Yartzeit of Late Shliach of Hanover Marked With Growth

By COLlive reporter

This Monday, 1 of Iyar, marked the anniversary of the passing of the unforgettable Chabad Shliach Rabbi Binyomin Wolff OBM, co-director of Chabad of Hanover in Germany, who tragically passed away two years ago at a young age.

‏Various events were held in the city to mark this day and were attended by large crowds of the members of the local community, as well as Shluchim from around Germany and Europe. They were joined by family members.

The day opened with a visit to the cemetery to pray at the gravesite of Rabbi Wolff. The recitation of Tehillim was led by his uncle Rabbi Elyakim Wolff of Morristown, New Jersey, his close friend Marc Simon, family friend Dr. Pinchas Kamenetski, his brother-in-law Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Greenberg of Alaska, USA, and his son in law Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Gottlieb.

At the end of the recitation of Tehillim, Rabbi Wolff’s children said the mourner’s Kaddish, and then dozens of participants lit memorial candles.

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‏The main community event took place at the new magnificent new Chabad Center “House Binyamin” in the center of Hanover which was named in Rabbi Wolff’s memory and is run by his wife Rebbetzin Sterna Wolff (nee Greenberg).

‏The event was opened by Berlin’s Rabbi Yehuda Teichtel who spoke about the kiddush Hashem that took place in Hanover when Mrs. Wolff and her family found comfort by bringing new growth to Hanover.

Germany’s Head Shliach Rabbi Yisrael Diskin delivered a message from the Rebbe appropriate to the event.

In her remarks, Mrs. Wolff thanked the community members for partnering with her in turning this great tragedy into great growth.

Hanover Mayor Belit Onay expressed his amazement at what took place in the last two years and pledged to be helpful to the Jewish community and the Chabad Center in Hanover.

Rabbi Avraham Wolf, Chief Rabbi of Odessa in Ukraine and a cousin of Rabbi Wolff OBM, spoke about the importance of joy, especially during these troubling times and bringing healing and redemption to the world.

Rabbi Greenberg spoke on behalf of the Wolff and Greenberg families and thanked the members of the community in Hannover for their outstanding partnership and support in building the new Chabad Center.

The audience then went outside for the dedication ceremony for “Bereshit Park,” a playground that will serve the Jewish center as well as the general public. It will serve as a symbol of the Jewish people’s mission to be a light onto others.

Towards evening, the Shluchim and the many family members who had traveled from all over the world sat down for a Chassidic gathering that lasted until late at night.

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