Our class, like many others, convene each year by the Kinnus for Reb AVroham a’h Baitelman’s annual Kiddush Yahrzeit.

Often, in the “heat” of the fabrengen and sometimes “post” fabrengen a few of us would “find ourselves” next door at the Marazovs.

Whether at the Baitelmans or at his home, Reb Velvel’s serene but clearly delighted “reception” of bochurim fabrenging was inspiring in of itself to see.

His son Shmuli, who you could readily discern in Velvel’s twinkling eyes the irresistible Nachas he had for his gem of a boy, listened with interest to his son fabreng. This father-son relationship was clearly unique and It made quite an impression on all of us.

Reb Velvel a’h, represented a generation of the “original” Temimim who materialized “America iz nisht Anderesh.” They helped recondition the American student body of 1950 Lubavitch into being more representative of the holy ideals of Lubavitch ShebiLubavitch; mesiras nefesh, hiskashrus, darkei v’limud haChassidus. In turn, Mesirus nefesh laden Shluchim and Shlichus took off and endures, mightily, through the present day.

המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים ואך טוב וחסד יסובבנהו מעתה ועד עולם.