Amsterdam Surprises Its Shliach

By COLlive reporter

Rabbi Akiva Camissar, Director of Chabad Amsterdam Tourists & Israeli Center, is so loved by his friends that they organized a grand surprise birthday party for him.

The good–natured Shliach was invited on Sunday to an event hall in town without knowing what was waiting for him there. Once the doors opened the shock on his face was visible to all.

Enthusiastic members of his Hebrew speaking community raised him on a chair and sang in honor of his 30th birthday. Two childhood friends flew in for the occasion as well: Rabbi Chaim Hillel Azimov of North Cyprus and Rabbi Shmuel Havlin of Hamburg, Germany.

Rabbi Camissar and his wife Taiby arrived in the Netherlands just 4 years ago and have developed a strong bond with local residents. Present at the party were the city’s rabbis, staff of the Israeli embassy and community leaders.

Showering the Shliach with blessings were Netherlands Head Shliach Rabbi Yitzchok Vorst, Rabbi Pinchos Toledano, Rabbi of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews of the Netherlands and community members.

The program continued with a full meal and a video of the Rebbe about the meaning and power of a birth date. Following that a video was played of 30 friends sending blessings from around the globe.

The evening concluded with singing and dancing, but not before Chabad’s secretary Bracha Vorst was thanked for her year-round help with Chabad programs. Helping to organize the event were the yeshiva bochurim in town to assist with Chabad activities: Mendel Pector, Baruch Losh, Menechem Stambler, Yisroel Deren, Mendy Brichta and Shimi Frankel.