By M. Lowinger

It’s well known that Chazaq events are always eagerly anticipated and well attended. But no one could have predicted the massive outpouring of support and enthusiasm that was generated Monday evening, May 8th, at the Fifth Annual Chazaq Big Event. An estimated 2,000 people from all walks of life streamed into the Elite Palace in Woodside all night long and were treated to a truly inspirational evening. This event wasn’t merely ‘Big’. It was truly HUGE and a tremendous kiddush HaShem!

Chazaq is a Queens-based organization dedicated to building a stronger future for their community through a variety of outreach programs including dynamic lectures and presentations, Torah libraries, chavruta programs, publications and more. Most importantly, CHAZAQ places much emphasis on inspiring Jewish students who attend public schools by providing exciting and educational after school programs in numerous locations.

Under the leadership of Rabbi Ilan Meirov and his younger brother Yaniv, Chazaq encourages us to strengthen ourselves while looking for ways to inspire others.

Monday’s mega-event was star studded in every sense of the word. There was tremendous energy in the room, but also a sincere desire for Torah inspiration. Men and women of all ages filled the Grand Ballroom and remained captivated and attentive throughout the program. Despite the overflow crowd, the event was organized and well planned. Dozens of volunteers ushered the guests to their seats, managed the flow of traffic, and ensured a successful evening.

The evening opened with tehillim recited by Rav Ahron Walkin Shlit”a, Rosh Yeshiva of Bais Nosson Meir, and Kabbalas Ohl Malchus Shomayim by Rav Yitzchak Yisraeli, the newly elected Chief Rabbi of the Bukharian Rabbanut in the USA and Canada.

Chazaq Director Rabbi Ilan Meirov then shared a powerful lesson on how one must never give up on a single Yid, and spoke of Chazaq’s “No Child Left Behind” initiative, where Chazaq seeks to provide a Jewish education to the thousands of Jewish public school students in the Queens community. Rabbi Meirov shared that since the beginning of the initiative prior to Rosh Hashana, hundreds of public students have attended Chazaq programs and nearly 200 have transferred to Yeshivas, leading to a thunderous applause by the audience.

Rabbi Eli Mansour was then called to the stage and spoke about the talmidim of Rabbi Akiva. What was their downfall? How did they fail? What does it mean that ‘shelo nohagu kovod zeh lazeh’?

“The students of Rabbi Akiva were matmidim,” Rabbi Mansour explained. “They were tzadikim. But they weren’t temimim.” His message to the supporters of Chazaq was, “You are involved in something that will bring life. Spread the wealth. This is our calling. There’s no room for selfishness.”

Rabbi Zecharia Wallerstein spoke next and pointed out that the first night of sefirah represents “chesed she’bachesed’, and the last night is ‘malchus shebamalchus’. “So how,” he asked, “does one go from chesed to malchus?”

Malchus happens when you combine the midos of hakoras hatov and commitment. Boaz, he said, would greet his workers in the field with the words: “Hashem Imachem”, — “May Hashem be With You.”

That’s because Boaz understood the significance of hakoras hatov. “And that,” explained Rabbi Wallerstein, “is the foundation of malchus.”
Rus, he continued, remained committed to her mother in law Naomi. ‘V’Rus Dovkoh Boh’. “If you want to have malchus, you need to stay focused and committed no matter what it takes.”

How to apply this lesson to our daily lives? Rabbi Wallerstein suggested that the women in the audience undertake a commitment to light Shabbat candles five minutes early. “In this way,” he explained, “you are showing Hashem how important Shabbos is to you. That means you’re committed.”
As for the men, he suggested they consider making a commitment to arrive in shul five minutes early, before the tefillah begins. “It’s a huge segulah,” he added. “Hakodosh Boruch Hu comes to shul to greet the first ten who come to minyan.”
At Chazaq, inspiration is combined with entertainment for a totally awesome experience. Thus were we treated to a short yet meaningful musical interlude performed by the Six-13 a cappella singers and featuring the young Binyomin Elbaz.

But it was back to more inspiration soon enough, as we enjoyed hearing Charlie Harary illustrate the essence of becoming a hero.
Drawing on his passion for professional sports, Mr. Harary remembered a special moment during a recent Super Bowl that was described to him as a “hero’s moment.”

“What’s a hero’s moment?” he asked. “It’s that moment when everything may seem bleak but the person won’t give up no matter what.”

One of our nation’s greatest heroes, he pointed out, is Rabbi Akiva. “He was a shepherd who did not even know aleph bais until he was 40 years old. But he becomes the leader of the generation and a military giant who was the genius behind the Bar Kochba revolt.”

Rabbi Akiva had 24,000 outstanding students. He was the greatest leader of the Jewish people. But soon, says Harary, “things start to unravel.” The revolt ends unsuccessfully. The students start to die. And all seems lost.
“A reasonable man would just pack up,” Harary observes. But not Rabbi Akiva. He was a hero. “He starts all over again. He was over 100 years old but he begins anew with five students. These five eventually establish the Torah she’be’al peh.”

There are heroes in every generation, Harary tells us. These are the people who never give up, even when the going gets tough. “The hero’s moment is the essence of being a Jew.” Who can become a hero? “Look in the mirror,” says Harary. “There’s a hero waiting to happen.”

The highlight of the evening was no doubt the appearance of the esteemed Harav Yitzchok Dovid Grossman, Rov of Migdal Ha’emek in Eretz Yisroel. Rav Grossman’s very presence is itself an inspiration. His hadras ponim and distinguished demeanor is mesmerizing. It’s easy to see how he was able to galvanize a community and bring countless Jewish souls to teshuva.

According to Rav Grossman, when we say “Boruch Elokeinu Sheborohnu Lichvodo” we should recognize that Hashem created us for his honor. That is our mission as Jews.

He captivated us with his personal story. A six generation Yerushalmi, he lived through the miracle of the Six Day War in Eretz Yisroel and remembers visiting the Kotel for the very first time. Overwhelmed, he wondered “What can I give back to Hashem for this miracle?”

Rav Grossman decided to dedicate his life to bringing his fellow Jews to a life of Torah, specifically in the secular town of Migdal Ha’emek. “I was naïve,” he wryly admits. With a touch of humor he charmed us with stories of his visits to discos and prisons. Eventually, with sincerity and warmth, he won over an entire community. “We started with 18 boys,” he said. “Now we are educating over 6000 children!”

He gently encouraged his listeners to “be careful with our bodies.” This means “not to look where you shouldn’t. Watch what you say and how you think.” This is our duty as Torah Jews all year round, but especially during sefiras ha’omer. “In order to receive the Torah, we have to be pure, to leave the sha’ar of tum’ah and enter the sha’ar kedusha.”

It was a poignant conclusion to an incredible evening, especially meaningful as we count the days towards Matan Torah. Thanks to Chazaq, we will continue to be inspired to build a stronger future for ourselves, our families, and the community at large.

For more information about Chazaq’s many inspirational programs, visit Chazaq.org or call 917-617-3636.

Photo credits: Gabe Solomon and Shua Katz