Gala Dinner Marks 18 Years

Article and photos by Chabad-Lubavitch of Greater Boynton

Days after Gimmel Tammuz, Agudas Chassidei Chabad required pre-approval for any new institutions to be named after the Rebbe. Having received The Rebbe’s Brocha for Shlichus a few weeks prior, Rabbi Sholom Ciment requested of Aguch’s Chairman, Rabbi Abraham Shemtov permission. It was granted.

It was on that day that Chabad-Lubavitch of Greater Boynton – Beis Menachem was born.

Together with becoming the first Beis Menachem after Gimmel Tammuz, the Ciments; Sholom, Dinie and their 1 year old Mendel became the first, and only, traditional Jews in this developing Florida city of central Palm Beach County. Almost to the day, a full 18 years later, Rabbi Ciment again approached Rabbi Shemtov for permission. This time it was to ask him to be the Keynote speaker at Chabad’s 18th Gala Banquet.

Sunday, 10 Sivan, 5773, “Celebrating Jewish Life,” Chabad’s Chai Milestone Banquet marked a culmination of a year-long salute to its pioneering Jewish Community Building. The evening was crowned with a Siyum Sefer Torah, commissioned specifically for the gala. From Gimel Tamuz 5754 through Gimel Tamuz 5773, Jew by Jew, Chabad has managed to build a thriving Jewish community out of hundreds of acres of barren pasture land. Today, the community stands shoulder to shoulder with many traditional Jewish communities of note, around the world.

Surrounding Chabad’ 5 acre “Campus for Living Judaism” some 200 traditional Jewish families have built or have purchased homes to be within walking distance of Chabad’s 20,000 square feet of facilities; a Shul, school, mikvah, and full service communtiy center, surrounded by a 25 square mile eruv which Chabad built for The Shabbos enhancement, knowingly or unknowingly, of the tens of thousands of Jews living within it.

Boynton is one of the fastest growing Jewish populations in the country. Within the greater Jewish community, the surge of traditional Jewish families who are relocating to this oasis of traditional Chabad warmth and acceptance is awe-inspiring. It is common knowledge in South Florida that Boynton is on the “top ten” of up and coming Torah-true Jewish communities in The USA.

The Chabad campus is comprised of an award winning Pre-School which has been recognized, for three consecutive years, by the county and state with the highest possible rating of any such educational institution in the area. Chabad’s resplendent Mei Menachem Woman’s Mikvah recently celebrated its 2500th visitor. A 500 seat main sanctuary and daily sanctuary administer, multiple, daily and Shabbos minyonim. A Community Kollel begins 5:40 AM daily and its lights go out late into the evening. Chabad’s hallmark outreach, holiday and social service arms cater to an ever-growing population. A new satellite Boynton Chabad center has opened, directed by Rabbi & Mrs. Yosef Raichik, in the western part of the city.

“This level of growth and community development, in such a relative short span of time, is clearly not a natural phenomenon,” said Rabbi Ciment. “One reality, through this entire 18 year journey, has made this possible; the miraculous blessings of this community’s holy namesake – The Rebbe.Hundreds of families, tens of thousands of Jews, and many future Jewish generations have The Rebbe, and him alone, to thank for this historic Jewish community building,” Ciment stressed.

True to form, the recent Gala 18 didn’t miss its own dose of Rebbe miracles. A renowned guest of honor was confirmed 18 months in advance and scheduled to be a huge draw. He abruptly cancelled just before Pesach due to personal issues. In the pursuant 90 days an entirely new venue had to be created. The crisis triggered a trip to The Ohel. “Precisely what we beseeched The Rebbe for, during this crisis, came to fruition,” said Rabbi Ciment. “A) That all of the attendees be greatly inspired. Until today, the banquet guests describe an aura of passionate togetherness which they have yet to experience at such an event. B) That the dinner be a successful benefit for Chabad. Eight honorees received a genuine crystal flame, as the respective candles on the evening’s “Founders of The Future, Menorah of Visionaries.” Each pledged a minimum of $18,000 to honor Chai years,” reported Rabbi Ciment. In addition, as a direct result of the gala, final discussions are underway for a major endowment from one of the honorees set to name one of the buildings on Chabad’s campus.

“Yatir M’bechayei,” the Torah’s promise of ever-increasing brochos from The Tzadik, even after his physical presence has left us, has been proven a reality in ours and so many other Shluchim’s everyday lives. We are nourished with absolute miracles emanating from The Rebbe. In keen awareness of this fact, it behooves us to fully capitalize on the incredible powers associated with Gimmel Tamuz and to re-dedicate ourselves to The Rebbe and to our respective Shlichus.