Shpoler Zeide Annual Celebration Held in Crown Heights

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Muli Berger

The descendants of the Shpoler Zeide (1725-1811), gathered Sunday night in Crown Heights at Lubavitcher Yeshiva to celebrate the annual Seudas Hoda’ah commemorating his miraculous rescue on the 19th of Shevat in 1793, 231 years ago.

The Shpoler Zeide was a student of the Baal Shem Tov and Mezritcher Maggid and was known widely as a miracle worker and for helping Jews, including Jews who were in jail because of financial hardships. The Shpoler Zeide was a close colleague and friend of the Alter Rebbe.

“The Shpoler Zeide was a man of ardent feeling, more intensely so than his colleagues, the other disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch. When he visited the Alter Rebbe in Liadi, in the year 5569 (1809) or 5570 (1810), he related that when he was three years old and saw the Baal Shem Tov, “he placed his holy hand on my heart, and from that time onward, I have felt warm.” Hayom Yom – 14 Teves.

The evening began with a special children’s program and a catered meal in their own banquet hall, led by master storyteller Shmuli Zalmanov. Every child had the opportunity to have their picture taken with the famous dancing bear. Hop Kazak!

Rabbi Velvl Butman served as MC and introduced Rabbi Shmuel Lipsker of Colel Chabad to recite the Rebbe’s Kapital of Tehilim and a special Kapital for the IDF.

Rabbi Sholom Dovid Geisinsky continued his late father, Rabbi Moshe Aharon Geisinsky OBM, who would meticulously and enthusiastically tell the story of 19 Shevat.

Guest speaker Rabbi Kalman Weinfeld gave an inspiring address about the importance of children continuing the legacy of their parents and ancestors. As Chazal teach us that parents and ancestors are the crown of the children and children are the crown of their parents.

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Geisinsky led the singing of the Shpoler Zeide’s famous Nigun of Hop Kazak and Kol Baya’ar. The evening was accompanied with singing Chabad niggunim and music led by the famous Crown Heights musician R’ Yossi Cohen.

The event celebrated the miracle in 1793, when the Shpoler Zeide was on his way back from participating in a Bris in Bohuslav (in what is now Ukraine). When while crossing over the frozen Ros River the ice suddenly broke beneath him. Miraculously, he was saved.

The following year, the Shpoler Zeide instructed that all his children, grandchildren, and future descendants should make an annual Seuda on the nineteenth day of Shevat, thanking Hashem for the miracle that saved his life.

The evening concluded with a special tribute to Rabbi Moshe Avtzon, who helped sponsor the event. Rabbi Avtzon expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Rabbi Yossi Butman, who continued his long-standing tradition of arranging much of the evening.