On Friday before Sukkos, a unique Grand Kinus Hakhel took place in Beis Rivkah of Montreal, for all its 500 students and teachers together, starting from 18-month-old “taf” in the pre-school, through Kindergarten, Elementary and High School.
Rabbi Yosef Minkowitz, principal, spoke to the students about Hakhel in the Beis Hamikdosh and Hakhel by the Rebbe, and the meaning of Hakhel to each and every one nowadays.
To involve the students, each grade excitedly dressed up as people at Hakhel in the Beis Hamikdosh. The auditorium was decorated to resemble the Beis Hamikdosh, with the assistance of Shlomo Lison.
The children were dressed as follows: Pre-school – yidden from all cities in Eretz Yisroel; Kindergarten – Yeshiva Bochurim; Grade 1 – Mommies who brought their babies; Grade 2 – Leviim who sang shira; Grade 3 – Zaydies; Grade 4 – Tatties; Grade 5 – Bubbies; Grade 6 – Members of the royal family; Grades 7 & 8 – Kohanim; Grade 9 – other Yidden; Grades 10 & 11 – Sanhedrin.
Kohanim blew trumpets throughout the school to call everyone to gather in the Beis Hamikdosh.
Everyone watched a video which included the Rebbe explaining how to implement the lesson of Hakhel in a practical way. Coins for Tzedoko were distributed.
Rabbi Tzvi Hershcovich made the grand entrance on a royal carpet as the “king”. A “Sefer Torah” was then passed from the Chazan Hakneses to the Rosh Hakneses who gave it to the Sgan who passed it to the Kohen Godol who presented the “Sefer Torah” to the king.
The king read a number of pesukim which were recited by the Melech at Hakhel in the Beis Hamikdosh, and encouraged the students to increase in Torah and Mitzvos. He instructed various classes to lead the recitation of the 12 pesukim, and briefly explained the connection of each possuk to the general goal of Hakhel: to have Yiras Hashem and fulfil His Mitzvos.
The Leviim led the children with singing Ato Vechartonu, which was one of the brochos said by the Melech after the reading of the Torah in the Beis Hamikdosh. This was followed by a lively original Hakhel song (the theme song of the High School GO), which led to spirited Achdus dancing. The Kinus concluded with the last of the 7 special brochos recited by the Melech: “Hashem, help Your nation Yisroel, because Your nation needs salvation”, with the immediate rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdosh, and the Rebbe at our head.
The students had a chance to kiss a real Sefer Torah on their way out of the Kinus.
This beautiful Kinus was organized by Mrs. Pessy Minkowitz, with the help of Mrs. Shoshana Scheiner, Gitty Altein, the morahs and the grade 10 and 11 High School students.
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Your caring heart and creative thinking shine as always
chazak vamatz
thank you
Rochelli naparstek ur the cutest!!!!!!
hope more schools follow suit
how many people in chinuch today are so dedicated after so many years of service to the community, your chayus and love for the Rebbe’s children inspire us all
it was such a fun hakel gathering!!
especialy when everyone was gatherd together!
FROM A PC CITER 🙂
Go Zvi!
The cutest maidelach on Mountain Sights!!!!
Was so nice to see everyone together dressed up! Was very fun for everyone, especially the very little kids!!
I was there at the gathering .when everyone said the possuk of shema led by the king I got the chills. It really made me want to have a Hakhel in the bais hamikdosh with the Rebbe. You could see on everyone’s face from the melech to the teachers from the tiny tots to the high school girls that everyone was truly involved. Everyone must have worked really hard to make this event happen,especially since it was so close to succos,and there was so much to do to prepare the students in the short amount of school time between Yom… Read more »
I’d like to express, on behal of all my schoolmates, our thanks to Rabbi and Mrs Minkowitz. Their dedication for our school as well as each girls chinuch and growth is outstanding! We will remember this re-enactment forever, just like all the other wonderful memories we cherish!! Rabbi and Mrs minkowitz, school would never be the same without you!!
Sincerely,
A grateful high school student.
Kol Hakavod to Rabbi and Mrs. Minkowitz and the entire Beis Rivkah. May they serve as an inspiration to all the other schools to follow suit in this year of Hakhel!!!
these girls are lucky to get this rich experience. Montreal proved that with effort it can be done. Hope this will inspire many more great things with the ultimate one immediately NOW!
We are so lucky to have the most dedicated couple running Beth Rivkah Montreal. Thank you Rabbi and Mrs. Minkowitz
Mrs. Minkowitz and Beis Rivkah Montreal does it again! what a great idea!