On Monday night, 18 Elul - a Chai Elul Hakhel Farbrengen took place in the Yeshiva Centre - Chabad Headquarters of NSW, 36 Flood Street, Bondi. The Farbrengen was in honor of the auspicious day of Chai Elul, the birthday of Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement and Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi founder of the Chabad Lubavitch movement and author of the Tanya and the Shulchan Aruch Harav.
This year was special being that Chai Elul is also the 400th yortzeit of the great Rabbi Yehudah Lowe the Mahara"l of Prague, who besides being a forbearer of Rabbi Schneur Zalman (Rabbi Schneur Zalman is 7th generation to the MAHARA"L) his Tanya is also heavily based on the writings of the MAHARA"L of Prague.
Over a three course meal and L'Chaims, Rabbi Pinchus Hacohen Feldman, Spiritual dean of the Yeshiva Centre and Head Shliach of the Rebbe to NSW, Australia, told amazing stories about the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe. Amongst the stories, he told of how the Chabad Center was made in Vilna, the center of the non Chassidic world at the time and how its founder, the great renowned genius scholar and philantropist, Rabbi Meir Refoel's became a Chossid of the Alter Rebbe.
Thanks Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Hacohen Feldman, Menahel and Mashpia of the Yeshiva Gedola Sydney for organizing the extremly inspiring Farbrengen and the financing of the Seudas Mitzvah.
Rabbi Yosef Feldman blessed the community and mentioned that the Farbrengen is also a bit a "Seudas Hodoah" thanksgiving meal, to thank Hashem for the continued miracles he has done to keep the Yeshiva Centre running, "l'maala min Hateva" in a manner which is above nature, including the latest miracle, the purchasing of a new building in a central location in Bondi by our Cheder Chabad Lubavitch for the girls school and the preschool.
Rabbi Daniel Kaye mentioned the importance of utilizing the last days of this Hakhel year to make Hakhel gatherings in ones home, preparing for the new year 5770, a very special year for all of Lubavitch and friends of Chabad. He emphasized the importance in participating in the Rebbe's "Keren Hashonoh" and the necessity and great merit to send Panim to the Rebbe asking for blessings for the new year . He told of how the Rebbe is still doing his mission of leading and blessing the Jewish people, as the Talmud states regarding Moses "Ma kahn omed Umeshamesh af kahn omed Umeshamesh" a Sheppard does not abandon his flock and the Rebbe will find a way to bless and answer all those who still write and request his blessings.
All the above was interspersed with heartfelt chassidic song and dance!
Following birkas hamozon and the conclusion of the formal part of the farbrengen, the participants broke into small groups formed little groups to farbreng till the small hours of the morning.
