Rabbi Groner Inspires in Toronto

A beautiful siyum celebration commemorating the completion of the Rambam’s Mishne Torah took place at the central Chabad House of Toronto on Sunday night. Rabbi Leibel Groner, the Rebbe’s personal mazkir for well over 40 years, was the guest speaker.

Some of the rabbonim in attendance were Rabbi Dovid Schochet – Rov of Kehillas Anash, Rabbi Zalman Grossbaum – Head shliach of Ontario, Rabbi Yisroel Landa – Head Israeli Shliach, Rabbi Mordechai Lowey –Rov of Agudas Yisroel in Toronto, Rabbi Amram Assayag – Rov of the Sefardic Kehilla Centre, and Rabbi Eliyahu Zrihen of the Ateret Torah Sephardic Congregation.

The MC for the evening was Rabbi Dovid Bisk.

The evening began with the large crowd watching a sicha where the Rebbe speaks about the importance of limud HaRambam.

This was followed by a beautiful rendition of Tzomo Lecho Nafshi by hatomim Shneur Zalman Ackerman.

The Moro D’asra, Horav Dovid Schochet then spoke and extolled the virtues of those who follow the Rebbe’s directive and study Rambam daily, followed by Rabbi Levi Jacobson, shliach at the JRCC, who made the siyum and spoke about the role of Eliyohu Hanavi in the geulah.

For the Hascholo of the new machzor Rabbi Mordechai Lowey, of the Agudas Yisroel kehilla spoke and emphasized the value of even young children participating in this seder halimud.

Then Rabbi Groner addressed the capacity crowd, and interspersed with personal stories, spoke about how learning the daily shiur harambam connects us to the Rebbe and the importance of following The Rebbe’s directives.

A separate section, with a large video screen was set up for the many women who attended.

After the formal program ended, many Anash and Tmimim remained for a farbrengen with Rabbi Groner who continued to relate many personal stories of his time with the Rebbe, as well as answering many questions from the audience until the early hours of the morning.

Special thanks were given to Oren Antebi, Chaim Goldberg and Pinchas Shulman, who were the main sponsors of the beautiful event.
The event was sponsored lirefuah shleima for Chaim ben Zilpah.

The program was arranged by Rabbi Eli Serebryanski.