By COLlive reporter
Photos by Baruch Ezagui
For at least one period of time during the Kinus Hashluchim, it will be back to Yeshiva for the participants.
The first day of the annual international convention of Chabad Shluchim held in Brooklyn, NY, is typically dedicated to workshops and discussions that run Thursday from 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
Sessions presented by fellow rabbis and professionals cover such areas as non-profit management, practical Rabbinics, community programming, effective counseling, finances and fundraising and adult education.
Yet next week, when Shluchim pick up the detailed program of the Kinus, they will discover that one time slot in the packed Thursday schedule is being cleared for focusing on one single area.
“We will be doing nothing other than learning Torah,” says Rabbi Simcha Backman of Chabad of Glendale, CA, who is part of the committee that coordinates the convention’s workshops.
Between 4:00-5:30 PM, the Brooklyn Marriott Hotel will be transformed into a Kollel with known Rabbis, Rosh Yeshivas and scholars presenting Yeshiva-style classes in Yiddish, Hebrew and English.
With views of the nearby Brooklyn Bridge, Shluchim will be delving into Gemara, Chassidus, halacha, the Rebbe Rashab’s Hemshech Ayin Beis and topics related to the redemption and Moshiach.
Rabbi Ezra Schochet, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr Elchanon in Los Angeles, will be exploring the Rebbe’s selection process of the 12 Pesukim verses taught to Jewish children and their deeper meaning with lessons for children and adults alike.
Another class, presented by Rabbi Avrohom Baruch Pewsner, Rov of the Chabad community in Paris, will be sharing recent revelations about the method, manner and time it took the Alter Rebbe to write the Shulchan Aruch, the Code of Jewish Law.
The new second volume of Yalkut Levi Yitzchok, an anthology of commentaries on the Chumash collected from the works of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, father of the Rebbe, will be presented by its compiler Rabbi Dovid Dubov, Chabad Shliach in Princeton, NJ.
Other presenters include the choizer Rabbi Yoel Kahn, Oholei Torah maggid shiur Rabbi Avrohom Gerlitzky, New Haven Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Kalmenson, renowned lecturer Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Sacramento Shliach Rabbi Mendy Cohen, Rabbi Chaim Schapiro of the Morristown Smicha program, and Washington state Shliach Rabbi Mordechai Farkash.
“We always had shiurim given throughout the days of the workshops on Thursday, Friday and Sunday,” Rabbi Backman told COLlive.com. “But this will be more powerful. Everyone will be learning Torah simultaneously in 13 shiurim.”
Working with Backman on coordinating the program were Shluchim Rabbi Sholom Raichik of Gaithersburg, MD; Rabbi Yossi Nemes of New Orleans, LA; Rabbi Motti Wilhelm of Portland, OR; and Rabbi Raleigh Resnick of Pleasanton, CA.
The theme of the 5775 Kinus is a quote of the Rebbe that “I travel with you” to your Shlichus destination. Backman says that learning as a way to connect to the Rebbe fits into this theme.
That is great news!
Surely many many shluchim will poshut be enriched and enjoy the day of learning!!!
This time of year “Rebbe” is truly felt in the streets of Crown Hts.
The Rebbe’s shluchim – together as one – brings with it the true feeling of “Rebbe”.
The wonderful thing about the kinus is the achdus – the simcha you witness when friends greet friends. Each shliach knows he is a part of this awesome powerful group.. They know that alone they could not have the koach and special-ness but as part of the whole they can be proud and fortified to do and continue to do their shlichus.
May they greet Moshiach Now!!!
Like this idea .
So happy to hear about this
The theme is “Ich Fohr Doch Mit Eich”. The way it is translated in this article (“I travel with you”) sort misses the point. The reality is so much more powerful, and empowering: The Rebbe is ALWAYS right there with every Shiach!
I’m so glad to hear that B”H our yesod must be learning torah ourselves so we can properly impact others ! Shkoiach. !