Baltimore, MD - Nov. 22

This past Shabbos, Parshas Chaya Sarah, Baltimore was zoche to host Rabbi Yitzchak Meir Flitenstein, the Kapishnitzer Rebbe of Yerushalayim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapishnitz), who visited this past weekend. Over the course of the Rebbe’s visit, hundreds of people flocked to meet the Rebbe at various venues.

The Rebbe and his sizeable entourage arrived Thursday afternoon and the Rebbe met with a number of people privately. The Rebbe was hosted by Reb Mordechai Snider and his mishpocha, cousins of the Rebbe. Erev Shabbos the Rebbe visited with the Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Israel Rabbinical College, Rav Aharon Feldman, Shlit”a (HoRav Aharon Feldman)(
Ner Israel Rabbinical College).

On Shabbos, after davening mincha at the Snider home, the Rebbe davened Kabbolas Shabbos and Ma’ariv at Arugas Habosem (Rabbi Taub's shul) and conducted a Tisch, Shalosh Seudos and Havdalah at K'hal Machzekai Torah. Those who attended these seudos shared a special historical event, as the Rebbe is believed to be the first Rebbe from the Rhizhener dynasty to have visited Baltimore for a Shabbos. Representing Malchus, the Rebbe amazed those present with his self-control and regal bearing, and shared many divrei Torah with those who attended the seudos.

Motzoi Shabbos, the Rebbe presided at a gala Melava Malka at the Snider home. Rabbi Nesanel Kostelitz, Shlit”a, Rov of K’hal Machzikei Torah in Baltimore, attended and – to the surprise of the Rebbe and all assembled – honored the Rebbe with k’sivas ois in a Sefer Torah that Rabbi Kostelitz had written in Eretz Yisroel.

Sunday, the Rebbe met individually with members of the community, many of whom consulted with him about personal issues and asked for his brochos and tefillos. Later on Sunday, the Rebbe davened mincha at the Pikesville Plaza building at the 750 square foot Bais Medrash K’hal Chassidim, located on the 7th Floor, followed by a Hakomas Mezuzah for the Law Offices of Snider & Associates, also located on the 7th Floor. Members of the community sat with the Rebbe and drank “LeChaim” and received brochos from the Rebbe. Ma’ariv followed, after which the Rebbe departed for New York, from where he traveled to Yerushalayim.

The overwhelming response from the Baltimore Community revealed an inner yearning for the warmth and meaningfulness of the Chassidus represented by the Rebbe.