Chicago Unites at Farbrengen

Chof Daled Teves Shnas Hamasayim was commemorated in Chicago with an extraordinary Melaveh Malkeh and Farbrengen. More than 500 men and women participated in an inspiring event that brought together Chassidim from all segments of the community.

Held at Cong. Bnei Ruven, the Shul was full to capacity for the men’s program, with a simultaneous live feed for the women’s program in the social hall of the Shul. Shluchim from throughout Metropolitan Chicago and Rabbonim representing many communities graced the dais.

The MC for the evening, Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf, Dean of Cheder Lubavitch, set the tone with an overview of the importance of the Alter Rebbe’s teachings. Next, Rabbi Daniel Moscowitz, head shliach in Illinois, recounted the Rebbe’s farbrengen of 5723 and urged resolutions to be made at this sacred time.

Interspersed the evening, the Niggunim of the Alter Rebbe were sung, led by the bochurim and musical accompaniment from the Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago.

Next, a JEM video was shown of a sicha of the Rebbe describing the philosophy of the Alter Rebbe in reaching out to all Jews.

Rabbi Baruch Hertz, Rav Of Cong. Bnei Ruven and the Anash community, spoke about the zechus of descendants as he introduced Rabbi Chaim Twersky, Rov of Bais Medrash Chaim Dovid and a descendant of the Alter Rebbe. Rabbi Twersky told a beautiful Chassidishe story about the Alter Rebbe and how this impacted people of all walks of life.

After more Niggunim, Rabbi Levi Notik of FREE of Chicago spoke about the Alter Rebbe’s influence for Chassidim at large, as he introduced Rabbi Moshe Yosef Unger, Menahel and Rov of Yeshivas Ohr Baruch – Shearis Yisroel d’Veitzin. Rabbi Unger who spoke in Yiddish told stories and lessons from the Alter Rebbe.

Rabbi Moshe B. Perlstein, Dean of the Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago then spoke of the importance chassidus attaches to simcha, as he introduced the guest speaker, Rabbi Sholom B. Wineberg, head shliach of Kansas and Missouri.

Rabbi Wineberg enthralled the audience with a thought-provoking keynote address underscoring the teachings of the Alter Rebbe and its applications for day to day to life.

And then the entire crowd sang in unison with tremendous feeling Avinu Malkeinu, the Hachona Niggun, and at exactly 10:30 PM the niggun of Daled Bavos. The deep emotions of those moments were palpable. Then the entire crowd burst out in lively dance with the niggun of Nie Zieratzi Chloptzi. After the dancing and formal program was over, the Farbrengen continued for many hours.

A special seforim sale of the Alter Rebbe’s works and Chassidus in general, was available throughout the evening.

The woman’s program was enhanced by MC Mrs. Kreina Staal, niggunim by Mrs. Rivkie Wilschanski, shlucha in Kenosha, Wisconsin, musical accompaniment by Mrs. Faigy Bassman, Mrs. Devorah Schwartz, Mrs. Yocheved Seidman, and a story by Mrs. Bluma Wineberg, Shlucha in Kansas.

This extremely successful program was organized by Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois, Cong. Bnei Ruven, Cheder Lubavitch, Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago, and FREE of Chicago. Special thanks to Rabbis Meir Hecht, Moshe Wolf, Avremel Hershkovich, Dovid Grossman, and the students of Lubavitch Girls High School.

Alter Rebbe’s Niggun at 24 Teves Farbrengen in Chicago – 200 years Histlakus from JLI Chicago on Vimeo.

Photos: Avrohom Gershon