YU Students Enjoy Shabbaton

107 students from Yeshiva University joined the annual Crown Heights Shabbaton organized for them by bochurim of Oholei Torah Yeshiva Zal.

The two groups meet weekly, when the Lubavitch teens come to learn Chassidus with the YU students.

Families in Crown Heights generously opened their homes and hosted the guests.

After candle lighting on Friday, a seder niggunim was held in the Zal followed by a maamar delivered by Rabbi Zalman Vilenkin. They then split up into chavrusa groups learning a Sicha of the Rebbe.

Kabolas Shabbos davening in the main shul in 770 was accompanied by much singing and dancing and the students left from there to a Shabbos meal at their hosts.

But the night was just about to begin. A large Chassidic Farbrengen was led by renowned lecturer Rabbi Yossi Jacobson. His inspirational talk was followed by a question-answer series where the YU students were able to communicate one-on-one.

The next morning, Shabbos Day, Tehillim was said and a Chassidus shiur was given by seinor Mashpia Rabbi Pinye Korf. Shacharis began thereafter.

At a Shabbos meal in the Oholei Torah ballroom, Rabbi Chaim Miller of the Gutnick Chumash praised the benefiting connection between the bochurim and the students.

Another speaker was Rabbi Nachman Holtzberg, father of slain Mumbai Shluchim Rabbi Gabi and Rivky Holtzberg HY”D. The Shabbaton was dedicated in their memory.

The Shabbos came to an end with a gala Melave Malka which included dancing to a live band and a Dvar Torah from Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, Head Shliach to the West Coast.

Over 25 new chavrusas were paired up over the course of shabbos, note the organizers which include bochurim Dovid Rachmani, Yisroel New and Shmuly Karp.

Much of the food was cooked by the bochurim, led by Ari Raskin.

The students received complimentary sweatshirts (designed by Mendel Konikov) as well as the second volume of the Gutnick Rambam “13 Ikrim” (the first of which they received last year).