By COLlive reporter
Oholei Torah, the flagship Chabad Yeshiva for boys located in Crown Heights, has announced the hiring of Rabbi Mendel Blau as the new Menahel Roshi for the entire Yeshiva.
The Oholei Torah Board of Directors, in consultation with the Vaad Ruchni, said that they have been looking for an individual “to help lead, shape, and inspire the educational direction of the entire Moisad, unifying the many departments—from preschool through Beis Medrash—under one cohesive banner, while innovating for current and future success.”
They said they have been searching for the right individual to lead the Ruchnius direction of the school, following the successful streamlining of the Gashminus of the school under the leadership of R’ Yossi Langsam.
“True Torah Chinuch, Chinuch Al Taharas Hakodesh, readies us for the journey of life, helping us illuminate an often challenging world (our personal Charan), preparing and inspiring us to, like Yaakov our father, make a Dirah b’Tachtonim in every facet of our lives,” the board of directors wrote in a statement.
“As proud Yidden and humble Chassidim, we are taught that, like our forefathers, we must change the world, never allow the world to change us; we must shape the future, never let the future shape us; we must act today to trailblaze the path to Moshiach.
“This is the reason that Reb Michoel Teitelbaum founded and headed Moisad Chinuch Oholei Torah, and R’ Yosef Rosenfeld fashioned it into the world-changing powerhouse it is today,” they said.
The search for the Menahel Ruchni was “not to maintain the status quo, or even perfect the systems in place, but to continue the revolutionary and trailblazing tradition of the Yeshiva of Shem v’Ever and Tomchei Temimim,” the Board said.
Rabbi Blau, who presently leads Tomchei Tmimim Chovevei Torah only a few blocks away, will spearhead the educational future of Oholei Torah beginning next school year.
He will be leading Oholei Torah full time beginning next school year, and will be leading Chovevei Torah through the end of this year in the hiring of new individuals to continue his work there and help the Yeshiva to continue to grow and flourish.
A proud preschool-through – Beis Medrash alum of Oholei Torah, Rabbi Blau’s immediate goal this year will be to reacquaint himself with the institution, its leadership, faculty, families, students, and educational systems.
“Over the past 10 years at Chovevei Torah, prior to which he was an exemplary Oholei Torah Mesivta Maggid Shiur, R’ Blau’s Chassidishkeit, scholarship, management, innovation, and leadership have helped position that eternal institution in a bright present and for a brilliant future,” the Board said.
“This priceless experience, coupled with the hashgacha protis that R’ Blau has solidified Chovevei and grown into the next stage of his Shlichus, makes him the perfect fit for Oholei Torah.”
I can’t think of a more suitable candidate bh. may hashem give u the koach to do this important shlichus !!!
What a loss to Chovevei Torah. He has done exemplary work connecting with the bochurim, instilling a strong sense of chassidishkeit and yidishkeit irregardless of the style of the individual.
Oholei torah is really lucky to have Rabbi Blau!
Much Hatzlacha
Best man for the job
Was so fortunate to have him as my menahel in choivive
Hatzlacha Rabbi Blau!
To the entire board and yossi Langsam for ur efforts in continuing the legacy of such a holy mossad
Rabbi Blau is a gifted Mechanech
Accomplished so much bdarchei Noam ubdarchai Shalom
I hope he won’t be sorely missed in Chovevei. The man is an honest, upstanding individual and a proper yerei shomayim and chossid. I spent a few years in Chovevei and I feel like I developed a unique connection with Rabbi Blau. I could be fooling myself about that, but about Rabbi Blau’s character, I’m not fooled. He doesn’t fool. He’s the real deal. I know. Perhaps exactly what Oholei Torah needs. Perhaps. That, I don’t know. Wishing him tremendous Hatzlacha in this new endeavour and wishing continued Hatzlacha upon the stellar group of Rabbis in Chovevei such as the… Read more »
Rabbi Blau, Try not to forget your old talmidim even if we have you a hard time. Answer our phone calls or messages. 😉 Love you! Hatzlacha Rabba!
Old Chovevei bochur.