Son Succeeds Father in Harlem

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Shimon Roumani

On the occasion of the 58th anniversary of the founding of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad Hamerkozis, Central Lubavitch Youth Organization, its shluchim, committee members and staff gathered for a fraternal dinner and inspirational gathering.

It was held on the eve of 2nd Iyar, which marks the sefira of tiferes sheb’siferes (the 17th day of the Counting of the Omer) – birth date of the Rebbe MaHaRaSh, Rabbi Shmuel (1834-1882), whose leadership was distinguished by his motto of l’chat’chila aribber, the approach of surmounting, from the very outset, all worldly impediments.

The gathering of shluchim and heads of Tzeirei Agudas Chabad – Lubavitch Youth Organization and was permeated with a warm atmosphere of dedication to the goals set by the Rebbe who empowers all emissaries, and to fulfilling to an even greater extent all the activities he advocates, with renewed momentum, as befitting the date marking l’chat’chila aribber.

This anniversary gathering was celebrated in grand style with an especially impressive banquet at the hall of the Jewish Children’s Museum. Everyone was deeply moved to watch a video of the Rebbe speaking about the significance of 2nd Iyar and l’chat’chila aribber.

Master of ceremonies was Rabbi Zusha Winner, the shaliach in West Brighton, Brooklyn, who conducted the event with great ability and talent. He opened with a Chassidic story and words of inspiration, pointing out that everyone had gathered together like a single family, united by the single goal of devotion to the Rebbe and his mission.

The event was dedicated to the memory of the late Rabbi Shaya Gansbourg, Shliach in Harlem and son of the late Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Gansbourg, a founding member of the committee of Lubavitch Youth. His son, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak, who has succeeded his father as the shliach in Harlem, was invited to conclude a Talmudic tractate in his father’s memory, following which he recited the traditional Kaddish D’Rabbanan.

As a mark of esteem, Rabbi Shmuel Butman, director of Lubavitch Youth, presented him with a large framed picture of the Rebbe, bearing the Hebrew inscription of verse 2 in Tehilim Psalm 112 (which is recited this year in the Rebbe’s honor), גבור בארץ יהיה זרעו דור ישרים יבורך “Mighty on the earth will be his children; he will be blessed with an upright generation.”

Turning to Rabbi Gansbourg, Rabbi Butman declared, “This verse is befitting for your father, that his children be ‘mighty on the earth’ – in that place where he established a Chabad House by his own efforts – and thereby he will be privileged to ‘be blessed with an upright generation,’ meaning that you, in the merit of continuing your father’s work, will be privileged to raise a ‘blessed upright generation.’”

Rabbi Gansbourg spoke about his father’s accomplishments: “My father’s unique quality was that he knew how to overcome all difficulties and get through to everyone’s heart, regardless of their level or background.”

He expressed his determination to follow in his father’s footsteps to continue the mission he initiated, and with even greater momentum, so that the Rebbe will derive nachas from his efforts.

Rabbi Moshe Pesach Goldman, senior member of Lubavitch Youth’s committee and its secretary ever since it’s founding, told a story about the Rebbe MaHaRaSh. He wished the Rebbe’s shluchim serving in and around the Rebbe’s city and home base outstanding success in fulfilling the Rebbe’s mission, thereby bringing the ultimate Redemption even closer.

Rabbi Shmuel Butman, director of Lubavitch Youth Organization, referred to the special privileges with which the Rebbe has endowed everyone connected with Lubavitch Youth.

He noted what the late Rabbi Dovid Raskin, long-time chairman of central Lubavitch Youth, used to say, that although the Rebbe first spoke on Shabbos Mevorchim Iyar (24th Nissan, 5715-1955), about establishing the organization, later he always emphasized the date of its founding as 2nd Iyar, tiferes sheb’siferes – the day of l’chat’chila aribber.

The Rebbe thereby endowed every everyone connected with the organization with the power to work on both these levels, that all activities and one’s general conduct be in a manner of l’chat’chila aribber, and also that it be not only in a manner only of tiferes – beauty and honor – but in an even more intensive manner, tiferes sheb’tiferes.

In the Rebbe’s founding letter to Lubavitch Youth Organization, dated Monday, 2nd Iyar, 5715, he stated that the organization’s activities should be on two levels – Avodo im Atzmo and Avodo im Zuloso, working on oneself and working with others. Rabbi Butman explained that the Rebbe founded the organization on this date of l’chat’chila aribber in order to emphasize the special power with which everyone is endowed so that their work in these areas will be in a manner of l’chat’chila aribber.

Rabbi Kasriel Kastel, program director of Lubavitch Youth Organization, described the outstanding success of the shluchim in and around New York, who presently operate over 60 Chabad centers, and said that their success promises to be even greater in the future. He proposed several ways to further reinforce and expand their work.

One special project for cooperation between the central organization and shluchim is organizing Shabbatons for shluchim and their local communities, “a cooperative activity of the Shluchim and the Committee capable of producing far-reaching effects.”

Rabbi Yosef Goldwasser, program director assisting Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Butman in arranging public addresses at many New York synagogues on subjects of Chassidus on Shabbos and Yom Tov, and Tahaluchos – Marches to various neighborhoods for that purpose, described these activities.

He explained how connections are established with many synagogues, and noted that the activities have been especially successful this year, adding dozens of synagogues where a weekly address is now given on subjects of Chassidus. This also opens great opportunities for cooperation with both synagogues and congregants for other positive activities over the course of the year.

The next speaker was Rabbi Betzalel Laufer, entrusted by Lubavitch Youth with encouraging members of the community in עבודה עם עצמו “work with themselves,” Part of his work entails encouraging them to become more involved in activities initiated by the Rebbe.. He reported that many more community members are now involved in the campaigns of tefilin, suka, lulav-esrog, Chanuka, matzos, etc. He also reported about various special farbrengen gatherings organized for the community during the year, in which there is strong community participation, with positive results that continue for long afterwards.

Rabbi Yekutiel Feldman, the shliach in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn, reported on the activities of Torah lessons, which effect an actual positive change in the participants. He related anecdotes of how Torah lessons have succeeded in penetrating deeply into the souls of participants, radically changing their very essence.

The main speaker was Rabbi Shmuel Lew, Headmaster of Lubavitch Girls School in London, England, and a speaker much in demand worldwide. He started by noting that he is not at all new to Lubavitch Youth. He related nostalgically about the Lubavitch Youth Organization early activities which launched him on his path to shlichus, such as the Evenings with Chabad.

“Since I was one of the few students at 770 who spoke fluent English,” he said, “I traveled to speak at hundreds of such events during those early years.” The very first Encounter with Chabad organized by Lubavitch Youth, was headed by Dr. Yaakov Hanouka (of blessed memory), together Rabbi Lew, and he was active in many subsequent Encounters. “These activities,” said Rabbi Lew, “started me on my career of shlichus.”

Rabbi Lew even brought his own personal collection of letters, pamphlets and documents from Lubavitch Youth Organization’s early years, presenting them to Rabbi Shmuel Butman, “so that they’ll be helpful in future work.” The audience loudly applauded Rabbi Lew for this generous gesture of genuine concern.

With his unique approach, special speaking style and pleasant words, Rabbi Lew spoke to the heart of his listeners, projecting a spirit of encouragement and spiritual ennoblement, together with a profound yearning to accomplish even more and actually bring about the ultimate Redemption.

Rabbi Tuvia Telden, head shliach of Long Island, spoke about Rabbi Kastel’s above-mentioned proposal, emphasizing that this cooperative project between the central office and the local centers would yield wonderful, far-reaching results.

The gathering also had the purpose of expressing thanksgiving to G-d for the recovery of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Geisinsky, the prominent shaliach of Great Neck, Long Island. The committee of Lubavitch Youth and all his fellow shluchim wished him great success in continuing his shlichus with great Hatzloch and in excellent health for long life.

As one of the shluchim later said, “It was a gathering of great spiritual warmth. We saw how the shluchim are imbued with great inspiration and genuine devotion to the Rebbe and to the goal of their mission.”

Many shluchim proudly declared that this was a gathering of deep Chassidic feeling and warmth which will accompany them to their shlichus location, empowering them to work even more energetically to fulfill the Rebbe’s shlichus of preparing ourselves and others for the ultimate Redemption.

Indeed, the gathering’s atmosphere was electrifying, expressing unity, brotherhood and, above all, devotion to the Rebbe and his exalted activities. The evening left a powerful impression of brotherliness and closeness, springing from firm resolutions to assist and encourage each other, and a shared resolution that this will be a year of unprecedented momentum devoted entirely to the Rebbe’s activities to prepare the world for the ultimate Redemption.