By COLlive staff
Alumni from all over the world gathered to mark the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of the Chabad Yeshiva in Argentina, led by the Head Shliach and Chairman of the Institutions, Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt.
During the event, alumni representatives from all of the past four decades spoke, including Rabbi Meir Gniwisch of Montreal and Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of New York.
Many alumni from around the world attended the event.
Speakers included Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Asher Farkash, who related the history of the yeshiva since its founding in 5740, when the Rebbe sent the first group of shluchim to establish the yeshiva in Argentina.
To this day the yeshiva has remained open, despite the global pandemic and many other challenges throughout the years.
During the event, alumni representatives from each of the past four decades spoke. First, Rabbi Meir Gniwisch from Montreal, Canada, who was one of the first groups of young men sent by the Rebbe to establish the yeshiva, spoke.
Rabbi Gniwisch recounted the first time that the Rebbe’s secretary, Rabbi Binyamin Klein, suddenly approached him and asked him to his surprise if he would be willing to go on Shlichus to a yeshiva in Argentina. Only after realizing that Rabbi Klein was actually serious did he agree to go.
Rabbi Klein told him to call his parents to ask their permission, and after their consent, the Rebbe gave his blessing, and so he went out with a group of bochurim to establish the yeshiva.
Later, Rabbi Levi Friedman from New York, who was a Shliach to the Yeshiva in its second decade, spoke about his exciting experiences and all the learning he acquired during his studies at the yeshiva.
Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Director of Merkos 302, spoke as the representative of the third decade. He also recounted his memories of those days when he benefitted from the atmosphere of the Yeshiva while on Shlichus there. Rabbi Kotlarsky related all that he learned from the Head Shliach Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt, who served as a living example of a devoted shliach who arrives early in the morning to daven “b’avoda” – with feeling, and spends day and night devoted to his Shlichus.
Later, Rabbi Eli Rader spoke, as the representative of the fourth decade. Rabbi Rader spoke about the understanding in the study of Chassidus that he gained at the yeshiva from the devoted mashpiim and the warm atmosphere that prevailed among the Argentinian bochurim, which warmed his heart and prepared him for his future life of Shlichus.
Later in the event, the Head shliach Rabbi Tzvi Grunblatt spoke about the fascinating responses he received from the Rebbe regarding the yeshiva over the years, and how the establishment of the yeshiva breathed life into all areas of Chabad in Argentina.
