Rebbe’s Promise to Buffalo Fulfilled

By Yeshivas Menachem of Buffalo

As you can imagine, converting our 16 year-old Mesivta to a Beis Medrash for older bochurim was not an easy decision. We had had tremendous success with the younger age, but the landscape had changed.

Today, although there are, Baruch Hashem, many Yeshivas that cater to different types of bochurim, there was something missing. There was a need for a main-stream Yeshiva with a full curriculum of limudim that was able to accommodate the realities of today’s tech savvy bochur.

We saw that many bochurim were falling through the cracks, struggling with the general yeshiva principle that: talmidim cannot succeed unless they unplug from all the latest devices. It was either all or nothing. We felt it was possible for them to succeed in a normal Yeshiva, if that Yeshiva would be more understanding and flexible, and allow (under supervision) smart phones, laptops and WiFi. So armed with this innovative vision, and the hiring of Rabbi Yehuda Lorber, Mesivta Menachem became Yeshivas Menachem.

Baruch Hashem the first year of this new zal was an unbelievable success. Under the warm guidance of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Munitz, our Rosh Yeshiva, we assembled a very good group of mature, well-mannered, bright bochurim to experience this first-hand. The hatzlacha was beyond all expectations.

On the last Shabbos of the year, the Buffalo community joined Yeshivas Menachem for a farewell seuda. At the meal, Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, who hosted the bochurim for a weekly Thursday night “Yiddishkeit Q&A Ice Cream & Farbrengen”, related the true origins of the Yeshiva.

“The original Lubavitcher Yeshiva in Buffalo was started by the Freidiker Rebbe, but it ultimately closed,” explained Rabbi Greenberg. “Many years ago, the Shluchim of Buffalo asked the Rebbe about reopening the Yeshiva. The Rebbe responded that there would come a time for a Lubavitcher Yeshiva to return to Buffalo.”

Rabbi Greenberg said that “When the Mesivta opened 16 years ago it seemed like the Rebbe’s words were fulfilled. In reality, however, the Rebbe had said Yeshiva not Mesivta! Now a Yeshiva has finally come to Buffalo and this group of bochurim are part of an historic fulfillment of the Rebbe’s promise!”

Rabbi Avrohom Meir Shuman, who together with his father Charlie, and uncle Hymie, have been strong supporters, thanked the bochurim for their contributions to the community. “All summer long Buffalo is dead,” said Rabbi Shuman. “We eagerly await the new year and the return of the bochurim when we literally experience Techias Hameisim!”

Also given honorable mention at the meal was Professer Eli Wallen, for his invaluable courses in personal finance and life skills, and Yisroel Lazerson, an alumnus of Mesivta Menachem, for his popular class in computer programming.

However, the greatest thanks of all was reserved for the bochurim themselves as the seuda morphed into a chassidishe farbrengen. “Chinuch is a challenging job,” declared Rabbi Munitz. “You plant the seed, water it, nurture it and pray it grows up healthy and strong. Many times you don’t get to enjoy the fruits of your labor until many years down the road. This year however, through the hard work of the wonderful bochurim, we are already able to see the tremendous, tremendous, growth they have achieved!”

The Rosh Yeshiva farbrenged late into the afternoon. With his trademark warmth and unconditional love for each bochur, Rabbi, as he is affectionately known, encouraged the bochurim to be proud of all they had accomplished and implored them to continue to make the Rebbe proud by living and learning Inyanei Geulah and Moshiach.

The Yeshiva now looks forward toward the coming year when it anticipates building off this success.

Limited registration for the coming year is now open.

For more information please call 716-568-0121 or visit our website at www.yeshivasmenachem.com