By COLlive reporter
600 Jewish leaders, among them rabbis, Shluchim, presidents of communities and educators, participated in the “Forum of the Jewish Communities in Ukraine” this week.
The full-day event was hosted by the Dnepr’s Head Shliach and Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky and took place at the grand Menorah Center. It was organized by Rabbi Meyer Stambler, Rabbi Moishe Weber and Reb Dan Makagon.
It marked 70 years of the Rebbe’s leadership and took place in Dnepr, Ukraine, the “Rebbe’s City,” which he once called “the capital city of Ukraine for Yiddishkeit.”
The event gathered participants to learn about and gain inspiration from the Rebbe, including lectures throughout the day by renowned speakers, farbrengens, and refreshments.
Organizers told COLlive.com the event was a testament to the uniqueness of the Rebbe as a leader, conquering the world with his Shluchim, and still, as a Rebbe who has a connection with each individual.
Many attendees told their own life stories of how they feel connected to the Rebbe, (who himself was from Ukraine), and how they can bring the Rebbe’s teachings into the world in their everyday life and actions.
A moving moment was a live broadcast from the Rebbe’s Ohel by Rabbi Nachum Ehrentreu, Shliach in Zaparozhe, who won the raffle for a trip to New York to mark the day.
Rabbi Ehrentreu read out the ‘pan’ notes requesting blessings from the community which were sent along with him. He was joined at the Ohel by the bochurim from the Yeshiva in Dnepr as well.
While the pan was read, the crowd which was gathered in Dnepr sang a series of Niggunim with great feeling, during this special moment.
Throughout the day, the event was broadcast live on social media, for all those that couldn’t travel to Dnepr to take part. The event was widely covered in the media as well.
The inspiring day ended with a gala banquet, in the same spirit as the annual Kinus Hashluchim Banquet, complete with a roll call of the Shluchim in Ukraine, and with much joy and excitement.
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