A group of haredi rabbis including Israel's Sefardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar, gathered in Brooklyn to honor Chabad Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht for his 90th birthday. Hecht infamously labelled Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin a rodef, noting that rodefs should be killed. Rabin was assassinated not long afterward, and Hecht – who later apologized – was banned from entering Israel.
Rabbis Shlomo Amar (turban), Abraham B. Hecht, And Shaul Kassin. Kassin recently pleaded guilty to money laundering.
Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht Celebrates 90
A special red carpet reception honoring the upcoming 90th birthday of the president of Igud Harabanim - the Rabbinical Alliance of America, Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht - was held yesterday morning (Tuesday) at the Sephardic Home in Brooklyn, NY ● The reception was attended by Israel's Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar; Chief Rabbi of the Syrian Jewish community in New York Shaul Kassin; Rabbi Herschel Kurzrock, Av Beis Din of Igud Harabanim; Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum, executive director of Igud Harabanim; and many community leaders
Joshua Abrams • Chabad.info
A special red carpet reception honoring Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht’s upcoming 90th birthday was held Tuesday morning, March 27, 2012 at the renowned Sephardic Home located on Cropsey Avenue in Brooklyn, NY.
The special reception was sponsored by the well known Sephardic community leader Mr. Jack Avital and was attended by Israel’s Rishon Letziyon – Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.
Speaking on behalf of the Syrian Jewish community and Congregation Sharre Zion which is the flagship Synagogue of the Syrian Jewish Community where Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht served as spiritual leader for more than 51 years, Mr. Jack Avital introduced the well known philanthropist & businessman Morris Bailey who together with Mr. Jack Cayre and Mr. Stanley Chera officially offered an apology to their life-long esteemed Rabbi and spiritual leader Rabbi Abraham Hecht, while invoking beloved memories and sharing their expressions of appreciation to their Rabbi and friend. Also presenting words of greetings were Michael New the Executive Director of the Sephardic Home.
The Chief Rabbi of the Syrian Jewish Community Rabbi Saul Kassin extended warm greetings to his colleague Rabbi Hecht extolling the many years of Rabbi Hecht’s service to the Syrian Jewish Community and to the Jewish people also serving as the distinguished President of the Rabbinical Alliance of America – Igud Harabanim.
In attendance were members of the Igud Harabanim Beth Din its Rabbinical Court led by its illustrious Rabbi Herschel Kurzrock together with the RAA executive director Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum.
The Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel noted in his warm remarks that in reality “he did not come to honor Rabbi Abraham B. Hecht but rather he and everyone present are honored by being able to attend Rabbi Hecht’s 90th birthday gathering”.
“Everyone knows the yeoman achievements and accomplishments for Torah, Judaism and world Jewry that Harav Hagaon and Harav Hachassid Avraham Hecht Shlit”a has accomplished within his own Community in America as well as his exceptional leadership for Jews the world over. Here before us is a person of great kedusha and chochma –(holiness and Torah wisdom)
“As a devoted Chassid of the holy Lubavitcher Rebbe –Rabbi Hecht spoke out on the issues of the day in support of the Jewish people of Israel with selfless devotion bringing the message of Torah to all” said Chief Rabbi Amar.
The Rishon LeTzion blessed Rabbi Hecht to have many more years of Nachat and happiness from his community and from his family, the children and grandchildren and great grandchildren until the imminent arrival of the Moshiach in this month of Nissan the time of our redemption. Amen.
Attending the event were some of the children of Rabbi Hecht who reside in proximity to the NY area. They are Rebetzin Nechama Kantor, Rebetzin Esther Kaplan, both of Crown Heights and Mrs. Shoshana Fasten of West Lawrence, NY and Rabbi Yehoshua S. Hecht of Norwalk, CT and many of Rabbi Hecht’s grandchildren.