By COLlive reporter
A group of Lubavitch bochurim gathered last week at Congregation Bnei Abraham – Chabad of Brooklyn Heights for a first Kinus preparing them for a year-long Shlichus in Chabad Yeshivos.
The Rebbe instated that following 6 years in Yeshiva, bochurim are sent for another year as “Talmidim Shluchim” to assist and inspire younger ones.
“Empowering the Bochur Shliach,” a full day seminar organized by the new organization “Unzere Kinder (LOL) – Light our Lamps,” was addressed by rabbis and educators.
At the seminar which lasted 8 hours (and included a lunch break), the bochurim heard from Rabbi Leibel Altein, Director of Heichal Menachem in Boro Park who was selected as a Shliach in the second group to Australia over 40 years ago.
Rabbi Zalman Markowitz, educational consultant of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch, spoke about the immense responsibility the bochurim have. “You cannot imagine how much you can accomplish,” he stressed.
A guest speaker was Rabbi Moshe New, Director of Chabad MTC in Montreal who flew in for the event.
An Australian native, New shared how as a younger bochur in Yeshiva he was on the receiving end of the efforts the Shluchim invested in the students.
Another speaker, Rabbi Shlome Sternberg, a Mashpia in Oholei Torah, pointed out the importance of the “Hanhala – Shliach” relationship.
The final session “The Coach Approach to Leadership” was given by Rabbi Shmuly Rothman, a Shliach in Pittsburgh who spoke about how to empower today’s bochrim in a Yeshiva atmosphere.
But the people behind the gathering are no less interesting than the speeches: Mrs. Rochel Duchman and her husband Mendel Duchman of Los Angeles, California.
The two, who have been involved in many projects helping Shluchim and their children, say they felt the need to begin concentrating on Unzere Kinder, Yiddish for “our children.”
“The Shluchim worry about everyone else and sometimes we neglect our own Anash children,” said Mrs. Duchman, a daughter of the legendary community activist Rabbi JJ Hecht OBM.
“Instead of being frustrated about what we lack in our educational system, we decided to do something about it. We can think about how to keep them before we lose them, and then struggle to get them back,” she told COLlive.com.
The idea for the organization came up after seeing the positive effect Talmidim Shluchim had on members of her family who were learning in Yeshiva.
So she went with what already works – and the Rebbe set up – and decided to perfect it.
“I spoke to Roshei Yeshiva and asked them what areas of training should Talmidim Shluchim get, and based on what they wrote to us we created this pilot program,” Rochel Duchman added.
On the ad-hoc planning committee were Rabbi Sholom B. Halberstam of Mesivta Chabd in Chicago, Rabbi Benyamin D. Simpson of the Yeshiva of Monsey, Rabbi Yosef Lustig of the Mesivta in New Haven and Rabbi Yosef Eizicovics of My Yeshiva in Minnesota.
“Unzere Kinder is a grassroots group and we will get more families and children involved,” said Mendel Duchman, a fund-raising professional and founder of a Los Angeles Shul for children.
“We are independent and will stay clear of politics,” his wife promised. “Our kids are the future lamplighters, but someone needs to light their lamp.”
Talmidim Shluchim are scattered throughout the world, but the Duchmans said they will keep in touch with a monthly conference call.
They said they got positive responses from the participants and others who heard of the idea.
“Every bochur will tell you something else when you ask him what it means to be a shliach, but most of us, if not all, came out with a greater understanding of what it is really all about,” wrote Dovid Leib Marasow of Montreal who is a Talmid Shliach in the Yeshiva of Chicago.
“Now that I think of it, I wonder what took all these years to actually do it?!” he added.
Unzere Kinder can be contacted at [email protected]
jj u have the best parents eva!!
wow riccle chayale are so luky to have you
Bochurim shluchim is a very good thing and a kinus to guide them and encourage is also a very good thing. My question is: Are there any bochurim who don’t get to go on bochurim shlichus because of a lack of places for them? and if there are such bochurim, are they a korban tzibur for the rest of us, or is there a way to help these bochurim find their place and their worth, even if they are not chosen to go on bochurim shlichus????
Who are the 3 bochurim in the 5th picture up from the bottom. Can someone name them for me, L to R? thanks!
go dll u rck and r the bro ever have fun
lets clarify a few points 1) no one is saying (or should say) this was a a bad thing or a useless thing to do, aderabah v’aderabah, a big yasher coach to the duchmans for putting in such thoght and care into such a program 2) there was justs something strange that only 15 bochurim (not jus misivta shluchim btw) who were invited. if this truely is for “unzar kinder” then include all of the yeshiva shluchim
When you do a pilot program and pick and choose a handful of bochurim, it definitely creates a feeling of elitism and snobbery. Why not announce the program within all the Yeshivos and say it is a pilot, we are accepting only 30 bochurim on a first come-first served basis? Then, the most motivated boys will be the ones who attend, not just the most well connected. I know of at least one phenomenal group of boys going to a mesivta where there are shluchim’s children who knew nothing about this. One of them is a relative of mine and… Read more »
Stop complaining! Such negative people. Be proactive and ask to be involved. It’s easier to sit back and write nasty comnments about an innovative pilot pogram.
If this was for Unzerer Kinder where are they??
ur the coolest uncle
could somebody explain to me the chidush here?
isn’t -the kids shul,(rebbes diamond davners )-kol yakov yehguda- for
unzere kinder???? and thats almost ten years old?!
what am i missing?
just so you know mrs. duchman worked months and months AND MONTHS on this program – which im yirtza hashem will grow to include all those bochurim who werent able to attend! and she didnt get paid in the slightest!! she is just looking out for those mesivta bochurim, and realized the effect the shluchim in each yeshiva can have on the mesivta boys!! they actually had the bochurim that were going to yeshivas which participated and backed this program up! not just chose random guys…… you should be thanking them!! and p.s. the bochurim who are complaining they werent… Read more »
telling people to keep their mouth shut it is obvious that u had
an in in it, and didn’t bother letting many other shluchim ÜNZERER”know.
hatzlacha in your shlichus!
go duchmans
you obviously dont know what your talking about because 1)there are many many more shluchim who are going to misivtas who were not invited 2)shluchims kids attend mant yeshivas zals as well 3) there were bochurim there who are not going to misivtas which shluchims kids attend (wahtever that means im just using your logic)
please log onto unzerekinder-lol.com and register your information so we can notify you when the next Mesiba will take place….as well as our next confrence call……
go levi
this is a first time program, and programs MUST start off small, those that jump in too quickly fall equally fast.
And I echo the words of #13: WHY MUST WE CRITICIZE EVERY TIME SOMEONE TRIES TO DO SOMETHING GOOD?? RIBOINOI SHEL OILOM!
it was for the shluchim mainly going to MESIVTAs that SHLUCHIMs children attend, so that excludes lots of bochurim-shluchim! why don’t you keep your mouth shut till you find out first
From Morristown
go levi raskin
Keep up the great work.
Jontie
we guys never heard anything about it. Do u want our names and info???
were we Bochrim in CH all Talmidei Shluchim not notified??
Speak up!
when the program opened up, Reb Mendel welcomed us, and informed us that this kinnus is a.. “pilot program”….just for max 2 dozen bochurim and that there will be another large one right after tishray…….and btw…there was no charge….just the opposite they had transportation back and forth from c.h…….they served a large catered lunch (i believe donated by -HOUSE OF GLATT)..refreshments throughout the day….we even got a “welcoming pack-ate” with seforim and supplies…… so bottom line we thank you to all those who had a hand in this specail kinnus- i left with alot more chayois when i boarded my… Read more »
Not enough pictures of Rabbi Markowitz….!
I think you could have tapped into more resources. The Vaad Tamidei Hatmimim has done something like this in the past, besides having access to many of the Bochurim today.
We are very proud of our Uncle Mendel & Aunt Rochel
Duchmans of Surfside!
Mentel, you rock oy yeh a gezunt
it was free and why do we have to critisize everytime someone tried to do a good thing
http://unzerekinder-lol.com/
most probably its full of politics, who gtes accepted.
I bet they will be charging $$, to join,,
could some one please explain practically what was added by this orginization???
with a kinnus……what a smart move!!!
hatzlacha rabba with this project….
Wooooooow go jj,
because its new?
why not include everyone? seems elitist
all talmidei shluchim benefit unzere kinder and have been doing so way before this grassroots group!!! although you say that you will not be political it is telling that you only invited a small group when there are so many talmidei shluchim. so many that could have been invited and so many that have not yet left on their shlichus. interesting!!!!
Parents take a close look at these bochrim. They are focused and ready to take responsibility. Good shidach material.
We are proud of you.
Toronto the Good
i dont get it if there are over 100 talmedei shluchim (me included) how come only 15 bochurim were invited to this event
you are giving nachas ruach to the rebbe
It looks like very successful event, and organization. I think if you would team up with Vaad Talmidei Hatmimim, it would only make more successful.