If you knew Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Wilschansky a”h, you knew this: He wasn’t just a Rosh Yeshiva.
He was a Mechanech in the deepest, truest sense.
For nearly fifty years, he dedicated his life to one mission:
That every single child who wanted to grow in Torah, Chassidus, and hiskashrus to the Rebbe would have a place in a Yeshiva.
This wasn’t an ideal. It was his life’s work.
He built the Yeshiva in Tzfat with his own hands. He expanded it, nurtured it, and kept asking the same question:
Will there be room for the next boy who walks through the door?
He Opened the Door.
There’s a story that says it all.
In a tribute on COLlive.com, a young man recalled arriving at the Yeshiva in Tzfat with no application, no connections – just hope.
“I wasn’t part of the system,” he wrote. “But Rabbi Wilschansky welcomed me in. He didn’t know who I was. But he changed my life.”
That was who he was. For Rabbi Wilschansky, if a bochur wanted to grow closer to the Rebbe, he belonged.
Read the full story: A Thank You to Rabbi Wilschansky – From a Stranger
A Historic Campaign to Carry Rabbi Wilchansky Z”l mission forward
Today, his family, talmidim, and friends are continuing his mission.
The campaign – “Igniting a Constant Flame” – aims to double the Yeshiva’s capacity, add dorms and classrooms, and expand scholarships so that no child is ever turned away for lack of space or funds.
Because this isn’t just about buildings.
It’s about building lives – soldiers of the Rebbe, rooted in Chassidus, shlichus, and strength.
Thousands Stand Behind Him
Founded by the Rebbe’s Shliach Rabbi Aryeh Leib Kaplan a”h, and expanded by Rabbi Eliyahu Aryeh Friedman a”h, the Yeshiva in Tzfat reached new heights under Rabbi Wilschansky.
Thousands of alumni – Shluchim, Rabbanim, Mashpi’im, teachers, fathers – carry his imprint.
Now, they are standing together to ensure no child is ever turned away.
To make sure Rabbi Wilschansky’s dream lives on.
Join the Mission
This is more than a campaign. It’s a promise.
That no spark will go unlit.
That the Rebbe’s vision continues – stronger than ever.
Join the campaign: charidy.com/tamid
יחי אדוננו מורנו ורבינו מלך המשיח לעולם ועד
This is so amazing
A true Shliach of the Rebbe, he resembled his Mshaleach in every way.
Well said
The reason for so many OTD in Chabad is in no small part because of the forbidden (to most families) costs of tuition
חבל על דאבדין
תנובה
משה בן עמרם
How I wish the schools in America would do the same they’re quick to close the door and not accept kids. If the Rebbe was here would they do that?
Let’s try to be mindful and more tolerant and accept the kids.
Isn’t that what Chabad is?
Many yeshivos all over don’t just accept everyone that applies
Two of my sons learned with him.
A man of true chessed and a total commitment to his bochrim. Both sons have Smicha, one is even a Dayan. We were in a position to pay full tuition and we did.
I know the Charidy team here was very involved- this is a genius campaign!
Kol Hakavod
I love the idea of someone really dealing with the issues,taking on real Achrayus.
Yes! I learned in tzfas for 3 years. There is a great system for americans. This passed year there was close to 100 bochurim from out of israel which in that 40 of them were americans. Definitly recommend going there.
he was my teacher in sem 22 years ago. I remember him vividly. he had a smile on his face always, stood for emes and was a dugmah chaya on so many levels.
I am a father with two teenage boys. Unless my financial situation improves, I cannot see way how I might send them to Yeshiva even for one year. We are now at a point that Yeshivos are pricing out Bochurim. This is a major issue today that is seemingly being ignored. While this initiative is a good start, it is one Yeshiva in Israel for mainly Israeli boys. We need more Yeshivos to tackle this issue. If nothing changes in the immediate term, my boys will be going to work or college when they graduate high school.