Montreal Girls Mark Chai Elul

The entire Tanya and parts of the Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch are being divided up amongst the students of Beth Rivkah High School of Montreal, which they will learn daily between Chai Elul and the upcoming Chof Dalet Teves.

At the beautiful breakfast-farbrengen organized by Bnos Chabad of BRHS, the principal, Rabbi Yosef Minkowitz, shared with the High School students some details of the “surprise Farbrengen” of the Rebbe which he was privileged to attend on Chai Elul 5722, exactly 50 years ago.

The Rebbe said at that time that since the upcoming Chof Dalet Teves (5723) would mark the 150th year since the passing of the Alter Rebbe, therefore the days between Chai Elul (the birthday of the Alter Rebbe) and Chof Dalet Teves should be utilized in a very significant way.

The Rebbe asked that the entire Tanya and Alter Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch should be divided, and everyone should take a portion of Tanya and a portion of Shulchan Aruch to study daily between Chai Elul and Chof Dalet Teves.

The Rebbe also asked everyone to contribute daily to a special fund, “Keren Shneur”, which will be used to publish Chassidus, and support institutions which follow the Alter Rebbe’s teachings.

The Rebbe pointed out that the upcoming Chof Dalet Teves will be on Motzoai Shabbos, just as at the time of the Alter Rebbe’s Histalkus. (See Likutei Sichos vol. 9 page 343).

The Rebbe held a special unusual Farbrengen on Motzoai Shabbos, Chof Dalet Teves (5723), which started at 10:30 pm, the time recoded as the Alter Rebbe’s Histalkus.

This upcoming Chof Dalet Teves (5773), which is also on Motzoai Shabbos, marks 200 years since the Alter Rebbe’s Histalkus, and the Beth Rivkah students are excited about fulfilling the Rebbe’s special requests.

The elementary students also had a special Chai Elul breakfast, with an interesting program. The breakfast was prepared by the students of grade 4 who came at 7:45 am to set up the beautiful breakfast.