“Vehayomim hoele nizkorim venaasim, Gimmel Tammuz is not simply a commemoration, rather a unique opportunity for us all to tap into the powerful energy of Gimmel Tammuz, an energy which becomes stronger each year,” said Rabbi Levi Jaffe of Brisbane, who came to Sydney to Farbreng with the community and reflect on what the Rebbe wanted us to achieve: bringing Moshiach.
Rabbi Jaffe spoke very highly of the new JLI Moshiach course, ‘This Can Happen’, encouraging all participants to sign up for this course, which is being promoted across Australia and NZ over the coming weeks.
In accordance with the directive of the Rebbe ‘Az men darf efenen der eigen’ – ‘we need to open our eyes’, to the reality of Moshiach, Rabbi Jaffe delivered a snapshot of the course, expressing how the course is instrumental in opening the eyes of its students to the perspective of Rebbe, as he sees the world ready for Moshaich, and how Gimmel Tammuz represents the final frontier in the fulfillment of our combined mission of ‘Laasos lo yisborach dirah betachtonim’ – ‘creating a dwelling place for Hashem in the lower realms’.
Within CovidSafe limitations, the Farbrengen was full to capacity with participants from across the community.
The event was organized by Chabad of (NSW) Sydney and supported by all the Chabad institutions, under the auspices of Rabbi Pinchus Feldman OAM, head shliach to New South Wales. Rabbi Feldman chaired the event and encouraged everyone to appreciate the incredible holiness that was present. After retelling a story where the Rebbe emphasized this point, he explained that at this Farbrengen, the Rebbe was present as was the Frierdiker (Previous) Rebbe and the Rambam as the event was also celebrating the completion of the 40th cycle of the daily study of Rambam.
Rabbi Yosef Feldman made the Siyum (Conclusion) on the Rambam. He shared what a zechus it was to be able to make the Siyum and how he had the merit to study the Rambam in detail as the Rebbe encouraged, sometimes dedicating hours a day to achieve this and encouraged others to do the same. He spoke of the Rebbe’s passion for Moshiach and how appropriate it was that the 40th cycle should coincide with Gimmel Tammuz, the Rebbe’s day.
He also mentioned that the final words of the Rambam “Kamayim layom Mechasim” have a connection to the Rebbeim as the Yud from laYom refers to the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Mem refers to the Rebbe. Also, the two Mems in the next word, “Mechasim” correspond to Nigle and Nistar. They also correspond to both of the Rebbe’s names and to the Rambam’s name.
The beginning of the Rambam is a Posuk which starts with Mem. This is connected to the 40th time – Gematria of the letter Mem – which alludes to Torah itself which was given in 40 days.
Rabbi Yanky Berger, who hosted the Farbrengen at Chabad Double Bay, introduced the video by JEM media “Piercing the Iron Curtain” which showed real clips taken during the Soviet era by Rabbi Berel Levy o”h under the Rebbe’s guidance.
The crowd was inspired by the incredibly moving footage depicting the Mesiras Nefesh of those locked behind the iron curtain and the immense empathy and care that the Rebbe had for them.
Following the formal address by Rabbi Levi Jaffe, the hachona niggun and the Alter Rebbe’s niggun and other freiliche niggunim were played and sung by Rabbis Yehoshua and Yehuda Niasoff, bringing great emotion to those present and arousing them to get up and dance in true Chassidic fashion.
The night concluded with an informal Farbrengen with Rabbi Jaffe that went into the early hours of the morning.
The Farbrengen was coordinated by Rabbi Elimelech Levy of Chabad Youth NSW.
Photographs by Pinny Althaus
