A festive gathering was held at 770 to mark the 15th of Av, following a directive from the Rebbe issued 35 years before celebrate the day with a large farbrengen and joyous meal.
Rabbi Avrohom Osdoba, rabbi of Crown Heights and member of the local Beis Din, completed a study cycle on Seder Moed. The event in the main study hall drew hundreds of community members, yeshiva students, and guests.
Several rabbis addressed the gathering. Rabbi Binyamin Zilberstrom from Jerusalem spoke on teachings regarding increased study from the 15th of Av onward, connecting this practice to divine blessing. Rabbi Shalom Charitonov, a Mashpia, reviewed textual teachings on the day's significance.
Prof. Shimon Silman delivered remarks in English, noting that despite the passage of more than 30 years since the Rebbe declared "The time of your Redemption has arrived," The message should remain a focus of discussion and effort. He drew an analogy from the Torah portion VaEschanan, explaining that though God's words to Moses initially appear to forbid further petition regarding entry to the land, a careful reading - noting the cantillation marks in the text - reveals the opposite sense.
A completion ceremony was also held for the daily Rambam study cycle, with Rabbi Meir Shlomo Bernstein completing the section on laws of the Day of Atonement service and delivering a lecture. Rabbi Yekusiel Feldman began the next section.
Interspersed with the addresses were musical interludes featuring singing and dancing that extended into the night. Rabbi Menachem Gerlitzky, who had been directed by the Rebbe to arrange completion ceremonies throughout the first nine days of Av and through the 15th, announced that "The main thing is action." The events were transmitted worldwide via 770live.