As the founding chapter of Tomchei Tmimim in North America, YTTL of Montreal has invested extensive effort into revamping its staff and curriculum to even more accurately reflect its position as a pioneer and leader in the education of young Chabad Bachurim in the spirit of Tomchei Tmimim and its holy founders, our Rebbeim.
Even as war raged in other parts of the world, the Frierdiker Rebbe exerted tremendous effort in directing the founding of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim of Montreal.
As many Chabad Chassidim sought to build new lives for themselves and their surviving families, the Frierdiker Rebbe encouraged many to settle in Montreal and assist in the Yeshiva’s development.
Indeed, in time Montreal, and its newly established Yeshiva, a beacon of Chassidic warmth and scholarship, became known as an ir v’eim amongst the many other Chabad communities that were springing up across the continent.
This special Yeshivah is drenched — literally — with the fiery passion of Chassidus, Chassidim, and Limud Hanigleh v’Hanistor. Personalities such as Reb Peretz Mochkin, Reb Zalman Marozov, Reb Isaac Shvei, Rabbi Hirschprung, Rabbi Hendel Aleihem Hashalom, and so many more helped educate generations of great Chassidim and Shluchim. In this regard, it is perhaps unmatched by any other Yeshivah in North America.
Even today, the likes of R’ Laibel Kaplan and Rabbi Itche Meir Gurary — both men with unique and fascinating histories of interaction with the Rebbe — still stand at its helm, and lead it in the same holy manner of their predecessors.
In order to better reflect the Yeshivah’s unique role and history it was decided that Rabbi Gurary serve as the Mashpia Kloli and oversee the entire Chassidus curriculum, infusing it with his unique style and dedication, in the hope that as ever younger Bochurim join the Yeshiva’s ranks, the Hadracha and guidance Rabbi Gurary personally received from the Rebbe benefit the entire student body.
Replacing Rabbi Gurary as Mashpiah of the graduating class will be Rabbi Sholom Ber Cohen who is known for his dedication to his students and his exemplary chassidishe varemkeit, and is beloved by his former mushpo’im the world over.
Rabbi Cohen, who spent a number of years as a close Talmid of the legendary Chosid and Mashpia Reb Mendel Futerfas in Kfar Chabad, is respected for his deep and vast understanding of Limud Hachassidus.
It is the Yeshiva’s hope that Rabbi Cohen’s incredible scholarship and genuine application of darkei hachassidus impart to its next batch graduates a genuine appreciation of what “living as Chossid” is meant to be like, and to empower a class of future Shluchim who will stand proudly at the forefront of those soldiers waging the battle of Milchemes Beis Dovid, relentlessly pushing the flowing fountains of Chassidus forward, with ever more gusto and strength, ultimately forcing it over the edge and into the “outside,” ushering in the coming of Moshiach, and reuniting us with the Rebbe, speedily.
