Mesivta’s Inspiring Ukraine Trip

Spirit and joy permeates the halls of Oholei Torah Mesivta. Over the past year, a M’Chayil el Choyil program has brought much excitement into the mesivta. Many activities and shiurim have been taking place this past year many in the mesivta, all with an emphasis on strengthening their hiskashrus and chassishkeit, yiras shomaim and mentchlichkeit

The bochurim worked one on one with their mashpim, and as the year came to close, the growth and positive results were noticeable for the bochurim who participated. The program was organized and managed by Rabbi Gedalya Hertz and Rabbi Moshe Silman and administered by Mrs. Esty Kugel. Many parents and members of Anash generously sponsored the year long program.

The program culminated with 32 talmidim of Shiur Gimmel traveling to Ukraine together with their menahel, Rabbi Zushe Wilhelm, and their mashpi’im, Rabbi Moshe Silman, Rabbi Nissim Lagziel, along with the mivtza co-ordinator, Rabbi Gedalya Hertz and Rabbi Motty Wilshanski, a shliach to the mesivta.

After leaving from 770, the trip began with a visit to the Ohel and from there were taken to JFK for their flight to Kiev.

There, they walked in the paths of our Rebbeim, singing their niggunim, learning their chassidus, telling their stories and farbrenging together in an all-encompassing week long experience of invigoration and inspiration.

Every moment was special. They davened by the ohelim of the Ba’al Shem Tov, the Mezritche Maggid, R’ Zushe of Anapoli, R’ Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev and spent shabbos farbrenging in Haditch, near the Alter Rebbe’s ohel, learning and making a siyum on the Tanya and singing seder niggunim. Many bochurim took on additional hachlotas toivos during this time.

Their trip culminated with a most-welcoming visit to the city of Dniepropetrovsk, where they walked the streets of the Rebbe’s youth, farbrenged with the bochrim of the local yeshiva, celebrated with the young children as they received their first chumash and came away inspired from the local shluchim.

Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky, head shliach, joined many of the programs in Dniepropetrovsk, and farbrenged with the bochurim during their visit to the Rebbes city.

This trip was earned by the bochrim through the Mesivta Project, which is tailored to fit each bochur’s capability. The bochrim felt that this experience is one that they will remember and cherish for the rest of their lives.