On Tuesday, Chof Hey Adar Aleph, the National Committee for the Furtherance of Jewish Education (NCFJE) hosted a luncheon for their tireless and hardworking Released Time instructors in Crown Heights.
Over a delicious spread of salads, bagels, and sushi, beautifully prepared in Getzel’s shul, the bochurim heard inspirational words from Rabbi Cousin who encouraged them to continue in their amazing work.
Rabbi Aaron Cousin, former headmaster of the Lubavitch boys school in London, shared stories of old and emphasized how important the Released Time program was to the Friediker Rebbe and the Rebbe, giving Jewish children in public schools a weekly dose of Judaism.
Explaining the significance of the bochurims dedication, Rabbi Cousins told a story of a bochur who didn’t want to go on Released Time because he would be missing out on Seder, the Rebbe said that the Neshamos in Gan Eden, and even Nishmas Moshe Rabbeinu are jealous when you make a bracha with a child.
Another short story which Rabbi Cousins shared, was about a bochur whom had a problem stuttering and didn’t want to go on released time. The Rebbe replied to him that if he goes on released time his stuttering would be healed.
Rabbi Shea Hecht also joined the bochurim, and when thanking the bochurim on their virtuous work he said: “ It’s not for me to thank, you are working directly for the Rebbe.
Rabbi Shazak Zirkind, the driving force behind the program, spoke to the bochurim and he too congratulated the bochurim on their work.
To motivate the bochurim he portrayed an analogy “If you have saved 20 people from drowning yesterday or even 30, 40, or 50, and you have the opportunity to save someone today, would you say I did my share yesterday?”
Rabbi Zirkind ended off the luncheon by awarding a group of bochurim from P.S 225, a school that doubled their enrollment of children this week.
My maiden name is Cousin, my dad’s side. My famous cousin would have been Norman Cousins. Rabbi Porter in baltimore told me there was a Rabbi Cousins. so through the web search i found you. Funny how it is such a small world. The lubavitch rabbi that i connect to is Rabbi Baron in columbia, maryland. Chabad has had a love in my heart and my family’s for a long time
I always refer to Rabbi Cusin as my hero !
Shiffy, I afree with you!!
Regards to the family
love us
Was the story a “YECHEZKAL STORY”!
-Shiffy and Family
alwase nice to see rabbi cusin rabbi cussin ijust toild a story o at your release time ito a shiur to day what hashgicho protis
Aaron will never be ‘old’…always young at heart!!!!
Rabbi Cousin was the headmaster of Lubavitch Boys Junior School in London for 27 years. He left to take up a position in a non-frum school ‘Beit Shammai’ unfortunately the school folded a few years following his arrival.
Fond memories as a young school boy,
Chanoch Sufrin
Brisbane
Rabbi Aaron Cousin, former headmaster of the Lubavitch boys school in London
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No, he was Headmaster of a non-Chabad school. When I first met him, he was visiting CH with boys from his school whom he took to the Rebbe and Simchas Beis haShoieva.
Dear Rebbe Cousins: It looks like you are talking and assembly as you did all those years go. Chadeish Yomeinu Kekedem! ‘Dismissed’ Zei Gezzunt, from an alter talmid who respects you even more now than when at school even though I never made into your ‘good book’ but I do remember the weekly farher, Tzen fun Tzen!
Glenlivet to that!!
im telling you he is the best zaidy to ever hit planet earth
(and is the best yechezkal story teller ever)
cheers zaideh
love you tons!!!!!!!!!!!
GO ZAYDA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!