By COLlive reporter
The Talmidim Hashluchim in Israel, the group of elder Chabad bochurim who return to Yeshiva to assist younger peers, held a day-long seminar this Sunday at the Oholei Tmimim Yeshiva in Kfar Chabad.
Beginning with breakfast, they heard from veteran Shliach Rabbi Zev Slavin about “the power the Rebbe gives each and every Shliach” and the expectation for the Rebbe’s representatives to work according to his perceptions.
One example he gave was an exchange between the Rebbe and Rabbi Michoel Teitelbaum, founder of the Oholei Torah Educational Institute in Crown Heights when the latter was examining an old school bus.
Reb Michoel told the Rebbe, who was walking from his home to 770 Eastern Parkway, that the students urgently need a newer and functional bus and he is debating if to purchase one.
The Rebbe replied: “Because you think the children need an old shabby jalopy (“אלטע שמאטע טאראנטע”) that is why your budget only has enough for such a bus. But if you would understand that the children deserve the best, nicest and newest (“די בעסטע, שיינסטע, נייסטע”) your budget would have enough for such.”
Participants heard from Rabbi Nochum Rabinowitz, a maggid shiur in the hosting Yeshiva, and from psychotherapist Noam Weisper who serves as an educational adviser to the Yeshiva about the development process of children.
A highlight was an in-depth shiur in chassidus delivered by Rabbi Zalman Gopin, head Mashpia of the Central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in Kfar Chabad in the Rebbe’s maamar Lo Siheye Meshakeila of 5712, explaining how the observance of Mitzvos connects to Hashem’s essence.
The bochurim gathered heard from Rabbi Levi Holtzman of the Talmidim Hashluchim Foundation, which helped sponsor the seminar, about a new initiative to foster cooperation between those operating in the different Yeshivos.
Midday lunch was also a chassidic farbrengen with Rabbi Menachem Kenig, menahel ruchani of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim in Lod speaking about the Talmidim Hashluchim’s task and the importance of their relationship with the administration of the Yeshiva.
The seminar concluded with a financial grant given to each participating group by Rabbi Shmuel Rainitz of the Talmidim Hashluchim Foundation and a raffle on a full set of the Rebbe’s letter series Igros Kodesh (won by Menachem Mendel Katz).
