By COLlive reporter
Rabbi Hershel Lustig, who stood at the helm of the Educational Institute Oholei Torah in Crown Heights for over 40 years, is retiring at the end of the 5779 school year.
In a letter to parents, Rabbi Lustig informed that he will be retiring as of the next school year, and says he feels comfortable “passing on the torch of leadership to the young and dynamic menahalim of each division. They are all B”H highly qualified and very competent.”
The current principals include Rabbi Meir Shimshoni, Pre 1A-1st, Rabbi Moshe Rubinson, Grade 2, Rabbi Levi Golomb, Grades 3-4, Rabbi Yehoshua Lustig, Grades 5-7, and Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Wilhelm, Grade 8.
Lustig wrote that he will remain part of the yeshivah faculty, and will continue to be available to parents and former talmidim for consultation on chinuch concerns.
“I thank Hashem for the “zchus” to spend over forty years in מלאכת שמים of chinuch, and for all the brochos which He has bestowed upon my family and myself.
“I thank the Rebbe for entrusting me with the chinuch of his צבאות השם. I hope I have fulfilled, and will IY”H continue to fulfill, his shlichus and meet his expectations. May Moshiach come speedily.
“I thank you, dear parents, for giving me the privilege of being mechanech your kinderlach. May they all bring you much Chasidishe nachas.
I thank the yeshivah, Reb Michoel Titelbaum ob”m, Rabbi Yosef Rosenfeld, and the Board of Directors, for granting me the opportunity to serve as menahel. They have always treated me with dignity and kindness, and are continuing to do so at this juncture,” he wrote.
No please don’t… rabbi lustig we need you to stay
I really Respect this decision! I hope other educators who have reached their time will follow his example
The Rebbe says RE tire , put on fresh new tires , seek other methods of guiding children and help the new teachers how to reach out and encourage our youth not to copy the goyim , like modern haircuts , trim beards , always wear Titzis
the Rebbe says do not retire. almost ever
If only he can return to be the Menahel of the elementary division it would be AMAZING
-OT Alumni
Rabbi Lustig is surely responsible for the remarkable methodology of running the yeshiva that I remember, eg the children being tested by class test, and their section principal and also the principal of the whole school testing each and every child on occasion, so he knows what’s going on.
Rabbi Lustig was my principal for 8 years beginning 41 years ago. He had a major impact on my life that lasts until today.
Thank you for being so dedicated, professional, and a real Mentch!!
Rabbi Lustig served as an outstanding menahel and mechanech during all the decades he served his talmidim and mechanchim in Oholei Torah. He was always attentive and respectful to everyone including the parents. All my boys and a number of fortunate einiklach were lucky to go thru the system with Rabbi Lustig at its helm. They learned so much mentchlichkeit and derech Eretz from this unique, unassuming and exceptional personality. He has directed so many boys onto the right path with his soft, Eidel and pleasant demeanor. Chaval that Oholei Torah will be minus this great and unique mechanech on… Read more »
A very special person. He made Oholei Torah into a real school. I really hope he continues educating in some form or another.
A former employee who continues to respect and admire you
We need someone that should care for all the kids, without excuses, somebody that is not going to look how much money o name the kid family has, all this kids have wonderful neshomas and all deserve the Principal’s attention.Let get the right person, for a better future.
Must object to the implication of you message.
As a student, we were quite a poor family.
Rabbi Lustig cared and helped me just like if not more than the wealthier students, and I wasn’t an exception.
I am sure there must be a few who did not like him since we are humans and nobody is perfect, but to imply a fault of this nature in this great educator is to fabricate history.
Rabbi lustig is a fantastic principal and my sons all loved him ! I am sad he is retiring and hope he will still be involved with the boys on a personal level
I remember when my family moved to CH from Israel 40 years ago.. I learned in OT for a year. My Rebbi once sent me with a closed note to Rabbi Lustig- I was nervous from what’s coming. To my surprise, Rabbi Lustig spoke with me with such warmth and patience, I was actually looking foward to be sent again to the principals office. I wish I could say that about my kids Menahel.
I am not someone that comments on articles. Yet when I read that Rabbi Lustig שיחי is retiring, I realized that I have never expressed my appreciation to him as a child or as an adult. I have so much to say that the space on these lines will not suffice. As a student that was taught and disciplined by Rabbi Lustig, I need to say that reading about his retirement made me cry. I have very deep respect for Rabbi Lustig, a principal who has shaped the lives of thousands of Oholei Torah’niks around the world, amongst them many… Read more »
we will so miss him;((
Many of us students are educators around the world. R’ Lustig is a role model for all of us, how to educate in a calm, loving and professional way.
THANK YOU RABBI LUSTIG