By COLlive reporter
A capacity audience of over 400 people gathered at the Round House Theatre, in Bethesda, Maryland, for an uplifting evening on Monday, commemorating the 20th yartzheit of the Rebbe.
A joint effort of all the local shluchim in Montgomery County, the evening opened with an exclusive VIP reception, where the event sponsors had an opportunity to meet personally with the guest speaker and enjoy a variety of hors d’oeuvres, fine wine and desserts.
The main program, MC’d by Rabbi Sholom Raichik, opened with Rabbi Berel Wolvovsky who recited tehillim for the three kidnapped Israeli bochurim.
It was followed by Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan, Regional Director of Chabad of Maryland, who shared illuminating perspectives into why after 20 years since Gimmel Tammuz the world still looks toward the Rebbe for inspiration, guidance and leadership.
A range of classic Chabad melodies played by a talented violinist and pianist introduced the different segments of the program.
The main event of the evening featured Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, a member of the Rebbe’s secretariat and chairman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch and Machne Israel, in a fascinating conversation with journalist Mr. Joshua Runyan.
Rabbi Krinsky shared some of the many personal interactions he had with the Rebbe in his role as a member of the Rebbe’s secretariat as well as guidance that the Rebbe gave him with regard to the media.
In attendance was Mr. David Spiegel whose father Irving Spiegel covered Jewish news for 25 years for the New York Times and met personally with the Rebbe. He also shared a warm relationship with Rabbi Krinsky.
The evening concluded with the moving film “Marching Orders” produced by JEM. On their way out, everyone received a coin for tzedaka and a copy of the beautiful Rebbe magazine produced by the Shluchim Office.
All of the shluchim have reported receiving amazing feedback from the evening, with many of the attendees commenting how they felt a greater sense of connection to the Rebbe as a result.
