From tens of thousands of celebrants who gathered for four days of events at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem to those who partook of intimate Chassidic farbrengens (informal gatherings) in small towns and villages worldwide, Jews observed two days of Hakhel year commemoration and celebration of the 19th and 20th of the Hebrew month of Kislev, known as “the New Year of Chassidism.”

Jerusalem

More than 60,000 men, women and children from all walks of Jewish life attended four days of lectures and concerts; leafed through the world’s largest Chassidic book sale, where more than 180,000 works of Chassidic thought were sold; and participated in a massive 19 Kislev farbrengen and concert that packed the Jerusalem’s International Convention Center, Binyanei Hauma.

19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
Rabbi Yoel Kahn, 19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
Rabbi Yoel Kahn, 19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)
19 Kislev 5776, Jerusalem (Photo: Meir Alfasi)

Ulyanovsk, Russia

Entering the 25th year since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, the Jewish community of Ulyanovsk, Russia—the birthplace of Lenin—attended a 19 Kislev event organized by Rabbi Yossi Marazov.

19 Kislev 5776, Ulyanovsk, Russia
19 Kislev 5776, Ulyanovsk, Russia

Boro Park, Brooklyn

Esteemed scholars and rabbinic leaders Rabbi Moshe Wolfson of Brooklyn and Rabbi Ezra Schochet of Los Angeles addressed the large annual 19 Kislev farbrengen in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn, N.Y.

Rabbi Moshe Wolfson, 19 Kislev 5776, Boro Park, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Photo: JDN)
Rabbi Moshe Wolfson, 19 Kislev 5776, Boro Park, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Photo: JDN)
19 Kislev 5776, Boro Park, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Photo: JDN)
19 Kislev 5776, Boro Park, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Photo: JDN)
19 Kislev 5776, Boro Park, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Photo: JDN)
19 Kislev 5776, Boro Park, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Photo: JDN)

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands

Rabbi Asher and Henya Federman hosted a small but lively gathering for residents and tourists in the sunny Caribbean island.

19 Kislev 5776, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (Photo: Alex Gorokhov)
19 Kislev 5776, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands (Photo: Alex Gorokhov)

Tibilsi, Georgia

More than 400 members of the Jewish community gathered in Tbilisi, Georgia.

19 Kislev 5776, Tbilisi, Georgia
19 Kislev 5776, Tbilisi, Georgia
19 Kislev 5776, Tbilisi, Georgia
19 Kislev 5776, Tbilisi, Georgia
19 Kislev 5776, Tbilisi, Georgia
19 Kislev 5776, Tbilisi, Georgia

North Palm Beach, Fla.

Rabbi Zalman and Hindel Levitin hosted a 19 Kislev dinner and farbrengen in South Florida

19 Kislev 5776, North Palm Beach, Fla.
19 Kislev 5776, North Palm Beach, Fla.
19 Kislev 5776, North Palm Beach, Fla.
19 Kislev 5776, North Palm Beach, Fla.
19 Kislev 5776, North Palm Beach, Fla.
19 Kislev 5776, North Palm Beach, Fla.

Monsey, N.Y.

The Rockland County Jewish community celebrated 19 Kislev with a gala melava malka (post-Shabbat meal) organized by Heichal Menachem of Monsey.

19 Kislev 5776, Monsey, N.Y.
19 Kislev 5776, Monsey, N.Y.
19 Kislev 5776, Monsey, N.Y.
19 Kislev 5776, Monsey, N.Y.
19 Kislev 5776, Monsey, N.Y.
19 Kislev 5776, Monsey, N.Y.