Chabad of Tel Aviv broke a World Guinness record Friday night Parshas Shelach 574 when 2,236 people gathered together at Hangar 11 in the Port of Tel Aviv to join in the largest Shabbos meal ever. Registration opened a month ago and filled to capacity within two weeks. Pravin Patel, a Guinness World Records adjudicator came in especially from London to record the event.
It was the first time that the Port of Tel Aviv, a known irreligious location, hosted a Shabbos observed strictly in accordance with Halacha. Thousands of students joined in the Shabbos tefilos and later made Kiddush and washed for Hamotzi before the meal. All this was done without microphones, without cell phones and without cameras keeping with Shabbos.
The historical event opened an hour before Shabbos with a performance by the Israeli rock band “Hamadregot.” and with greetings from various rabbis and public figures who urged an increase in Shabbos observance in Tel Aviv.
Rabbi Joseph Gerlitzky, the Chabad head Shaliach in Tel Aviv-Yaffo and founder of Chabad on Campus in Israel said that this huge event proves that the youth of Tel Aviv defy the accepted notion that Tel Aviv is anti-religious and embraces Shabbos observance with open hearts. “May this event be a source of strength and encouragement to observe all other Mitzvos,” said Rabbi Gerlitzky and urged everyone to commit themselves to at least one of the Mitzvos of the Ten Mitzvos Campaign initiated by the Lubavitcher Rebbe ZT”L.
Prominent legal expert Professor Alan Dershowitz reminded the crowd of the Rebbe’s motto ‘He who has 100 wants 200’ “therefore we must double the number next year to 4,500. Former Canadian Justice Minister Irwin Cotler praised Chabad activities the world over and recalled his special relationship he had with the Rebbe and members of the Chabad movement in Montreal.
Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv Rabbi Meir Lau Shlita also had high praise for the Chabad event and urged the crowd to daven for the teens who were abducted near Hebron only ours ago. Indeed special tefilos were recited for their safe return.
Some 1,000 women and girls were vividly moved to tears when they lit the Shabbos candles before sundown ushering in the Shabbos. They were assisted by the students of the Girls Seminary of Tel Aviv “Beit Shoshana“.
The MC of the event was Rabbi Zev Raskin, the Chabad shaliach in Cyprus. Joining the meal was former Israeli ambassador to Washington Dr. Michael Oren, Israeli sports legend Tal Brodye and Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai.
Ambassador Oren urged the students to participate in Chabad events all year around and recalled his days when he was a student in various universities. “Chabad on Campus was always there for me, it was like a second home for me, I owe them a lot, they are true friends” he said.
Following the meal many students remained for a Chassidic “farbregen” with the Rebbe’s emissaries including Rabbi Nechemia Wilhelm from Thailand.
Organizers of the event, Rabbi Shaya Gerlitzky, Shaliach on Chabad on Campus in Tel Aviv and Rabbi Adi Elephant, an energetic shaliach at Chabad on Campus promised that “this historical event is the beginning of a revolution as Chazal promise ‘If Israel keeps but only 2 Shabbatot properly Moshiach will come’.”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
good for Chabad for trying to increase kedusha in a city that seems intent on increasing toavah.
Please give credit where it’s due. One of the main organisers of the event is a woman by the name of Debora Danan who organises jewish events in Tel Aviv and Chabad joined her and organised the food aspect of the event.
BS”D
Looks like a great article. Two thoughts: It could be that this event was not solely a Chabad event. Um, my friend, Jay Schultz, has a non-profit organization called White City Shabbat — he told me weeks ago that this was an event he and his associates were working on. In his promo email to me from May, it was implied that he and his people spearheaded the effort to make it happen, bringing in partners to make it the big success that it was. In that promo email, Jay wrote that the event was cosponsored by “Our Amazing White City Community, City of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Tel Aviv Rabbanut, Hangar 11, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, ROI Community, Am Yisrael Foundation, Chabad On Campus in Tel Aviv, Golan Heights Winery, Ernst & Young, G-d & YOU.” Also, if it’s allowed, people ought to see this link http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/181797. I’m just trying to spread the credit to wherever it is due.
Second, B”H, the larger Chassidic communities often have meals in which thousands of people (from within and outside of the community) are served during the course of hours — the requirements of Guinness might not be technically fulfilled in such instances, but the Kiddush Hashem is just as impressive. Ken yirbu!
White City Shabbat received the award from Guinness, Chabad DID NOT DO THIS MEAL.
They were just one of the many partner organizations at the event, including the City of Tel Aviv, the Tel Aviv Rabbanut, Golan Heights Winery, Ernst & Young, the ROI Community etc…
Funny u didn’t print my first reply. I see many have written in jay shultz and whitecity shabbat are the organisers of this guiness event pleaser write new article to reflect this thankyou
When someone gives credit where it’s due, it hastens Moshiach’s arrival. When someone takes undeserving credit, the reverse occurs.