Large men’s and women’s farbrengens dedicated to the 6th of Tishrei – the yahrzeit of the righteous Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson, mother of the leader of our generation, the Seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, and wife of the eminent rabbi and Kabbalist Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, who led the Jewish community of our city from 1909 to 1939 – took place at the Jewish Community of Dnipro.
The large men’s farbrengen was held in one of the halls of the Central “Golden Rose” Synagogue. It was attended by numerous congregants of the synagogue, students of Dnipro’s yeshivas, rabbis, emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and members of the Jewish Community of Dnipro. Addressing those present were Rabbi Moishe Neumann and Rabbi Moishe Leib Weber, who spoke about the personality of Rebbetzin Chana, her self-sacrifice, spiritual fortitude, and the immense role she played in preserving and spreading the legacy of her husband, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson.
Alongside the men’s farbrengen, a large women’s farbrengen dedicated to the 6th of Tishrei and the legacy of Rebbetzin Chana was also held, bringing together the women of the Jewish Community of Dnipro. Shoshana Weber and Tzipora Nachshon played an active role in its organization. The farbrengen was conducted at a very high level and with great spiritual elevation, and the story of Rebbetzin Chana became the foundation for a discussion about the purpose of a Jewish woman, her spiritual strength, her responsibility for her home and family, her faithfulness to Torah, and her ability—even under the most difficult circumstances—to support those around her and spread the light of Yiddishkeit.
The fate of Rebbetzin Chana is inextricably linked to Dnipro. For many years, she stood by her husband during his service as rabbi of Yekaterinoslav, assisted him in his tremendous work of preserving Jewish life under conditions of Soviet persecution, and supported members of the community. After the arrest of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak, she fought for his release, and then voluntarily followed him into distant exile in Kazakhstan, sharing with him all the hardships of that extraordinarily difficult period.
“The Lubavitcher Rebbe placed very great importance on the memory of the righteous Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson and on spreading her spiritual legacy – every year he organized special farbrengens in honor of her memory, and we continue this tradition, spreading and strengthening the spiritual light,” noted Rabbi Reuven Kaminezki. “Both the men’s and the women’s farbrengen were conducted at a very high level and provided a great charge of spiritual energy, especially important during this period of preparation for Yom Kippur. In our city, the yahrzeit of Rebbetzin Chana Schneerson holds special significance for our entire beloved united and cohesive Jewish Community of Dnipro under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
