7 months ago

Thousands of Shluchim, One Rebbe: The Gala Banquet

Thousands of Shluchim and their guests packed into the Razag Ballroom in Crown Heights for the Gala Banquet of the International Kinus Hashluchim – 5786 on Motzei Shabbos Chayei Sarah • Full Story, Photos, Video

By Chabadinfo Reporter

At 7:30 PM, the doors of the magnificent Razag Hall in the Rebbe’s shechuna, Crown Heights, swung open to the stirring music of R’ Yossi Cohen, as thousands of the Rebbe’s Shluchim from across the globe entered and took their seats for the impressive banquet of the Kinus Hashluchim 5786.

The packed event opened with the emcee, the Rebbe’s shliach to New Jersey, Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Carlebach, warmly welcoming the shluchim who had arrived from every corner of the world.

Immediately afterward, the Rebbe’s shliach to Bologna, Italy, Rabbi Dovid Eliyahu Bronstein, was invited to recite the Rebbe’s Kapital, and concluded it with the proclamation: “Yechi Adoneinu.”

“We begin with Dvar Malchus,” and on the screens, a video of the Rebbe was shown. Sichos spoken decades ago sounded as if they were said today.

The first keynote was delivered by Rabbi Mendy Bogomilsky, the Rebbe’s shliach to Millburn/Short Hills, New Jersey, who spoke about the growth and development of his community.

A moving tribute followed this in memory of the shliach and Rosh Yeshivah of Chasidei Chabad of Tzfas, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Wilshansky a”h, speaking about the mission of Shluchim in preparing the world to welcome Moshiach Tzidkeinu.

Member of Knesset Ohad Tal then took the stage, speaking about the tremendous impact of the Rebbe’s shluchim around the world and about the three “Shleimus,” which the Rebbe fought for.

Immediately after, a captivating panel took place, accompanied by a presentation, featuring the Rebbe’s shliach to Cozumel, Rabbi Dudi Kaplan, together with senior pollster Shlomo Filber, discussing the growing awakening of Emuna in the coming of Moshiach among the Jewish people.

At that moment, the shluchim broke out into spirited, uplifting dancing to the lively music of R’ Yossi Cohen, who had the entire hall on its feet.

Following that, a powerful and inspiring video was screened about the Rebbe’s shliach to Ethiopia, Rabbi Eliyahu Habib, who recounted his miraculous recovery.

The Rebbe teaches us that hamaaseh hu haiker, and accordingly, at the banquet, Rabbi Shraga Crombie announced a new initiative, with a donation from one of the gvirim, in which tens of thousands of dollars will be distributed to Shluchim to assist in their hafotzos in matters of Geulah u’Moshiach.

Later, words of bracha were delivered by the mara d’asra and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din, Rabbi Yosef Yeshaya Braun, addressing the theme of this year’s Kinus: “A shliach empowered with his eser koschos hanefesh—whose gematria equals Moshiach.”

A fiery, impassioned address was then given by Rabbi Aryeh Nislevitz, the Rebbe’s shliach to Aubervilliers, France, who shared powerful and moving stories from shlichus in France.

Shluchim gathered in unity with their brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisroel and around the world—armed with the Rebbe’s message of Kabalas Pnei Moshiach.