By COLlive reporter
Photos: Mendy Krief/COLlive
The annual Kinus Torah of in-depth learning was held Sunday, Isru Chag, in the main shul of 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights with the participation of a packed crowd of bochurim and Chassidim, local residents and visitors who are in Crown Heights for Shavuos in this Hakhel year.
The learning is done in accordance with the Rebbe’s instruction that there be an increase in the study of Torah and chassidus during or following Jewish holidays. The annual Kinus Torah at 770 is organized each year by Rabbi Shneur Zalman Labkowski, Rosh Yeshiva of 770 Yeshiva, who has done so for many years with the brachos of the Rebbe, who also gave Mezonos and Mashke for the Kinusim.
The shiurim, which are said in Hebrew and Yiddish, are given by prominent Rabbonim, Roshei Yeshiva and Mashpiim.
The Kinus Torah began following the main Mincha Minyan and was opened by Rabbi Labkowski, who noted that this year, due to Shabbos being the second day of Shavuos, both the Kinus Torah here and in Israel are being held on the same day.
Rabbi Simon Jacobson, one of the Rebbe’s famous Choizrim, spoke about the difference in many places in Torah about the time of before Moshiach and after the coming of Moshiach, and how they are not contradictory.
He also shared a personal story of his Yechidus with the Rebbe ahead of his Bar Mitzvah, and the 13 questions the Rebbe asked of him, and the answers the Rebbe gave.
Rabbi Yosef Braun, Member of the Badatz of Crown Heights, thanked Rabbi Labkowski for arranging the Kinus Torah after each Yom Tov for many years.
Rabbi Braun spoke about the Halachos Shluchim must know when arranging events for those who are not Shomer Shabbos, and other questions of Halacha which may arise in communities.
Rabbi Yosef Hecht, Chief Rabbi and Head Shliach of Eilat, spoke about the subject of Mitzvos Aseh and Lo Saaseh, and the difference between various types of Mitzvos.
Rabbi Yeshaya Hertzel, Chief Rabbi of Nof Hagalil, Israel, began with relating a personal incident of when he was speaking with his future father-in-law in front of 770 in the 1960s, and the Rebbe came out. The Rebbe asked them what are they speaking about, and they replied they are talking divrei Torah. The Rebbe said, a Kinus Torah is currently going on inside 770, and they must join while it’s going on.
Rabbi Hertzel spoke about the Halachos of Birkas Kohanim and when we recite the prayer.
Rabbi Dovid Ofen, a Rov in Beitar Illit, spoke about the difference of the Shulchan Aruch and the Siddur of the Alter Rebbe, and the Hayom Yom and the Hagaddah of the Rebbe. The diyukim – a difference of a word or line, of the Rebbe’s, explain Halachos which were not understood for many years.
Rabbi Sholom Ber Levine, Head Librarian of the Rebbe’s Library, spoke about the difference of the reading of the Aseres Hadibros on Shavuos rather than in a regular Parsha.
Rabbi Chaim Kushner, Rov of the Chabad community in Emanuel, Israel, spoke about Mechiras Chometz, the Shmita year in Israel, and the halachos surrounding the subject.
Rabbi Shlomo Halperin, Mashpia in Tel Aviv, spoke about the bracha of the Mesader Kiddushin at the Chuppah, and connected it to the Gemara Gittin which is being learned in Chabad Yeshivos this year.
Rabbi Yisroel Labkowski, from the Roshei Yeshivos in Tomchei Temimim, also attended the Kinus Torah.
Rabbi Labkowski concluded with final words and comments, and ended with brachos that we should merit the coming of Moshiach immediately, and the next Kinus Torah will be with the Rebbe in Yerushalayim.
