Brighton Beach Celebrates Shliach’s 75th Birthday

The Jewish community in Brighton Beach, New York attended a grand farbrengen in honor of the 75th birthday of Shliach Rabbi Hershel Okonov, Executive Director of FREE of Brighton Beach.

In attendance were fellow shluchim, community members, family and friends who saluted Rabbi Okonov and his years of dedication to serving Russian speaking Jews in the area.

Reb Issac Liberman, a longtime supporter and pillar in the community, spoke of how fortunate the community is that the Rebbe sent Rabbi Hershel and Zlata Okonov to be their shluchim at F.R.E.E. of Brighton Beach.

Issac went on to describe the detailed instruction the Rebbe gave to Rabbi Okonov on how to go about his shlichus which today is a flourishing Chabad center.

Rabbi Meir Okunov spoke about the connection of the Parsha and how they relate to his brother’s qualities.

Mr. Yakov Fridman described his unique relationship with his Rabbi and how proud he was to be the engineer of the grand Menorah project that stands proud year around in the heart of Brighton Beach.

Many others shared stories of how Rabbi Hershel and Zlata had a positive impact on them and how they are always there for them bigashmiyus and biruchniyus, and expressed thanks for his ability to hear the needs of the community and for creating a family Shul which is their second home.

A video presentation put together by JEM of Rabbi Hershel going by the Rebbe was shown. Some clips included members of the community who were at the farbrengen.

Rabbi Okonov thanked everyone for attending and using the koach of the day bentched everyone there and those who couldn’t make it to have gezunt, nachas and parnassa.