On the two hundred and thirteenth anniversary of the passing of the founder of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, the First Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, also known as the Alter Rebbe, a delegation from the Dnipro Jewish Community traditionally visited the ohel of the great tzaddik in the city of Hadiach, Poltava Oblast.
This year, activists from the women’s movement of the Dnipro Jewish Community joined the men’s group, along with students from the sixth grade and older of Machon “Chaya-Mushka.” The trip’s organization was undertaken and brilliantly executed by Ilana Shpolyanska, entrusted by the community.
Despite challenging weather conditions, the community delegation arrived in Hadiach in comfortable transport, adhering to the rules for visiting holy sites. Participants wrote PAN (Pidyon Nefesh) notes – special appeals to the tzaddik requesting blessings, including their own petitions and the names of those in need of spiritual or material help and support. After proper preparation, the delegation visited the ohel itself, prayed sincerely, and left their notes, as prescribed by Jewish tradition.
Following the visit to the ohel, a farbrengen in honor of this great day was held at the “Admor Hazaken” pilgrimage center. It proceeded with an elevated spiritual mood, in an atmosphere of genuine chassidic joy and achdus (unity). After the farbrengen concluded, the delegation of the Dnipro Jewish Community embarked on the return journey, having received a powerful charge of spiritual energy.
“The very atmosphere of this wonderful place opens the soul in a new way. When you prepare together with friends to visit the ohel, when you attune yourself, when you feel the sincerity, the depth, the fervor of the prayers at the ohel – this experience is hard to put into words. It is an extremely important spiritual experience,” shares Chaya Maltseva, a participant in the Dnipro Jewish Community delegation. “I am immeasurably happy that I was able to visit the ohel of the Alter Rebbe this year together with the Jewish women of our city. I want to thank everyone for the excellent organization of the trip, for the care shown by our community for every Jew, and to assure that each and every one of us prayed at the ohel for the well-being and prosperity of our beloved, united, and close-knit Dnipro Jewish Community under the wise leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
