By COLlive reporter
About 70 years ago, the Rebbe established the Mesibos Shabbos program to enrich the lives and knowledge of non affiliated young Jewish children during Shabbos afternoons.
This past week, a group of 40 Lubavitch bochurim decided that such an activity was also befitting Crown Heights’ children and have taken on themselves to revive the tradition.
The result: Approximately 400 boys attended such a gathering held in 25 separate locations around the Brooklyn neighborhood where the Rebbe lived and led Chabad-Lubavitch and its outreach activities.
All Chabad boys schools in the New York area – including United Lubavitch Yeshiva Ocean Parkway, Cheder at the Ohel and the Morristown Cheder – gave their blessings and encouraged their students from grades 2 to 6 to attend.
The 45 minute program is packed to the last minute, starting with the 12 Pesukim, continuing with Chabad niggunim and a Dvar Torah and finally, a story the children anxiously wait for. An active game and refreshments are included.
Serving as counselors are bochurim from various Chabad yeshivos who volunteer their time to prepare and run each of the Mesibos Shabbos programs.
“Mesibos Shabbos has many functions, one of the primary purposes being Achdus,” says Yossi Blau, one of the organizers.
“The positive outcome of children brought up with Achdus is tremendous. We therefore make it our priority, putting a very strong emphasis on Ahavas Yisrael and Achdus in our curriculum.”
Not that the boys need motivation to attend, but to make the program more exciting, a raffle will be drawn after each Shabbos for the boys that participated (a raffle for each group).
And those who attend 6 programs are qualified to join a Chinese Auction that will be held after Parshas Shelach.
On Thursday, a group of the counselors met up in Getzel’s Shul in Crown Heights for a farbrengen in preparation for week two of Mesibos Shabbos. Inspiring them in their work was Rabbi Shimmy Weinbaum of Tzivos Hashem International.
This coming Shabbos, Parshas Tazria-Metzora, the plan is to host between 600 to 800 children, COLlive.com was told.
Whoever said Shabbos afternoon is only for resting?
Stop posting to make issues everyone is entitled to their own opinion and just because a bochur wears a yechi yarmulka does not A.mkae him and the program any less prffesional in anyway and B.bochurim aren’t stupid and just because he says yechi does not mean he will say it with a group of kids whom which he doesnt know their parents opinion about. i know for i am a bochur (not in the photo) who wears a yechi yarmulka and runs a mesibas shabbos (not in conjunction with this and i don’t have all the kids “chant yechi” because… Read more »
Very exciting!
Great idea. Thank you to the one who pulled this off! Kol Hakavod!
I like the flyer!
Great idea! Children need outlets like these. I hope someone starts this for the girls schools too. It makes Messibos Shabbos look so exciting to be a part of.
Thanks so much for this!!!!!!!!!!! This is a great start to helping the younger children in Crown Heights get into the right things. We need more people like this.
Hey, maybe you are the candidate….. If not, Maybe you can find the candidate and have a part in it. Hatzlacha 🙂
Seeing the Yossi Blau did such a fantastic job for all the boys of C.H., it’s time that a similar program is organized by Girls for all Girls of C.H.
“Lama Nigara?”
It come to show that even 1 single person can turn over the entire Crown Heights!
When there is a will there is a way and this what the Rebbe meant when he said on 28 Nissan that even 1 single Akshan can accomplish bringing about the Geula to the entire world.
Chazak V’Amatz, Yossi Blau and Mimenu Yilmedu V’Chen Yaasu Rabim, all over the world, thereby bringing about Moshiach Now!
I’m very Impressed. I was actually recently thinking about mesibas Shabbos in Ch. BH keep up the good work in Educating our children.
While Mesibos Shabbos was going on for over 70 years, and there are many hard working Lubavitchers (i.e. Rabbi Katzen, Yossi Brisky, Bais Rivkah and many more) making this happen throughout the years. And no doubt about it they deserve much credit. Though, we must recognize, there were way to many children that didn’t go to Mesibos Shabbos, weather because they didn’t have the importunity, or they just didn’t feel they were with their group. BH these Bochurim recognized the need to fill the gap. They are doing it in a organized and efficient way, so that EVERY Boy has… Read more »
i heard they make a mesibas shabbos every week for the kids on their block too!
This is great!! I am happy that the schools are cooperating and doing something together.
nice stuff
interesting that people are only thinking about the benefits for the kids – just as much as this program benefits the kids it benefits those bochurim involved who are spending their shabbos doing something worthwhile and developing leadership skills!! I am sure this is very beneficial!
Thank you to those who brought this to fruition and borchurim – keep up the great work!
You are doing incredible work!
We have Messib every Shabos come snow or rain!!!
Great idea. it was brought up in the past. It was actually done in regards t Cayolei Bais Dovid. In order for it to work you would need the support of the schools. It would also be difficult for kids to get used to their NEW group. Besides for corporation from the schools, and interest from the kids to join kids they may not know. There would need to be something greater, perhaps an incentive to gain interest from the kids untill they finaly feel their new group is their own. As of now, I believe children come bc’ of… Read more »
I saw a flyer about the program, it looks great.
I have a recommendation that will increase achdus. I noticed that the groups are divided by classes so it seems like kids will just be meeting with the same people they see all week.
It would be great to divide the groups by location so kids get a chance to meet kids their own age that don’t go to their school. ( so in stead of 4 groups for 4th grade divided by class do 4 groups for 4th grade in four areas where everyone goes to the closest one)
Thank you so much for this!
You give us much nachas
Very impressive! Yasher Koach, Yossi! It befits Yossi to pull off such tremendous, successful projects! Yasher Koach.
From Shluchim who have seen Yossi in action firsthand on Merkos Shlichus. The kinderlach & parents in Crown Heights are lucky!
area amazing and mamash have the to, and BH are doing so, influence our children. Thank you very very much!!!
chaim we are so proud of you.
hiskashrous is to do inyonim of The Rebbe .
we wish you great hatslocho
Wow! thank you yossi blau! my son went last week and came home on a high! thank you for all you put into this program! the rebbe is very proud of you! thank you.
is the best!
Nice idea! Thank you to the organizers
We do have Mesibbos shabbos in L.A. every year, but only for a few weeks and it hasn’t started yet this year!
I know Yossi Blau, and he is in Morristown Yeshiva, getting Smicha…. So not yet a Rabbi, but soon to be : ) Great job Yossi for this amazing work!
I am so inspired by Yossi Blau who single handidly took care of this from idea to creation recruiting incredible bochurim to run the Mesibas Shabbos and getting all those needed involved.
Way to go Yossi! If you can dream it you can do it!
hey the girl schools have been doing this for years! give us some credit!
after all, the idea is to strengthen the chinuch, not to lower standards.
The bachur with the yachi yarmulka is going to “or Menachem”:)
Shmuli, I can’t see the tie!
Wow! Thank you so much Yossi Blau for pulling this off!!! We have heard such positive feedback from the children. They are soooooo excited about the auction!!! Keep it up!
Oholei Torah is a part of it 🙂 See logo on the flyer
classically good stuff. it shows that one person can literally change the world. for the good. for good.
(no. i’m not T.F.)
I spot Rabbi Shmuli Turk, a principle who is dedicated day and night to his pupil’s welfare
Will there be yechi chanted at the programs? Many parents don’t embrace that and if it’s done, it will diminish the professionalism of this program and will marginalize many children who would otherwise attend.
where is it being held?
Why isn’t oholei Torah part of it????
Looks like a lot of bochurim from Chovevei Torah there. Rabbi Blau, you are doing a great job.
we had mesibos shabbos in england when i lived there every week and it was a fantastic and positive way to keep us all busy!
fantastic wonderfu l a old madrich of shimy fromi984
gess hu shabat shalom
keep up the good work
How do u find out details?
Proud!
good to see that we are starting to worry about our own children. Let all the Rabonim take an example from our Bochrim and figure out some more positive programs for our children. And let every one else realize we all have to be Dugma Chayos or our children will have no chance.
i think this is a great idea and wonderfuld these bochurim did this –
NOW –
what about the girls?
I have a suggestion. Seek out the children whose home lives are challenging (single moms, illness in the family, special needs sibling etc) & befriend them & mentor them. For boys with no father in the picture, this is critically important, that they are taken to Shul, encouraged, helped with homework etc. You bochurim can do much more than you think!
This is a superb idea. You have no clue how many nishmomois will be preserved on account of this.
WAITA GO SHIMMY WEINBAUM!
Missing u tons.
Chaim! Best mesibas shabbos counsellor ever!
we’ve been doin mesibas shabbos in LA since FOREVER.
Where many of the real chasidim are…
Yossi u are great!!
Keep up the great work.
that is literaly awesome
and thank you to BAis Rivkah for having it all along
may u be gebentched
Chazak v’amatz, We can use all the chizuk we can get! May Hashem bless all the bachurim involved!!!!