Friends Mark Rosh Yeshiva’s 80th

By COLlive reporter

A chassidic farbrengen was held last week for the 80th birthday of Rabbi Yisroel Friedman, the respected Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Medrash Oholei Torah in Crown Heights.

Colleagues, friends, former and current students gathered to celebrate with Rabbi Friedman, known both for his scholarly brilliance and chassidic sentiments, in a modest event that included Torah thoughts and niggunim.

It was sponsored by alumni and organized by bochurim Boruch Ceitlin and Peretz Garelik. Following the farbrengen, the bochurim gifted him a new iPad device packed with the Rebbe’s sichos. Rabbi Friedman will be assisted with how to use it, they said.

Joining the farbrengen were fellow Oholei Torah staff: Mashpia Rabbi Nachman Schapiro, Dean Rabbi Elchanan Lesches, maggidei shiurim Rabbi Avrohom Hertz, Rabbi Fishel Oster, Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Bluming, Rabbi Shmuel Shur, Rabbi Shlomo Kaplan and Rabbi Levi Matusof.

Leading the farbrengen was Rabbi Avraham Shemtov, Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International and organizer of the annual Global Yarchei Kallah summit of which Rabbi Friedman is a regular honored attendee.

Also present were members of Lahak publications Rabbi Dovid Feldman and Rabbi Yisroel Shimon Kalmenson, as well as Collel Chabad Director Rabbi Sholom Duchman, Manchester Shliach Rabbi Yossi Chazan, R’ Nochum Sternberg and Shliach Rabbi Eliezer Shemtov.

Together, participants wished Rabbi Friedman many more years of health and energy to continue educating and guiding one of the largest Chabad Yeshivos in the world.