Inspiration In and Out of Yeshiva

By A Bochur From Yeshiva Gedola Lubavitch South Africa Joburg

Over the last two months, the Yeshiva here was pumping (more than usual), with everyone involved in the Mivtza Hachana for Yud Sh’vat, trying to reach the 1,000 point mark and receive a ticket to the Rebbe.

Going to the Mikvah before Chassidus, coming to S’dorim on time, learning the entire Seder, and writing summaries on the first 12 Prokim of Tanya were only some of the things that we did for the Mivtza. The most impressive part was the learning of Ma’amorim & Sichos B’al Peh. Imagine! In a Yeshiva of only 17 Bochurim, more than 200(!) Ma’amorim were Chazered B’al Peh. Many of us had never learned a Ma’amar on our own even inside, let alone B’al Peh!

From 5:30 a.m. until 3:00 a.m. there were Bochurim in Zal, learning! At every Farbrengen there were a few Ma’amorim Chazered B’al Peh! The staff and Shluchim at Yeshiva were amazing … always available to help us learn Ma’amorim and test us on the Ma’amorim we learned. The Achdus amongst the Bochurim, with every Bochur trying to help his friends, and the excitement that everyone felt for one another was something that I’ve never seen anything like it.

A total of 8 bochurim reached the 1,000 point mark for which we merited a most inspiring trip to the Rebbe. Those of us who live in Crown Heights never really experienced travelling to the Rebbe in the past. The dancing in the airport, Farbrenging and learning Ma’amorim on the plane. At each stage of the trip a different one of us Chazered a Ma’amar B’Al Peh, each Bochur Chazering at least two Ma’amorim publically over the week. On the ride from the airport to 770, we heard a Shiur from Rabbi Wagner, then sang Nigunim in preparation. When we finally arrived in 770, the excitement was unbelievable.

The “runner-ups” for the Mivtza were also rewarded with an amazing trip to Sabi – Sabi, a 5 star game lodge in Kruger National Park, or a 3 day horseback riding trip through Lesotu, an African tribal area.

I loved being in a Zal where all the bochurim were totally involved in learning for almost two full months, both in and out of Seder. But most of all what this mivtza did for me and many other Bochurim was to show us that we CAN do it and help us receive a “Geshmak” in Chassidus.

Thank you Yeshiva Gedola Lubavitch South Africa – you changed my life.

To buy a letter in a Sefer Torah To help support the Yeshiva Please click here