve the character of the Jewish people in Israel and around the world.”
The next speaker was Israel’s Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger who praised Chabad’s growing number of activities around the world.
“Israel has ambassadors around the world, and the people of Israel are privileged to have 3,500 Lubavitch emissaries around the world who are there to preserve the flame of the Jewish people,” said the rabbi.
As the main course was served, Shliach Rabbi David Flinkenstein of Mahomet, Illinois introduced the Vice Chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky who flew in from New York for the event.
“People have the wrong idea about who they call “the son who does not know how to ask” in the Pesach Haggadah,” Rabbi Kotlarsky said.
“No man is not smart, and does not know to ask. These are smart people, lawyers, jurists etc. Only when it comes to the study of Torah, then they are not sure how to ask. This is where the organization of JLI has played, and continues to play, such an important and crucial role, causing a real revolution in the related study of Judaism.”
great pic!!! keep up the great work
rabbi zarchi from san fran with such a nice deligation my rabbi looking sharp!
Great to see the wonderful program you arranged for the group. Keep up the good work. Freilichen Pesach!
Yanki V.
Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov! Good to see and keep up your great work in Mayanot!
looks so beautiful.
You shluchos off in the Holy land so close to Pesach??? you must be super organized.
You are all heroes!
From a former Chicagoan living now in New York that thinks you’re the man!
rabbi zev katz is the best rabbi ever!!! GO RABBI ON WHEELS!!!
Woah! Mordechai Weiss!
yoni katz was not there and not involved.
Yoni Katz is the best!!!
you still got the moves !!!
Looking good