An elite group of forty-two bochurim of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in Queens embarked on a remarkable journey in the footsteps of the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe. The trip followed a busy year of Limud Hatorah, and a powerful Mivtza Torah covering Massechta Bava Basra.
Starting from the bustling piers of New York, they traveled to the White House in Washington, visiting historic sites along the way while drawing inspiration from the Rebbeim’s visits to these places.
The journey began at 184 Brooklyn Avenue, where the Frierdiker Rebbe resided during his visit to America in 1930. From there, they traveled to the Greystone Hotel and Hotel Newton in Manhattan, where the Rebbe stayed during his visits. In Morristown, New Jersey, they visited the convalescent home where the Frierdiker Rebbe spent time in 1941, and where the Rebbe would often visit him.
The students continued to Philadelphia, where they visited Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, sites significant to the Rebbe’s visit in 1930. They then traveled to Baltimore, where they visited the ‘Tzemach Tzedek’ Shul where the Rebbe delivered a Maamar (Chassidic discourse) in 1930. From there they continued to the Baltimore Lubavitcher yeshiva, who graciously hosted them for the night.
The final leg of their journey took them to Washington D.C., where they visited Capitol Hill and the White House, sites of the Rebbe’s meetings with Justice Louis Brandeis and President Herbert Hoover. Their journey concluded at the ferry dock in Staten Island, where the Rebbe and Rebbetzin arrived in America in 1941.
Their journey was led by Rabbi Menachem Mendel HaKohen Hendel. The trip was filled with moving Farbrengens, stories and Divrei Yemei Hachassidim by Rabbi Yisroel Noach Vogel, and Rabbi Dovid Kahanov, who shared stories and insights that brought the Rebbeim’s visits to life.
A highlight and pinnacle was reaching Pier #9 on Chof Ches Sivan, the day the rebbe rested his holy feet on American soil. There, a surprise awaited them… a full-on Milchig buffet with pizza and more… and a guest Mashpia to Farbreng, Rabbi Reuven Matusof, the Shliach to the Lishke in France, who fully imbued them with the spirit of Chof Ches Nissan!
Throughout their journey, the bochurim were filled with a sense of inspiration and purpose, knowing that they were following in the footsteps of their Rabbeim. As Rabbi Hendel said, “We too have a role, to prepare the whole world to greet Moshiach. Wherever we go, we should make sure not to be content with just visiting the place, but to influence the residents of the place in an inner way, to learn with them about Geulah and Moshiach, and to announce to them the news of the Geulah, until they are ready to greet the Rebbe mhm.”
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