Rosh Yeshiva Shares a Memory

At the gala event concluding the “Early Years Experience”, Rabbi Leibel Schapiro, the Rov and Rosh Yeshiva of Miami Chabad yeshivah, who inspired and farbrenged with the participants throughout the week, shared a unique memory of Simchas Torah 5723 (1962).

The night before, after Hakafot, the Rebbe taught the chasidim a distinct nigun – as it was the custom in those years – Stav Ya Pitu, and at the daytime farbrengen, went on to explain the deeper meaning of the newly taught nigun.

When the Rebbe reached the explanation of the Hebrew words towards the end of the song “Cheshbon tzedek” – that there’s a need for a true reflection, the Rebbe dramatically paused, and called out “Cheshbon tzedek!… dos meint men mir un dir un dir (Oy, we need to do true reflection… and this refers to me and to you and to you)…” words that stunned the audience.

VIDEO:

Rabbi Schapiro went on to encourage the participants to take the experience and inspiration to the next level making a commitment in their avodas hashem and not let the week-long journey be forgotten by the “busyness” of life back at home.

The event took place in the luxurious Four Seasons Lion Palace Hotel in Petersburg after spending the day at a number of locations in the city connected to the Rebbe’s personal history, including special access into the Rebbe Rayatz’s apartment on 22 Mokhovaya Street – plus a private entry into the usually overcrowded Hermitage Museum.

The journey also included a flight to Almaty, Kazakhstan where the Rebbe’s father Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson is interred.