By COLlive reporter
A global Chassidic farbrengen is sharing memories and words of inspiration following the passing of Rabbi Gershon Mendel Garelik OBM, Head Shliach of Italy who was one of the first Shluchim of the Rebbe.
Rabbi Garelik, who passed away on Shabbos at the age of 88, was from the trailblazing Chassidim who heeded the call of the Rebbe to dedicate their lives to connect fellow Jews to Torah and Mitzvos.
“Gershon Mendel and his Rebbetzin went on self-sacrifice. Many people said, ‘you’ll be coming back’,” said Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, Head Shliach of California, about the common doubts about the concept even among Chassidim then.
Rabbi Cunin said he was deeply influenced by Rabbi Garelik while learning at the Chabad Yeshiva in Newark, New Jersey (which has since moved to Morristown).
“He loved every bochur and has a sense of humor which was a way to connect with the nashamos of the bochurim,” Rabbi Cunin said. “It had an everlasting effect on me as a bochur and many others.”
In a video message released after the funeral of Rabbi Garelik in New York, Rabbi Cunin shared a pivotal moment in the period of darkness that followed Gimmel Tammuz 5754 (1994).
“I was sitting in R’ Dovid Raskin‘s room in 770 and was crying. R’ Gershon Mendel walks in with a smile and tells me, ‘Shlomo, why are you crying? We have a great responsibility to strengthen the young generation.’ That was a serious moment and it remains in my mind forever.”
VIDEO:
The farbrengen on Zoom began on Monday at 2:00 PM Eastern Time and is including remarks shared by fellow Chassidim and Shluchim about Rabbi Garelik who was known for his boundless love and hikashrus to the Rebbe.
Live farbrengen: Facebook Live or Zoom
