Bochurim’s Nissan with the Rebbe

When the first groups of bochurim, commonly referred to as “Kevutza” came from Eretz Yisroel to study by the Rebbe in 770 for a year, there was a discussion regarding how it should be set up. It was clear that each group would come for a 13 months, the first one and the last one would be a month of Yomim Tovim, either Tishrei or Nissan.

Rabbi Shlomo Zarchi relates, that the Rebbe expressed his preference that the month the bochurim would spend with him twice should be the month of Nissan, which includes Pesach, as well as the Rebbe’s birthday Yud Alef Nissan.

In the months prior to Yud Alef Nissan this year, as chasidim the world over were preparing their gifts to the Rebbe for his birthday, an idea percolated by Talmidim Hashluchim in several yeshivos: how beautiful would it be if bochurim would have this privilege to spend Yud Alef Nissan with the Rebbe, not just to come for a few hours to go in to the Ohel, but rather just as in the bright days, when we saw the Rebbe physically, the bochurim spent 24 hours a day in the Rebbe’s Daled Amos. After all, the month of Nissan, bochurim have plenty of spare time, from when yeshiva finishes until Pesach there is a full week! They went on to talk and farbreng with the many bochurim in their respective yeshivos about this idea, and there was tremendous turnout: dozens of bochurim from yeshivos around the world signed up to spend the week before Yud Alef Nissan learning, davening, and farbrenging near the Rebbe’s Ohel.

All logistical arrangements were all taken care of. Thanks to the management at the Ohel, Vaad Talmidei Hatmimim, and the bochurim of Central Yeshiva Tomchei Temimim – 770, three meals a day were provided, as well as sleeping arrangements in the nearby Elmont Jewish Center, with a bus shuttling back and forth in the morning and evening.

Bochurim came from all over: The Mesivtas of Brunoy, Chicago, Coral Springs, Detroit, and Westchester; the Yeshiva Gedolos of Baltimore, Brunoy, Kfar Chabad, Morristown, and Oholei Torah, as well as the Talmidim Hashluchim from many places, in total over 200 bochurim. Especially notable was the delegation of 70 who arrived from France on the Thursday night before 11 Nissan.

In addition to each one’s personal learning and preparations, the bochurim enjoyed over the week and over Shabbos shiurim with Rabbis Shlomo Kaplan, Leima Wilhelm, and Shais Taub, and chassidishe farbrengens with Rabbis Levi Azimov, Yisroel Deren, Yosef Katzman, Berel Shemtov, and others.
Each evening they watched videos of the Rebbe’s Yud Alef Nissan farbrengens throughout the years, and on Friday, as well as Yud Alef Nissan itself, they spread around NY to reach other Yidden with Mivtza Tefillin and Mivtza Matza, and share with them the great gift Hashem granted our generation – Dor Hashvi’i – on this special day.

Throughout, a feeling of “Leben Mit Dem Rebbe’n” pervaded – although we are in a dark golus, we know and trust the Rebbe is still with us, and the Rebbe gave us the great zechus to be in his holy presence, until very soon we will see the Rebbe physically with the Geulah Ha’Amitis Ve’Hashleima.

Even after Yud Alef Nissan, the special atmosphere did not end. Besides a group of 80 bochurim who spent the entire Pesach at the Ohel, many bochurim who traveled home for the first days, returned for the special days of Shevi’i and Acharon Shel Pesach until the Yeshivos reopened.

During this time as well, various programs were arranged. On Chai Nissan, the birthday of the Rebbe’s father Harav Levi Yitzchok נ”ע and the Bris of the Rebbe, a shiur was delivered by Rabbi Yisroel Shimon Kalmanson, regarding the appropriate balance between pride and humility that a Talmid Chochom should exercise, as discussed in the correspondence between the Rebbe and his father. Following was a farbrengen with Rabbi Levi Y. Garelik, who for a long while shared with the bochurim experiences of Pesach with the Rebbe (to listen, click here).

On Shvi’i Shel Pesach a “Tahalucha” procession went out to tens of shuls in the Queens/Five Towns area, where the bochurim spread chassidishe simchas Yom Tov, and delivered the Rebbe’s message to the Yidden there. A special focus was placed on the Birthday Campaign, which the Rebbe initiated exactly 30 years ago, and elaborated on Acharon Shel Pesach 5748, in memory of Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka נ”ע.

The next day, Acharon Shel Pesach, tens of chasidim walked in from Crown Heights, as well as shluchim and Anash from other places around New York, to celebrate Seudas Moshiach near the Rebbe.