Fathers Spend Shabbos With Sons

As Shabbos Parshas Tetzave neared, over 40 fathers from as close as down the block to as far as Peru and Ottawa arrived at Yeshivas Lubavitch in Cincinnati for the annual “Father and Son” Shabbos.

This is one of the most anticipated moments of the year, when fathers take time from their busy schedules to travel to the yeshivah to visit their sons and witness firsthand the growth, warmth and Chasidishe atmosphere of Tomchei Temimim that their sons experience on a daily basis.

The fathers were greeted with a comprehensive welcome packet with information regarding the Shabbos schedule and program, as well as a detailed report of their son’s progress over the last month. The yeshivah is deeply grateful for the generous warmth and hospitality of the local anash of Cincinnati, who hosted the many fathers who came—with added thanks to all those who helped to prepare and provide the welcome packet for each guest.

The Shabbos weekend began with Friday morning Shacharis in the spacious, inviting, newly renovated Toron Beis Midrash. After davening and a delicious breakfast, all in attendance participated in a captivating shiur by Rabbi Eliyahu Simpson, the yeshivah’s senior maggid shiur.
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The parents then went to their host families and many then went out with their sons on mivtzoim.

As Shabbos came in, the fathers partook of one of the most treasured moments of this Shabbos: learning a sichah together with their sons. This was followed by a heartwarming seder nigunim led by Rabbi Levi Simpson, mashpiah and maggid shiur in yeshivah.

After a Cincinnati-style lebedike kabolas Shabbos, the fathers and sons took their seats in the also newly renovated dining room, specially decorated for the occasion under the direction of the Menahel Gashmi, Rabbi Eliyahu Morrison. The yeshivah extends heartfelt thanks to Rabbi Morrison for his great dedication and involvement in general, with extra appreciation for his attentive efforts toward making this Shabbos event successful.

During the course of the seudah, divrei Torah and personal impressions were shared by Hatomim Mendel Davis from Montreal, as well as shluchim Rabbi Blumenfeld (Peru), Rabbi Shmuel Weinstein (Pittsburgh), Rabbi Eli Weber (CH) and Rabbi Natanel Isaacs (LA). The evening keynote address was given by Dr. Berel Kremer (Montreal Canada). Per yeshivah tradition, the temimim, their fathers, and anash farbrenged together at length after the seudah, completing the evening’s program.

On Shabbos morning, Rabbi Levi Simpson, delivered a shiur on how to get rid of Amalek in 5778. Following Shacharis, all the fathers and sons joined together for a Shabbos seudah with the fathers’ host families and chavrei hanhalah. After Minchah, there was a special “shabbas Zachor” farbrengen with Rosh Yeshivah Rabbi Gershon Avtzon. At the farbrengen, everyone said a special “Lchaim” for the dear Mashpia Rabbi Zalman Baras for a complete recovery.The farbrengen was followed by Maariv, a video of the Rebbe and a special “Fathers and Sons” photograph.

Later that evening, a special Melave Malkah seudah took place in the yeshivah’s Boymel Rabbinical College. The theme of the evening was Hakaras Hatov to Mr. Sam Boymel ob”m who passed away recently.

https://animoto.com/play/PkapqWzu596119VRH67wJA

Continuing the theme of Hakaras Hatov, Rabbi Avtzon presented special plaques to local community members and staff for their dedication and devotion to the Yeshiva.

The Melava Malkah keynote speaker was Rabbi Shalom Baras (ULY), who spoke on the hashkafah of chinuch in our time. Rabbi Baras spoke passionately about Chinuch in general and the Yeshiva in specific. The evening concluded with a special video presentation by the talmidim hashluchim, highlighting their many activities.

https://animoto.com/play/tYF5aY2Rqt03M11MZuM1zg?autostart=1

The Seuda was followed by joyous dancing for Chodesh Adar.

On Sunday morning there was a chinuch seminar for the fathers, led by the Menahel of the yeshivah, Rabbi Menachem Benarousse. Later in the day, fathers had the opportunity to meet privately with the teachers to discuss their sons’ progress and growth.

The weekend concluded with parents, bochurim, and hanhalah alike inspired and energized to fulfill the Rebbe’s shlichus “to be mekabel p’nei Moshiach tzidkeinu bepo’el mamash!”