‘All Time High’ Guests for Tishrei

By COLlive reporter

Thousands of bochurim, students of Chabad Yeshivos in Israel and across the world, are making their way to New York City where they will remain for a full month.

“Tishrei by the Rebbe” has the bochurim davening, learning and strengthening their spiritual state in a month filled with holidays and round the clock inspiration.

Keeping them in check is the Vaad Talmidei Hatmimim organization, working hand-in-hand with the staff of the Yeshivas, with a detailed schedule that has the bochurim fully utilize their stay. The also provide free meals three times a day at the Chovevei Torah Yeshiva on Eastern Parkway, as well as sleeping arrangements in Crown Heights.

Bochurim are arriving from Yeshivas around the globe, including over 17 Yeshivas in Israel, as well as Brunoy, Argentina, Brazil, London, Manchester, Moscow and locations throughout the US.

Learning sessions are held at the main shul of 770, which will be divided into sections for each yeshiva. Special learning booklets will be printed and programming will include farbrengens and screenings of videos of the Rebbe.

Another option for bochurim is to spend time near the Rebbe’s Ohel at the Old Montefiore cemetery in Cambria Heights, Queens, in coordination with Ohel Chabad Lubavitch Center, directed by Rabbi Abba Refson.

Bochurim will be able to daven, learn, eat and sleep there. And for those wishing to join for a few hours, the Vaad will be providing a bus service every morning from 770.

A separate program for teenage girls is being coordinated as well, with chaperoned learning, farbrengens, and trips to the Ohel.

“Our registration is at an all-time high this year,” Rabbi Tzvi Altein, Director of Vaad Talmidei Hatmimim organization, told COLlive. “We will be providing programming and meals for 1500 bochurim and 200 girls this year.”

Funding for this great undertaking each year is sponsored by a group of local businessmen, led by Shneur Minsky, Avremel Lokshin, Nachman Lokshkin and Menachem Gurevitch.

“We open our homes and pockets to all,” Shneur Minsky told COLlive. “It doesn’t matter who you are, or what your views are.”

Avremel Lokshin, who began coordinating meals for Tishrei guests 5 years ago along with a group of fellow businessmen, said they started out small. “We were making sandwiches ourselves to distribute to the guests, now we are providing food for hundreds every day.”

Lokshin says the yearly hospitality program which provides food and lodging to all who needs is something he learned from his father, R’ Yisroel Yaakov Lokshin, who always had an open home back in their hometown in Russia.

“The Rebbe always took achrayus for the orchim,” Lokshin said. “These kids wait all year to come to the Rebbe for Tishrei – these are his guests.

What’s important to the donors is that each bochur who arrives should have a warm, clean comfortable bed and hot meals while they are far from home and family.

“I remember when I came to the Rebbe 30 years ago, how difficult it was for me,” says Minsky. “I want to make sure everyone is cared for.”

“There is no community in the world like Crown Heights who opens their homes so generously to visitors each year,” adds Minsky. “There is a special bracha to all those who take part in this Mitzvah, it’s giving life to others, no questions asked.”