The annual Dinner events for Oholei Torah have been more than a tradition or fundraising event. The annual event was given special recognition by the Rebbe on various occasions. Each year the Rebbe sent a letter with a message and brochos to the participants.
On one occasion the Rebbe inquired about the time the Dinner would end, being the Rebbe wanted to make an unannounced farbrangen that same night, but did not want to disrupt the Dinner.
On another occasion, when the administration suggested pushing off a Dinner, the Rebbe replied that Oholei Torah must have their Dinner event, yearly. ‘A dinner darf mehn hoben”
And this year’s event was no different.
The event opened with the dedication of the gymnasium, which afterwards the guests entered the main ballroom. Rabbi Chaim Schochet, master of ceremonies, opened the evening and gave much thought and background to each guest of honor.
Rabbi Eliezer Teitelbaum, a member of the Board and son of Reb Michoel Teitelbaum, co-founder of Oholei Torah read the Rebbe’s letter from Shnas Hakhel of 5748.
The Dvar Torah was said by Yisroel Jacobson, 6th grade talmid in Oholei Torah. Yisroel is the son of Rabbi YY Jacobson, who also said a Dvar Torah at an Annual Dinner when he was a talmid many years ago.
A shiur room was dedicated in memory of Mrs. Luba Freidman, a”h, wife of Reb Yisroel Freidman, Rosh Yeshiva of the Beis Medrash Oholei Torah.
A most unique plaque was given to Mr. Yosef and Batsheva Popack, for their ongoing support of Oholei Torah. The plaque recognized their generosity and chessed for many of the Crown Heights mosdos signed by over 30 community leaders.
Following a musical interlude by Fitche Ben Shimon and Eli Marcus, the Torah and Chessed award was presented to Rabbi Yitzchok and Rebbetzin Shaindel Raitport, for their longtime friendship to the mossad.
A silver Kesser Torah, inscribed with special brochos was presented to them by Rabbi Joseph Rosenfeld, long time executive director of Oholei Torah.
The dinner was catered by Bentzion Kohen, and designed by Tammy Polatchek, and photography by Meir Pliskin.
Plans are already underway for the next upcoming Dinner, in May of 2017, which will culminate the Shnas Hashishim campaign of Oholei Torah.
