Thousands of Chabad followers gather in Jerusalem ahead of Gimmel Tammuz

Thousands of Chabad Hasidim, emissaries and their supporters gathered on Friday night at the "Vehiraketi" event, a lead-up to Gimmel Tammuz, held a week before the date and organized by Chabad Youth (Tzeirei Agudat Chabad). The program in Jerusalem combined preparation for the anniversary with the Rebbe’s instruction to give thanks and praise for miracles. It began at Binyanei HaUma with exhibitions on the life, personality and work of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, as well as the many books published from his teachings.

One special exhibition focused on the Rebbe’s connection to the Western Wall, a topic organizers said had not been widely presented before. A nearby interactive area included a quiz on "the Rebbe and the Western Wall," and guests received a deluxe album issued by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation about the Rebbe and Chabad activity at the site. Before the main program, a welcoming ceremony was held in the Western Wall Tunnels for dozens of Chabad emissaries who had come from around the world for the event and for visits and encouragement at Chabad institutions and communities across Israel.

The main gathering in the Western Wall Tunnels took place in the presence of Jerusalem’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Shlomo Amar, Chief Rabbi Kalman Bar, Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch, MK Meir Porush and other guests. After the exhibitions, the crowd moved to Binyanei HaUma for what organizers called the "world’s largest niggunim concert," led by musician Rafi Biton with the Chabad Choir, Kolot Min HaShamayim Choir and an expanded orchestra. More than 100 singers and musicians performed for two and a half hours, with dozens of Chabad melodies.

At the start of the musical program, a recorded greeting from Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli was screened; his ministry sponsored the event. Chikli praised Chabad’s emissaries around the world. Porush said the gathering embodied the soul’s power of song, while Rabbi Rabinovitch described the deep bond between the Rebbe, Chabad and the Western Wall and told a story about the Rebbe’s influence after Gimmel Tammuz. Chabad Youth chairman Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Aharonov said the day is one of longing, self-examination and renewed commitment, stressing that the Rebbe demanded action, not emotion alone. The evening ended with many participants continuing to the Western Wall plaza for prayer and more niggunim, as organizers said they would go forward with renewed strength to fulfill the Rebbe’s call to bring the Redemption.