By COLlive reporter
What do you call a visit by Odessa’s Chief Rabbi in what is known as “Little Odessa”?
An authentic farbrengen!
Over 100 people from around the Brighton Beach Russian speaking neighborhood in Brooklyn recently gathered at the local Young Israel for an inspirational event with Rabbi Abraham Wolf.
Rabbi Wolf, who is also Head Shliach of South Ukraine, came to New York for Gimmel Tammuz with a group of 20 people from his community in Odessa and joined the event with the community of Rabbi Efraim and Chanie Zaltzman.
The farbrengen was warm and spirited, with lots of food and L’chaim, as can be expected. Neighboring Shluchim were in attendance.
“It was a unique event for young and old, English speaking, and Russian speaking,” noted Rabbi Zaltzman, Director of Chabad of Kingsborough. “There were two groups from two continents bonding as one well into the night to draw inspiration from the Rebbe.”
Participants also got to hear from Zaltzman’s father, Rabbi Hillel Zaltzman, Executive Director of Chamah International which serves Russian immigrants and author of “Samarkand: the Underground that Affected the Masses.”
They were at a farbrengen in Odessa and one member of Anash there said “everyone at this farbrengen will receive travel visas.” All did – including some who’d been rejected before. (Heard this directly one of the Odessa visitors to America himself).
Doing a great shlichus work in the area. We are very appreciative of his special dedication and helped so well by his wife Chanie. Her classes and teaching ability make for a special combination in this location. Hashem should bless them and their family to go from stength to strength in theiw work
A appreciative family