Zaki Tamir Fulfills a Promise

By COLlive reporter

Congregants at the Wellesley-Weston Chabad House in Massachusetts spent a memorable Shabbos Parshas Chayei Sarah with attorney Zaki Tamir, Chairman of the Crown Heights Vaad Hakohol and Jewish Community Council.

Tamir spent Shabbos in Wellesley as a guest of his former yeshiva companion and local Shliach Rabbi Moshe Y. Bleich.

Following a lively Kabbolas Shabbos service and kiddush, the evening began with the first of many culinary delights. During the meal, attended by 75 people in a packed house, Zaki entertained the guests with tales of the various cases he has tried over the years, resulting in his stellar reputation both in and out of the courtroom.

After the meal concluded with a variety of elegant desserts, Zaki took center stage and commenced a spell-binding discussion of the legal profession, comparing talmudic opinions with secular findings. Zaki began the talk by referencing the unique relationship that he has with the Wellesley-Weston community.

16 years ago, as bochurim, Tamir and Bleich traveled through Europe bringing the light of Chassidus wherever they went. They once made a pact that they would both lead a life of shlichus. Zaki’s support and frequent visits to the Wellesley community is his way of partnering with Rabbi Moshe’s shlichus.

As the evening progressed, and the talk drew to a close, a core group of attendees (several of them are local lawyers) spent more time with Zaki in an informal discussion on the challenges and rewards of being an observant Jew in a professional setting. The shared experiences and stories were for some the highlight of the evening.

After Shabbos, a special evening around a campfire in the Bleich’s backyard gave Zaki a chance to speak to a group of children. Zaki’s talent for communicating extends also to the younger crowd, as chassidic stories from many years ago took on new life with his unique delivery and perspective.