By COLlive reporter
This past Thursday, the gaon and author Rabbi Yitzchok Raitport visited the Educational Institute Oholei Torah in Crown Heights and delivered a shiur kloli to an audience of 400 bochurim.
The shiur, held in the Raitport Beis Medrash, focused on the current gemara being studied by the bochurim. During the session, Rabbi Raitport shared a deeply personal recollection of one of his many interactions with the Rebbe.
Rabbi Raitport recounted how, as a young bochur in 770, the Rebbe gave him a mission to ask a prominent rov a question in gemara. Though Rabbi Raitport did not know the rov personally, he understood his stature as a talmid chochom and esteemed leader, once noting how the Rebbe had helped the rov don his coat—a gesture of great significance. The Rebbe requested a detailed report of the encounter, including how the question was posed and the rov’s response, underscoring the depth and precision the Rebbe expected in Torah discussions.
Following the shiur, Rabbi Raitport was accompanied by Rosh HaMossad Rabbi Mendel Blau, Head Mashpia Rabbi Nachman Schapiro, and Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Shlomo Kaplan to meet a group of bochurim to further discuss the sugya in depth. The group delved into topics related to the gemara currently being studied, with Rabbi Raitport emphasizing the importance of full immersion in learning and achieving a thorough understanding of the material. He also shared additional personal stories about his experiences with the Rebbe and his own time as a young bochur.
To the delight of the talmidim, the entire shiur was later typed and prepared by Rabbi Elchonon Lesches, Dean of the Beis Medrash, allowing them to review and absorb the material more deeply.
Rabbi and Mrs. Raitport have been pillars of Oholei Torah for over 50 years, providing unwavering support and care for the bochurim as they grow in their learning. This visit also marked Rabbi Raitport’s first opportunity to see the recent expansion of the Beis Medrash. He was visibly impressed by the growth and development of Oholei Torah and the tremendous progress the institution has made over the years.
Rabbi Nosson Blumes, Director of Development and a close friend of the Raitport family, proudly showcased the expanded Beis Medrash and expressed gratitude to Rabbi Raitport for his decades-long dedication. He highlighted how the significant investments, dedications and efforts of Rabbi and Mrs. Raitport have contributed to the success and flourishing of the mossad. Rabbi Blumes thanked Rabbi Raitport for his visit and his ongoing commitment to sustaining and expanding the Yeshiva.
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