By COLlive staff

Descendants of the Shpoler Zeide gathered in Crown Heights to celebrate 233 years since the life-saving miracle of Yud Tes Shevat 1793.

On that Friday, after participating in a Bris, the Shpoler Zeide began his journey back, crossing the river which had turned into ice. As he made his way back across the ice by sled, the ice began to melt and crack beneath him. The Shpoler Zeide saw that in Heaven there was a decree that threatened his life. Miraculously, he was saved.

The following year, the Shpoler Zeide instituted a Seudas Hoda’ah — a thanksgiving meal — and said that his descendants should gather annually to mark this special day with appreciation and thanksgiving to Hashem for the miracle that saved his life.

After World War Two, upon arriving in the United States of America, Mrs. Rivka Dina Geisinsky, of blessed memory, would cook a special meal on this special day.

For many years, Rabbi Mordechai Kalmenson, of blessed memory, led the Shpoler Zeide Society. His nephew, Rabbi Mendel Blizinsky, helped for a number of years.

Later, for many years, Mrs. Rochel Butman, daughter of Reb Moshe Aharon Geisinsky, of blessed memory, organized the annual celebration. In recent years, the celebration is organized by her sons, Rabbi Velvl Butman and Rabbi Yossi Butman.

The highlight of the evening is the retelling of the miracle and story in the precise tradition handed down through generations. Rabbi Geisinsky, of blessed memory, would repeat the story each year with accurate and meticulous detail and clarity as he heard it during his youth from Reb Boruch Gad Finkelshtein, who was a great-grandson of the Shpoler Zeide. Since his passing in 1992, his son, Rabbi Sholom Dovid Geisinsky, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Queens, has continued the tradition of telling the story.

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Geisinsky, a Rosh Yeshiva at Chovevei Torah in Crown Heights, led the singing of the famous songs of the Shpoler Zeide, including a special Nigun which was taught by the Zeide family called “Ezras Avoseinu,” the Nigun “Kol Bayaar,” which movingly describes the love of Hashem for His children, Am Yisroel, and the famous Nigun “Hop Kazak.”

The children were treated to a special program highlighted by a dancing bear in costume, allowing them to take photos and remember the famous story of Hop Kazak. “It is important that the children enjoy the celebration and absorb the message and the Z’chus to be an Einikel of the Shpoler Zeide,” said Rabbi Moishe Avtzon, who sponsors the annual children’s program, ensuring that the younger generation develops a love and appreciation for this special merit.

The guest speaker of the evening was Rabbi Yosef Minkowitz, principal of Beis Rivkah Girls School in Montreal, Canada, and son-in-law of Reb Moshe Aharon Geisinsky, of blessed memory. Rabbi Minkowitz shared stories and inspiration, including how the Rebbe would ask each year at the Vov Tishrei Farbrengen to sing the Shpoler Zeide’s Nigun of Hop Kazak.

The central theme of Rabbi Minkowitz’s address was based on the Hayom Yom of 14 Teves, where the Rebbe describes a visit of the Shpoler Zeide to the Alter Rebbe.

“The Shpoler Zeide was a man of ardent feeling, more intensely so than his colleagues, the other disciples of the Maggid of Mezritch. When he visited the Alter Rebbe in Liadi, in the year 5569 (1809) or 5570 (1810), he related that when he was three years old and saw the Baal Shem Tov, ‘he placed his holy hand on my heart, and from that time onward, I have felt warm.’

A gesture of a tzaddik, and all the more so seeing him or hearing his voice, should generate an effect that will never be forgotten.”

Rabbi Minkowitz told how in 1984 the Rebbe called Rabbi Mordechai Kalmenson, of blessed memory, to the door of his holy room in 770 and gave him from his holy hand a bottle of L’chaim, and how the Rebbe poured wine from his holy “Becher,” Kiddush cup, and gave the bottle to Rabbi Kalmenson to distribute to the participants at the annual Shpoler Zeide Seuda celebration. Every year after that, the Rebbe would give Rabbi Kalmenson a bottle at Kos Shel Brocho for the Shpoler Zeide Seuda celebration.

Violinist Shmuel Kudrin movingly played the songs and nigunim of the Shpoler Zeide, bringing a special musical warmth and feeling to the gathering.

The evening brought much inspiration to strengthen commitment to Torah and Yiddishkeit, to follow in the ways of the Shpoler Zeide — including helping to feed poor Jews — and to do everything possible to hasten the coming of Moshiach Now.