By: A Crown Heights resident
The sheer magnitude of hospitality and Chesed that goes on in Crown Heights rivals or surpasses any community. Given the explosive growth of Lubavitch, the demand has outpaced the supply creating a crisis during high volume times like Tishrei.
The author of “Who Will Do Something For the Tishrei Guests?” is not the first to raise a complaint, about the great need for accommodations for guests who come to spend Tishrei in Crown Heights and struggle to meet their basic needs, especially housing.
Having lived in Crown Heights for over 30 years, and having witnessed the onset of this issue, I feel it is important to keep things in perspective. About 15 years ago, a major effort was undertaken to tackle the problem, transforming a chaotic month for hundreds of bochurim from Eretz Yisroel—and a source of great concern for their parents—into a well-organized program that has become a beacon of inspiration and ruchniyus’dikeh growth.
The Vaad Hatmimim has created a program to ensure that every bochur is cared and counted for, and can spend the month of Tishrei completely focused on strengthening their connection to the Rebbe through learning & davening.
From what I know of the organization, the Vaad collaborates with both the parents and Yeshivos abroad to meticulously plan and prepare a robust program for thousands of bochurim. The bochurim receive clean, comfortable housing, three nutritious hot meals served daily at Oholei Torah Ballroom, transportation to the Ohel, and a beautiful learning program with Farbrengens and events.
With all the talk of the problems for the guests and the community, we need to recognize the huge difference this program has made for the majority of bochurim spending Tishrei here. It really has become an organized, uplifting month for the boys and their hosts.
We should be thankful and supportive of the Vaad Hatmimim leadership, and the very generous dedication of our own Crown Heights residents who make this happen. Some of those I know about – Yossi Popack, Avremel Lokshin, Schneur Minsky and Menachem Gurevitch. There are surely countless others (like our own family!) that help with hosting and funds.
Are there others who still need hospitality? Absolutely. Those who are not bochurim or do not register through their yeshiva may not be accounted for. In recent years, Moshe Rubashkin has very generously opened his home, providing for many of these guests. However, the bulk of the need for the bulk of the crowd (bochurim) has been met with remarkable dignity and proficiency.
Although we do not have the greatest means, my husband and I consider it a zechus to be part of the hachnasas orchim that Vaad does by supporting them financially. We also host bochurim for Yomtov meals whenever we can. (I am happy to say that I have seen an improvement over the years in the manners of the boys who join us.)
I appreciate what they have done, creating a stable and organized environment for Lubavitcher bochurim during Tishrei, and I know they want to do more. I hope we will all support this organization that has taken the “bull by the horns” and the others working hard to provide hachnasas orchim in the Rebbe’s community.
And may we all be blessed with Kesiva vachasima tova, leshana tova umesuka.
agree %100
Are the needs of the bulk of the crowd (bochurim) being met? Are the needs of the community being met? While I commend this (and other amazing programs and individuals) that provide not only the logistical support, spiritual guidance, and supervision the bochurim need, it seems like with all of the complaints that the community has (not just during Tishrei but throughout the year), that the needs of the bulk of the crowd are not actually being met. And that leads to the needs of the community not being met. The bochurim need more supervision and guidance. Without this, they… Read more »
Hosting bochrim was the best experience of my life. To reject a Bochur from your house is heartbreaking to everyone involved.
There are many families who are flat tapped out and welcome guests with a smile and put out lovely homemade meals.
Regular working folk, grinding it out daily, yet stretch themselves to be available and stock the kitchen again and again.
Honestly though, lubavitch has grown exponentially and the local community cannot keep up.
Thanks for M. Rubashkin and the other amazing orgs who have stepped up to the plate but it has gotten far beyond being able to keep up – it’s a month long non stop festival.
Any ideas anyone??
if you cant easily afford it. or if it will put you into debt. or if you have to take a loan to do it.
For the positivity it’s a refreshing change.
There is no reason whatsoever why thousands of people descend on Crown Heights from Chai Elul until Shabbos Noach expecting the locals to carry the burden. They aren’t welcome here. They don’t belong here. They shouldn’t come here.
The sheer Chutzpah that the writers have, along with the guests, demanding that Crown Heights families – who are burdened by the expensive cost of living, should host them for free – is unbelievable. Yes they spent money to come here, yes we spend money to live here. Pay up or shut up.
The “sheer Chutzpa” is you denying people what has long been a major part of Chassidic hanhaga, to be by the Rebbe for Tishrei. In Lubavitch the towns folk would fill their houses, their gardens and anywhere in between with orchim. The Rebbe always gave special attention to the guests that came in.
Every single Chabad soul (and not Chabad) belongs here.
Because it’s the Rebbe’s place.
Because for some coming to the Rebbe is their way to be connected to Chsidishkeit.
You live here, so?
Are you being forced to host anyone? No.
And if you feel different than everybody else because you’re one of the few ones complaining about a month of Achdus and joy, well the problem is certainly not on the guests side.
Remember, אהבת חינם is what will bring Moshiach..!
I wish you a year filled with joy & Parnossah.
The Rebbe told tht whoever comes here they are His guests
So every jew belongs here
Noone has an ownership upon crown heights
It’s their shchuna as much as yours. Just because one has a house here and others have a house in a makom hashlichus, it doesn’t give one person more of a say on who belongs here.
Nobody can judge how much another individual can do. And nobody should feel judged if they can’t.
Having said that, perhaps we might remember who we are and what we stand for.
Would you imagine chassidim in Lubavitch saying “chassidim from Nevel don’t belong here”?
Respectfully.
Should the residents of the ROVA HAYEUDI in the Old City or the residents of other Jerusalem neighborhoods complain and grumble about their choice to live in this special and holy place? About the fact that they suffer from the rush of visitors and guests who crowd the streets all year round and especially on Shabbat and holidays? It is clear that every advantage comes at a price, so also the neighbors of 770 chose to live near the Rebbe, and that has a price. 770 does not belong only to you, it belongs to Rabbis and Lubavitcher Chassid all… Read more »
I am pointing out that this entire conversation has only discussed bochurim, and not the girls who come for Tishrei. It’s been quite a few years since I lived in CH, and hosted many girls for Tishrei. Are they left out of this conversation, because they are currently so perfectly taken care of? I am honestly asking. Not trying to start an argument.
Who is able to host can post info on how to reach out whether for boys or girls
I saw a group of girls sleeping in the lobby of Eshel a few years ago. It was very kind of Eshel to allow it. They arrive unprepared, not realizing it gets cold here in October and they don’t have warm clothes and all of them get sick.
They need an organization to care for the female visitors who come here! And when doing your inviting don’t forget the girls!
The idea of coming to the Rebbe for Tishrei historically was not a women thing. It’s a very recent phenomenon, with many parents sending their daughters unsupervised to crown heights and have no clue what many of them get themselves into whilst here. Better make a separate time for women to coverage on ch…
The Rebbe changed that idea (that women are not included)
The Rebbe put the women in the fore, encouraged them to be invloved, and created a generation (now 3) of chasidistes
Their activities are needed at least as much as the men
Can someone find out what other big communities in ny do for tishrei and other big times? They certainly have their way of making sure thing are worked out for the best, maybe ch have also good ideas
Is there even a comunication between leaders?. If there is not, so it an amazing oppurtunity now (prob late anyways) and who know, for the future events. An idea to be suggested to the new vaad hakahal
Next problem to solve when people come for the kinus that have no family in Crown Heights and have to pay hundreds of dollars a night for rooms…
You people have no clue what it’s like! My grandfather was the only Lubavitcher in his family and was sent in shlichus all the way in Australia. Now with no family in CH it’s next to impossible for me to find half a mattress to sleep on. What are you talking about