A Bochur’s Dilemma at the Ohel

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Levi Percia

Bochurim spending the month of Tishrei 5774 in New York ended the Fast of Gedalya with a festive meal at the Roza Hall in Campus Chomesh in Crown Heights.

The event was the official “welcome gathering” organized by Vaad Talmidei Hatmimim, the organization hosting and coordinating their activities by the Rebbe.

Coming from Israel and other countries worldwide, these yeshiva students spend the beginning of the year at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn and near the Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens.

From before Rosh Hashana until Shabbos Bereishis, they immerse themselves in learning and davening. The Vaad arranges special classes and farbrengens, as well as sleeping and eating accommodations.

And while the Rebbe isn’t physically present, “his holy work continues as before and the Rebbe continues to bless the Jewish nation,” said Rabbi Yoel Kahn, the Rebbe’s choizer, during his remarks.

Connecting to the Rebbe some 19 years after Gimmel Tammuz naturally takes on a different form. A video of the Rebbe during a sicha was shown on a large screen at the onset of the event.

Rabbi Leima Wilhelm, Rosh Yeshivas Menachem Mendel in Detroit, had another suggestion on furthering hiskashrus during his remarks. “Learning needs to be a regular thing,” he said about the need for bochurim to be constantly immersed in the Rebbe’s teachings.

He proposed that bochurim set a time to learn Likutei Sichos, specifically the 4 first volumes “which in them lies the basis of the chassidic outlook.”

A new Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Zalman Kaplan of the Tzeirei Hashluchim in Tzfas pointed out in his remarks the sensitivity today’s bochurim have.

“A few days ago we were with a group of yeshiva bochurim near the holy Ohel. One bochur came over and said he feels unable to enter the Ohel because he didn’t prepare enough,” he said.

Rabbi Kaplan quotes the Rebbe’s opinion that no importance should be paid to such doubts that only lead to weakness in spirituality. “Of course this bochur should properly prepare himself, but he also has an obligation to go to the Rebbe even if he has room for improvement.”

The main speaker of the gathering was Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International, who spoke about the need to carry on in the Rebbe’s footsteps.

A perhaps fitting conclusion to the gathering was the crowd bursting out in chassidic joyous dance, despite spending the day fasting.