Oholei Torah marked Yud Tes Kislev, the “Rosh Hashanah of Chassidus,” with a variety of heartfelt celebrations spanning its divisions, infusing students and staff with inspiration, achdus, and renewed commitment to Limmud HaChassidus.
A Grand Farbrengen in Preschool
The youngest talmidim at Oholei Torah Preschool had their Yud Tes Kislev program on Friday morning with a grand farbrengen. The children sang niggunim, heard captivating stories about the Alter Rebbe and Yud Tes Kislev, and enjoyed a festive atmosphere that highlighted the joy of Chassidus. The program instilled a sense of pride and belonging in these young hearts, creating lifelong memories.
Festivities in Cheder
Oholei Torah’s Cheder celebrated with great enthusiasm, featuring lavish fleishig seudahs followed by chayusdikeh farbrengens. The talmidim were inspired by divrei Torah, stories, and heartfelt singing, as their rabbeim and menahalim shared words of encouragement to strengthen their learning and connection to Chassidus. Highlights included a dynamic Chassidus shiur delivered by Rabbi Mendel Blau, Rosh Moisad, to the entire 6th and 7th grades before davening, and an inspiring address by Rabbi Yossi Garelik at the seudah.
Mechina: A Full Day of Celebration
The Mechina division observed Yud Tes Kislev with a multi-stage celebration. The day began with a milchig seudah on Friday morning, featuring live music, joyous niggunim led by Rabbi Shmueli, and words of inspiration from guest speaker Rabbi Kalmen Winefeld. The talmidim were encouraged to carry the lessons of Chassidus into their daily lives. Friday evening, the students came together again for a spirited Shabbos seudah in the yeshiva’s warm and uplifting environment. The seudah was filled with good food, meaningful stories, uplifting niggunim, and the camaraderie that epitomizes Yud Tes Kislev.
Mesivta: Farbrengens of Depth and Connection
The Mesivta bochurim began their Yud Tes Kislev celebration on Thursday night with a powerful farbrengen. The celebration continued through Shabbos with seudos and farbrengens where students connected deeply with their mashpiim and peers, reflecting on the personal relevance of Yud Tes Kislev in their avodas Hashem.
The highlight of the weekend was a special father-son Melave Malka, featuring guest speaker Rabbi Telsner from Australia, who inspired participants to take the spirit of Yud Tes Kislev into their homes and daily lives.
Bais Medrash: A Grand Seudah Farbrengen
The bochrim of Shiur Daled joined their hanhala for a grand seudah farbrengen in the Zal, accompanied by live music. Esteemed speakers, including Rabbi Lesches, Rabbi Schapiro, Rabbi Korf, and Rabbi Charitonow, shared insights about the profound lessons of Yud Tes Kislev. A siyum on Masechta Chullin was made by Menachem Koncepolski, adding to the uplifting atmosphere. Simultaneously Shiur Aleph and Beis had their seudah farbrengen at Mechina on Troy Ave.
The celebrations continued with a Shabbos seudah hosted by the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Kaplan, and Rabbi Shur. The farbrengen extended well into the night, and more gatherings took place on Motzei Shabbos, making it a truly inspiring 48-hour Yud Tes Kislev Ha’Aruch.
A Unified Spirit Across Oholei Torah
The celebrations across all divisions of Oholei Torah reflected the yeshiva’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of Chassidim. The joyous and meaningful Yud Tes Kislev events left an indelible impression on the talmidim, who were inspired to carry the lessons of the day into their Torah learning and daily lives.
As Oholei Torah looks ahead, the yeshiva continues to stand as a bastion of Chassidus and chinuch, building on the foundation laid by the Alter Rebbe and perpetuated by the Rebbe’s vision.
Amzing to see the chinuch al Taharas hakodesh
I remember being a bochur in OT in תשס”ג we were in the dorm on president and Brooklyn and we were farbrenging and Rabi Nachman Shapiro שליט”א came and saw us and instead of getting upset he sat down and farbrenged for us all the way till Chassidus