Rabbi Levitansky Yahrtzeit Marked

Close to 450 men, women, and children attended a Farbrengen event in honor of the 4th Yahrtzeit of Simcha Monica, California Shliach Rabbi Avrohom Levitansky obm this week.

Held in his Chabad House, the evening started with calls for “did you put on Tefillin yet?” and “Are you ready for the next Mincha?” as Rabbi Levitansky’s children hurried to put Tefillin on all the men who had not yet done the Mitzva, and make enough Minyanim for all the boys to daven for the Amud.

As people entered the Shul, they washed and sat down at the tables to enjoy a full dinner, and spend some time “Farbrenging” with their table mates, recounting their experiences with Rabbi Levitansky, or “Avremel” as he was fondly known.

Rabbi Eli Moshe Levitansky, Director of Chabad on SMC campus, emceed the event which began with the 12 Pesukim recited by the children, and then called on Shliach of the Rebbe to Beverly Hills, and Rav of Anash, Rabbi Yosef Shusterman, who welcomed the crowd, and spoke of his dear friend and colleague, whose Yahrtzeit was being commemorated.

Rabbi Yehoshua Binyomin Gordon, Shliach and Director of Chabad of the Valley, read a letter from the Rebbe, followed by some personal reflections.

The Guest Speaker of the evening, Rabbi Shmuel Lew, Shliach of the Rebbe in London, England then addressed the theme of the evening, “The Rebbe’s Mivtzoim to bring Moshiach.”

Learning lessons from the life of Rabbi Levitansky, who at the young age of 12 had already written to the Rebbe about his (what would later be called) Mivtzoim of inviting his friends to shake Lulav and eat in the Sukkah, and his dedication to being a Shliach and a Rav together, teaching the Halachos of Toras Emes with sensitivity and caring, he called upon everyone to take these lessons to heart, and add in observance of practical Mitzvos, and to help others to do so as well.

Dessert was then served, after which all eyes turned to the screens to watch a video of personal experiences and memories with Rabbi Levitansky, and many pictures of the Rabbi fulfilling his Shlichus with Ahavas Yisroel and Simcha.

The official part of the evening ended with Benching and Maariv, after which the tables were rearranged to Farbrengen style, where the Farbrengen continued until the wee hours of the morning. A Teshura was distributed which included letters of the Rebbe and some of Rabbi Levitansky’s stories.

Participants were asked to donate to the Camp Fund, one of Rabbi Levitansky’s favorite projects, to ensure that every Jewish child has a Torah true summer, as the Rebbe spoke about many times.

To donate online to Camp Gan Yisroel of Simcha Monica, please click here.