Chossid Announces $50k Donation on His 50th Birthday

By COLlive reporter
Photos: Menush Amit

“Yom huledet sameach!” is what a group of family and friends greeted Yossi Michelashvili with as he walked into a surprise party celebrating his 50th birthday on Wednesday night in Crown Heights.

The Chassidic businessman and philanthropist was warmly greeted by dozens of friends and family members on the outdoor porch of the home of R’ Kasriel and Chana Elsha Shemtov.

Michelashvili, moved by the gesture and glad to see friends again following the Covid-19 pandemic, thanked everywhere present for the generosity and good wishes.

A catered meal and l’chaims were set for participants as the chazan Aryeh Leib Hurwitz along with Shmuly Hurwitz and Ephraim Goodman sang both upbeat and emotional niggunim.

Joining over Zoom were Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar from Miami, Rabbi Yosef Gopin from West Hartford, Rabbi Mordechai Avtzon from Hong Kong, Rabbi Hershel Spalter from Costa Rica, Rabbi Berl Goldman from Gainesville, Rabbi Berel Levertov from Santa Fe, Rabbi Yosef Greenberg from Alaska, and many Shluchim from around the world.

During the event, Michelashvili said he was focused now on the annual fundraiser for the Shluchim Office as he is chairing, together with his wife Yael, its crowdfunding committee which was announced this week at TogetherforShluchim.com. (Contributions will be posted when the campaign page goes live on Monday, 11:00 AM).

In fact, he announced that he will be making a donation of $50,000 to the campaign in honor of his 50th birthday to support The Shluchim Office, a central hub established by the Rebbe to serve the needs of Shluchim worldwide.

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