By Yankee Junik for COLlive
Yud Aleph Nissan was weeks away; yet something was missing at the Lubavitch Educational Center in Miami. It wasn’t that Tzivos Hashem wasn’t helping boost up the hype. By all means, that program was in full swing and the “Hachona Buzz” was definitely in the air. It wasn’t like there was no talk and brainstorming about which Hachlotas were going to be taken on in honor of the Rebbe’s Birthday. In fact, hundreds of students accepted to take on a wide variety of mitzvos, including being mechazek the basics, like saying Brochos out loud before eating and making sure at least one person could answer Amein. Additionally, some classes learned hundreds of Mishnayos Baal Peh as well.
So what was it, you ask?
A weekly davening group affectionately known to students as D.L.C. (Daven Like a Chossid) currently in its 4th year, which has an average weekly membership of 40-50 boys just didn’t seem a truly befitting representation of the school for the fast approaching number, 109 (108). To effectively double attendance in such a short amount of time seemed nearly impossible. Could the club pull together 109 boys that fast? Can 109 boys really daven perfectly day after day without losing that momentum; reaching the ultimate goal? It would be a true gift to the Rebbe…. But was it really possible?
The challenge was thus set forth by teachers and school administration alike. Teachers were not ready to compromise their standards and accept a sub par davening for a bigger attendance, so students were going to have to earn it fair and square.The Lubavitch Educational Center’s students had work to do.
A daunting task indeed, it was one entailing many days of a long perfect davening, pointing inside the siddur for each and every word, and of course with a true Chayos overall. Yet, a super perfect davening alone was in no way to suffice. Tzedaka preceding the davening was also a must!
With the week swiftly coming to a close, the day had arrived. Piling into the auditorium the “D.L.C members” were directed to where in regular circumstances a special minyan would be held being led by a recording of “Rebbe’s davening.” Lo and behold, as the Duch was being filled out, the numbers began to continue pouring in… 30 boys, 40 boys , 60, 80, 100, 104, 105 , 107……
And then the final 2 boys walked in, “109” “MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!”
Cheering, clapping, shouting and big smiles overwhelmed the auditorium. Each and every boy truly felt the importance of the moment, “Can you imagine if I didn’t participate, we wouldn’t have made it” was the shared spoken feeling.
This tremendous accomplishment did not go unnoticed or unrewarded, as all students left with hot cocoa, ice cream, and a color certificate of their contributed achievement. These were great prizes of course, but the best prize of all was the pride and nachas of knowing that they were apart of such a major project. Giving the Rebbe much nachas was what gave the boys a real sense of victory.
The following boys were part of the amazing LEC gift to the Rebbe.
Grade 1
Daniel Akrish
Ari Andrusier
Rafael Andrusier
Reuven Benzaquen
Avraham Berry
Nissi Bortunk
Menachem Citron
Ariel Corcia
Zalman Drimmer
Shneur Elkayam
Shmueli Field
Menachem Helinski
Yosef Yitzchok Helinski
Mendel Kaller
Mendel Katz
Avi Katz
Yosef Mann
Menachem Moshe
Dovid Lebovics
Uri Maskauchan
Shneur Odents
Sholom Oirechman
Yossi Paret
Yisroel Razla
Avrumel Reisel
Ari Rubinstein
Yehuda Salazar
Yosef Chaim Shababo
Shneur Zalman Smith
Levi Spalter
Mendel Spivak
Mendel Waks
Yisroel Zavdi
Yechiel Zirkind
Grade 2
Shmuel Amar
Ari Baron
Yossi Brashevitzky
Dovi Brody
Mendel Cohen
Shmueli Dalfin
Eliyahu Dolgonos
J.J. Fellig
Mendel Field
Shmuel Forta
Noach Ganem
Sholom Hellinger
Shneur Levi
Mendel Lieberman
Eli Lipskar
Yossi Katan
Levi Laber
Sholom Lebovics
Mendel Rubinstein
Meyer Sandman
Sholom Smith
Grade 3
Yossi Bleier
Meyer Coen
Yisrolik Korf
Levi Smith
Yossi Spalter
Yossi Stolik
Grade 4
Mendal Baron
Eli Brody
Levi Fellig
Shuki Friedman
Edmond Gutt
J.J. Halsband
Motti Harlig
Dovi Ichelivici
Mendel Katan
Schneur Zalman Korf
Mendel Laber
Ben Lellinger
Ari Oirechman
Mendel Roth
Yoed Rivera
Shloime Zirkind
Grade 5
Zevi Bortunk
Moishe Cohen
Yossi Donin
Motti Druin
Sruli Duchman
Meir Fellig
Yossi Fellig
Eli Forta
Mordechai Goldberg
Moishy Harlig
Sender Hellinger
Michael Heskiel
Mendel Lebovics
Eden Lellinger
Mendel Mann
Eli Marvin
Elldar Mizrachi
Yechiel Moshe
Menachem Perez
Shloime Pinhas
Nosson Stolik
Grade 6
Ariel Dressler
Mendy Eig
Levi Elkayam
Pesach Gewirtz
Yakov Heskiel
Chaim Paret
Yosel Pinhas
Yossi Prigan
Menachem Rubin
Meir Schwartz
Eli Weiss
you rock best kids ever
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but im moving on to a skool with a better secular studies 🙁 🙂
L.E.C. really shines !!!!! The sunshine state takes the lead….with the bright ” SUN “…. Rabbi Garfinkel giving light and enthusiasm to all…Keep Up The Great Work!!!!! L.E.C. is #1
we love you!!!!!!!!!!!! we are so proud of you!!!!!! love your cousins from new haven!!!!!!!!!!
To the best teacher L.E.C EVER HAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
RABBI GARFINKEL, HE IS THE BEST EVER #1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Rabbi G for all your great work!
Thank you to all my childrens teachers you are true melamdim!
You are the best!!! Way to go Rabbi Garfinkel and 4A!
Miami Offers the Best chinuch by far!
way to go… all my campers were Miami Boys and they are always the ones that have the best middos!!!
Morah Rivkah Mendelson and her class 2B rocks
Mendel and Ari Baron great job keep it up 🙂 We are proud of you!
we’re desperate
ZEVI BORTUNK…… NO SURPRISE 😉 your the best!!!!!!!
We love you!!!!!!
go avi katz u rock the house
Wow great job guys keep it up
GO LEVI AND J.J FELLIG!! We love you guys!
why is rabbi andrusier dancing with morah estie b.’s class? keep it up boys!
yasher koach to mendel and levi laber!! a job well done!! we are all so proud of you…you both daven like true chasidim!!
they were not the only class
I am so proud of my son and all the students in Lec. Rabbi Garfinkel and all the Rebbeim keep up your good work.
Hurray for the 2B boys with perfect 100% of the class earning DLC!!!
You kids are the best!!!!!!