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Descendants of Alter Rebbe Gather in Inspiration

Close to Two Hundred descendants of the Alter Rebbe, gathered for the yearly Melava Malka and an evening of great inspiration. The Tzetzoim made a Siyum (conclusion) and Hascholo –new start– of the Shulchon Oruch of the Alter Rebbe. They sang all Nigunim — songs – of the Alter Rebbe in an evening of spiritual uplifting.

“Poschin Bidvar Malchus” – starting with a Sicha (talk) of the Rebbe, the Tzetzoim saw a video of the Rebbe where he speaks of the special merit of being one of the descendants of the Alter Rebbe.

Rabbi Shmuel Butman, chairman of the Association of the descendants of the Alter Rebbe, and Director of the Lubavitch Youth Organization related the Sicha of the Rebbe where the Rebbe expands on the connection between Chof Daled Teves, the Yahfrtzeit of the Alter Rebbe and the Parsha of Voeiro.

The meaning of the term וצאצאנו

Rabbi Shlomo Besser, a descendent of the Rebbetzin Menucha Rochel, daughter of the Mitteler Rebbe stressed the talk of the Rebbe concerning Tzetzoim.

In the Sicha the Rebbe said that in the Siddur there is a version ונהיה אנחנו וצאצאנו וצאצאי צאצאנו  we are asking for a Brocha for “ourselves, our offspring and our offspring’s offspring.”

The version the Alter Rebbe chose, however, was ונהיה אנחנו וצאצאנו that we are asking for a Brocha for “ourselves and our offspring.” The advantage of that is that in the first version we are limiting our Brocha to three generations – ourselves, our children and our grandchildren. Whereas, in the version that the Alter Rebbe chose, we are not limiting our Brocha for it includes our offspring’s without any qualifications — all offspring without limitations.

The Rebbe continued that in this one word וצאצאנו the Alter Rebbe put in his son and successor the Mitteler Rebbe together with allצאצאים throughout the generations!!!

“We were “Household Members” by the Rebbetzin”

A moving address was delivered by Rabbi Shem Rokeiach, a descendant of Reb Yosef Yitzchok of Avruch, the grandfather of the previous Rebbe, and the one the previous Rebbe is named after.

“We were ‘Household Members” by the Rebbetzin.”

Rabbi Rokeach told several personal stories how the Rebbe “worries for us” until this very day.

The special Zechus

Rabbi Chaim Yehudah Beck, Rov of the Cherkas Shul in Monsey, New York, a descendent of HaRav HaTzaddik Reb Mordechai Dov of Harnasteipel, grandson of HaRav HaTzaddik Reb Yaakov Yisroel of Cherkas, son-in-law of the Mitteler Rebbe spoke of the great Zchus (merit) of being a descendent of such a great Tzadik and the need to conduct oneself as is fitting for one who is a descendent of such a great Tzadik.

We saw the Rebbe’s צדקות וקדושה  from close!

A special guest was one of the צאצאים of the Alter Rebbe, Horav Yitchok Dov Jungreis, the Gorlitzer Rebbe, a descendent of HaRav HaTzaddik Reb Mordechai Dov of Harnasteipel In a very inspiring and moving talk he recalled that he spent his youth in Crown Heights where his father had a Shtibel on Montgomery Street, between Brooklyn and New York Avenues. “Our family was very close to the Rebbe, we saw the Rebbe’s rightlessness and Sanctity from close”

The need to know the special time in which we live

The Rebbe’s secretary, Rabbi Yehudah Leib Groner, who is a descendent of the Alter Rebbe, told several stories of the Rebbe. Rabbi Groner said that we must remember ourselves and educate our children about the special time in which we live – the time before the coming of Moshiach.

A meaningful folder

A great activity took place during the Melava Malka. Special folders were prepared in advance with each folder including a part of the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch, to be finished by the 24th of Teves 5777.

Many of the decendents were seen going home proudly with many folders each containing a special commitment to learn a section of the Shulchan Aruch. “This is a truly great idea” said a young descendant taking home several folders. “I know that no one else got the same folder, I must finish it.”

Siyum and Haschalah – “conclusion and start” on the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Oruch.

Rabbi Shlomo Yehudah Segal, Dayan in Crown Heights ,descendant of Reb Moshe, son of the Alter Rebbe made a Siyum and Haschalah – “conclusion and start” on the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Oruch. Rabbi Segal stressed the Sicha of the Rebbe on that subject where the Rebbe expands greatly on the special affection Hashem has for His Chosen People.

A “Pan” to the Alter Rebbe

The highlight of the evening was when theצאצאים  sang the ten Nigunim of the Alter Rebbe with great awe and inspiration. One of the young צאצאים Yosef Zirkind, very ably and inspirationally sang and led the singing with the live accompaniment of Yossi Goldstein.

A unique treat was when one of the younger צאצאים Menachem Mendel Kugel masterfully played on his violin two nigunim of the Alter Rebbe. The sounds of his violin brought a special sense of inspiration.

The Alter Rebbe’s Niggun

“You cannot possibly describe the unique atmosphere that was in the room when the nigun was being sung by the descendants of the Alter Rebbe,” said one of the offspring. “This was a particularly uplifting moment, one was able to truly feel that a Pan (“personal petition”) was being sent to the Alter Rebbe.”

Rabbi Butman thanked his son, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Butman for organizing the Melava Malka, “May the Zchus of the Alter Rebbe stand him in good stead in all things.”

The Descendants ended the evening with the strong feeling that the Alter Rebbe the first of Chabad leaders began the work to prepare the world for redemption and that the Rebbe, the seventh, who explicitly told us that this is the last generation of Galus, will finish the work of preparing the world for the great redemption, speedily in our very own days.

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