Meyer Nigri - Colel Chabad Dinner 2015 / 5776

maeín degree is a personal friend a family friend and a partner with kebab for over 25 years I can give a complete shareholders report just that the various activities they have we have done together the Vicki Nika dental clinic in betar the not only hardwoods dental clinic and I stirred the Nigri orphan scholarship fund the computer schools in Russia soup kitchens a major partner the MS Center in Jerusalem amygdala amick and this is in addition to the hundreds of institutions both Jewish and non-jewish that may and Willian are personally involved in in Brazil in mayors corporate office does a foggy staff division specifically dedicated sadaqa but tonight is personal in fact very personal to me the impact of the Dabish goes from worldwide is well known I'm blessed to have grandchildren raised - rhesus in Casablanca Morocco and in Chattanooga Tennessee my grandchildren in Morocco in Tennessee enjoy an outstanding Jewish education with the typical schedule of a Jewish day school in the most technological advanced school in the world the Nigri international online school and so do and so do hundreds of my fellows - in 54 countries and 40 states they have peace of mind that the children are receiving the proper Hasidic education thanks to mayor and Lillian agree mayor you know how I enjoy our personal friendship very often I continue to bless you as I usually do mayor please do not change my dear friends I call upon a dearest friend who traveled all the way from Brazil just to be here tonight with us mr. mayor and agree plaque reads international guest of honor presented to move in ma and agree one time friends of about whose hearts are bound with love for our people in the Land of Israel about international awards dinner thank you so much mayor good evening ladies and gentlemen it's a great honour for me to be here tonight I'm a strong Zionist the State of Israel and the Jewish people are extremely important for me Habad is also very important to me Habad in Israel is the perfect combination this is exactly what : Hobbit is I first met rabbi dukeman over 20 years ago a friend of mine called me one night asking me if the rabbi could come to my house he did and describe it the food project he was working on I immediately got interested and decided to offer my help it's difficult to describe what rabbi dukeman is but he is one of the craziest person I ever met he could be in ten different countries in the same week I've never met someone so hard-working like him my first contact with the Habad movement was in 1985 I was coming to New York and I met a cousin of mine on the plane on Sunday he told me he would visit the lubavitcher rebbe I had never heard about him before my cousin having married for more than 10 years but did not have any kids so I decided to go with him when he got there the place was not crowded at all but I decided I shouldn't I shouldn't waste the rebus time for more blessing because my life at that time was very good in all aspects so I didn't speak to the Rebbe but I could see him when he was leaving the building and getting into his car on the way to visit the previous rebus grave I do not need to mention that less than a year later my cousin was blessed with his first boy and the next year with a second one when I returned to Brazil I became closer to Habad and we are now involved in many projects together actually the Habad headquarter building in Brazil is dedicated to my parents three years later of my life changed a lot I was sick I had many doubts and I wanted to speak to the Rebbe I should have come to New York to visit him by a postponing the trip the rabbit got sick and I missed the chance to talk to him two months before he passed away I had a very strong feeling that the last day to see him would be on June 11 1994 I called rabbi Cerf told him about my feelings and decided to come to visit Arabia I went to the hospital on the 10th but I was not allowed into the room so I waited outside on June 12th he passed away and I believe I was one of the only Brazilians who could have could attend his funeral so I was here in the first Gmail Thomas last year I realized that my wedding anniversary is also give up Thomas let me tell a few things about Habad you can can't count on Habad whenever you need wherever you are you can be in China Japan Caribbean island anyplace they will always come to see you and bring you some wine and challah for Shabbat my father passed away two years ago during the year of Kadesh I had minyan everywhere you can possible imagine in a small towns in Brazil at Paris Airport even on a boat instant repair and thanks to Hubbard I never miss a single Kadesh during the whole year four years ago I was flying from London to Boston with a stopover in New York my flight was delayed I missing my connection to Boston my luggage was also missing I was not worried about my clothes but I did not have my tea flame with me so at 11:00 p.m. I called her by dukeman he was in the middle of his daughter Sheva brachot dinner by offered to come immediately I told him I would only need it early in the morning I will never forget on a freezing morning at 6:00 a.m. he sang coming to my hotel with a pair of different I rehearsal not to cry but okay for those reasons and so many others I create a slogan that I think we should always use with Habad you are never alone thank you very much