Mesivta Teachers Recharge in NY

The second annual Kinus dedicated to mechanchim at Chabad Mesivtas took place at Yeshiva Mesivta Menachem in Westchester, NY, Tuesday and Wednesday 24th and 25th Tammuz.

For two days, almost 70 mechanchim came to listen, learn, present, confer, consider and make collective decisions about the wide array of issues the face young bochurim.

Due to the importance of the event, Mesivtos were kept on a skeletal staff to accommodate their mechanchim. In all, almost 50% of the staff and menahalim of 17 Chabad mesivtas in the US and Canada were in attendance.

The Kinus was organized by Igud Mesivtas V’Yeshivos Lubavitch directed by Rabbi Mendel Itzinger and a division of the Merkos Chinuch Office.

It follows a number of successful programs during its now second year, most notable among them is the V’Hogiso program which helped 300 talmidim succeed in a variety of topics.

The mechanchim heard presentations from experts in the field, Such as Morristown Mashpia Rabbi Leima Wilhelm, Rabbi Levke Kaplan.

They also networked, presented and critiqued each other’s ideas in sessions lead by Rabbi Aharon Oster, Rabbi Levi Shtern, and Rabbi Itzinger.

At the same time, menahalim met for many hours to discuss various universal concerns, exchange ideas and decided on a number of cooperative programs for the coming year.

“Tomchei Temimim is about who you are, not about what you know,” Rabbi Itzinger said during dinner. “Our aim is to condition our students so they are successful, because growth triggers pleasure, and pleasure triggers the desire to grow even more, thereby bringing our students even more pleasure. And when our students and happy and fulfilled they will live lives in which they will continue to grow and grow.”

His address was followed by Rabbi Aharon Dovid Gancz who regaled attendees with importance of their mission.

In a Fabrengen that lasted until the wee hours of the morning Rabbi Moshe Wohlberg, who came from Manchester especially for the Kinus, demanded from the Mechanchim to live the message they impart on their Talmidim. “Methods and programs help, but they cannot compare to a Maggid Shiur who is himself fully engulfed in Torah, and the Mashpia who truly cares for him Talmidim,” he said.

On Wednesday, Rabbi Dr. Hirshel Fried made a series of presentations on ensuring that Yeshiva is not only about intellectual learning, and how to ensure that that Yeshiva’s message is imparted for life and as a way of life.

Rabbi Yosef Eizicovics, Menahel of Mesivta Coral Springs in Florida, was most inspired by the “cleverly crafted Kinus. Two invigorating days of learning, gleaning, and growing, in a true spirit of ish es re’eihu yazoru.”

“This wasn’t about tips or basic training, we got to the heart and soul of Chassidishe Chinuch, bringing it out in ourselves so that we can take it to our Talmidim,” said another participant.