A Talk Bochurim Should Watch

By COLlive reporter

“I never appreciated the point of the entire Tanya; I never heard Chassidus explained this way,” one student remarked after the 1-hour class presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson last Sunday to the Klurman Mesivta and Yeshivah Gedolah of Miami.

In a day-long event marking 200 years since the passing of the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Jacobson shared how the author of the Tanya has revolutionized our understanding of serving G-d and the purpose of creation.

“The problem,” he said, “is that most people think G-d wants us to be angels. The Alter Rebbe said: ‘No! G-d does not want angels; He wants fighters.'”

Over 250 people attended the inspirational program, with thousands more watching it live online via theyeshiva.net and COLLive.com

Rabbi Yossi Zavdi, principal of the Klurman Mesivta, commented that the lecture “is a must watch for every single Chabad bochur in the entire world.”

The day began with fathers learning Chassidus with their children, in their classrooms, with each teacher teaching the Shiur of Tanya of the day. This was followed by Shacharis and breakfast.

Then fathers and sons learned together the Shulchan Aruch of the Alter Rebbe.

A beautiful video about the place of Neginah in Chassidus was then shown, followed by a performance of the Alter Rebbe’s niggun sung by Rabbi Yossi Lebovics and his son Mendel, accompanied by piano by Dovid Labkowsky. The entire crowd sang along, and it was very inspiring.

This was followed by a riveting speech by Rabbi YY Jacobson, about the objective of Chassidus, illustrating it via the soccer game and the chess game.

The Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Leibel Schapiro gave a shiur on the the Alter Rebbe’s view on Unintentional Trapping on Shabbos.

Many Seforim of the Alter Rebbe were sold during the event. Parents and community members all expressed their gratitude for the beautiful and inspiring day-long program at the Klurman Mesivta of Miami Beach.