Shabbos in Review

"If not for the last minute, nothing would get done." These words certainly rang true this Shabbos. Don't get the wrong idea, Gan Yisroel is anything but unorganized, but desperate times call for desperate measures. The fires may burn, but Gan Yisroel would not be reduced to ashes. Late Thursday night it was decided, that as everyone knows, Shabbos in CGI is like no other experience in the world, so why should a fire in Rawson Village deprive our Masmidim of that experience? Plans were made, late night trips were made by Shliach and Truck Driver Zevi Greenwald, and supplies were bought. In the words of the great sage, Shliach, Car-Pool Companion and Jack Of All Trades Berel Majeski, “S’iz Gevoren.” The board of YG was there for us in our time of need, and helped us through some of logistics and graciously allowed us the use of their property. For this we will be eternally grateful.

And so it was, late Friday afternoon a few Bochurim embarked on an epic journey. Catering for over a hundred growing boys used to fine home-cooking is no mean feat; add to that the time constraints, it seems an impossibility! But as you all know, Shluchim are capable of doing anything. In the words of Menahel Gashmi, Rabbi A. Procel, “A Shliach is a Kol Yochol. (If he has to light a commercial stove, so be it)” The journey hiked up the steep trails of Melbourne streets as Dorm Counsellor, Taxi Driver, Courier and Printer Yisroel Haller, made his way from place to place picking up the essentials. The trail continued up over the mountain of vegetable peels that had been created and through the deafening roar of the music that blared throughout YG.

Shliach, Telemarketer and Publicist Yossi Unsdorfer, made sure the world was informed of the events.Head Chefs and Shluchim Mendel Perlstein and Mendel Dubov[w/y-ed] headed the Kitchen Kingdom, while the representative from our sponsors, Chabad of CA, and director of operations Shliach S.B Cunin, ran around making sure everything was in place. Shliach and Director Berel Lerman oversaw and made sure everything was fit for a Masmidim camp proudly bearing his name. Shluchim Meir Wilshansky and Yaakov Chaiton formed the Spiritual Advisory Committee, while Shliach Tzali Wilshansky brought in the much needed song books. The WhyGee layout needed a bit of a change, so enter our Venezuelan Shliach and Table and Food Design Specialist, Deepthroat Shuchat. Together with a few of our Masmidim, “each one a jewel so precious and rare”, he transformed the Zal into the likes of a five star dining facility.

After this team effort, we were just about ready to reach the peak of the climb, and begin what had been aptly named, “A Shabbos of Light and Unity.” After everyone lit their own personal Menorahs, they made their way over to the site of, the first ever, Grand Masmidim Public Menorah Lighting Ceremony. The aforementioned Berel Lerman inspired the crowd with warm words of encouragement, as he explained the message of Chanukah, “A little light can banish a lot of darkness.”

In yet another first, a young Israeli lit the Menorah, reciting three Brochos on the eighth night of Chanukah! Indeed, it was his first time lighting this year! Everyone present burst into a rendition of Haneiros Hallalu, followed by a short dose of singing and dancing.

We then paraded back to YG, warming up for a Shabbos promising to be like none other.

Sure enough, Kabbolos Shabbos was beautiful. There is no way a blog post can do justice to an experience of such proportions. The chayus, the energy, the life, the warmth, the liveliness was extraordinary. You could see the sparkle in the eyes of every Masmid, as they looked inside their Siddurim and pronounced each word loudly and clearly. Sydney Shluchim Zalmy Raskin and Dovid Lerner really had their bunks going! When it came to Lecho Dodi, each bunk was given the opportunity to begin a stanza with a different song. We seemed to cover all aspects of this Shabbos, from Chanukah to Niggunim of Simchah, from Didan Notzach to Niggun Hakafos! At the end, all Masmidim joined as one and danced in unison.

After that inspiring Davening, it was hard to imagine how the meal could improve on anything. But, believe it or not, get better it did! Berel Lerman kept tight control of the proceedings, as he called on different Masmidim to speak on the themes of their bunk. To that end, Birthday Boy Yechiel Klein represented the bunk of “The Alter Rebbe, Chabad Chassidus,” by telling a story of the Alter Rebbe. Masmid Alon Hammershmit represented his bunk, “The Rebbe, Moshiach Now” expressing how the Rebbes entire focus was the coming of Moshiach, and inspiring the crowd to increase in their focus of bringing Moshiach now. Masmid Eli Tatarka spoke on behalf of his bunk, “The Rebbe Rashab, Tomche Temimim.” He spoke about Bochurim being Neiros Lehoir and how we are Lamplighters.

As the delicious courses were dished out, Masmidim were confused at the reports that all this food had been made by Bochurim. “Surely this must have come from a catering company,” said one. “Yum, I think I’ll eat here next week also,” said yet another. The Gan Yisroel spirit was in true force as we all sang together. Each song with an important message, everyone got really involved as we sang with our arms over each others shoulders and danced happily on our chairs.
Guest Speaker and “Eirev Rav” Semichah Bochur Shmuly Geisinsky inspired the crowd with a story of king who mistakenly scratched the most precious diamond in his collection. He was inconsolable until a jeweller came and turned the scratch into the stem of a flower, making the diamond even more beautiful than before. “So it is with us,” he proclaimed, “Rawson Village may have been evacuated, destroying your hopes for a fun summer. But what we have done here is turn the situation into a flower, making it even better than before.”

As for the most important part of the meal, dessert, we were lucky to have the aforementioned birthday boy in attendance. Thanks to the Klein family, we all joined in the birthday celebration by sampling of the delicious birthday cake! Toffuti Cuties was the last touch up to complete the feast.

After the meal, different Farbrengens could be seen scattered throughout the Zal. Shliach and Head Mashpiah Yanky Raskin was seen Farbrenging well into the morning.

The cleaning crew didn’t have a moment to stop and soak in the spirit of the evening as they went around sweeping and cleaning the Zal, leaving it even nicer then when they had started!

The people that have to be thanked for helping make this Shabbos the great success it was, are too numerous to mention. We would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for EVERYHTING you did. From peeling to chopping, from setting up tables and chairs, to cooking up fish, from sweeping the floors to washing dishes, from making phone calls to taking pictures, you guys helped out tremendously and we, seriously, could not have done it without you.

Thank You.

So, for now, this is me, Blogger Boy Leibel signing off. Hope to see you by the rest of the Yeshivas Kayitz programming. And remember:

You can take us out of Gan Yisroel, but you can’t take Gan Yisroel out of us!