Reporting by a participant
Photos: Mendy Toledano/COLlive
This past Shabbos, Shabbos Parshas Terumah, over seventy students from Yeshiva University took to Crown Heights for the annual Crown Heights Shabbaton.
Upon arriving to Crown Heights erev Shabbos, the students received a tour of 770 Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters with close friend to the Chabad Club, Elie Spiero.
Afterwards, they were given a tour of the Rebbe’s Library from the Rebbe’s Chief Librarian, Rabbi Sholom Ber Levine. Friday night, the students davened at Kollel Menachem and were treated to a beautiful and empowering shiur with noted scholar and educator, Rabbi Zalman Goldberg between Mincha and Kabalos Shabbos.
After eating their Shabbos meals with gracious hosts from the Crown Heights community they headed to the home of Rabbi and Mrs. Moshe Rubashkin for an inspiring and uplifting farbrengen with the founder of InsideChassidus.org as well as popular teacher and mentor, Rabbi Yossi Paltiel.
After seder Chassidus in the morning, the students once again davened in Kollel Menachem and then made their way back to the Rubashkin residence for a grand Shabbos meal and farbrengen with author of the best-selling book “Towards a Meaningful Life” and head of the Meaningful Life Center, Rabbi Simon Jacobson.
The students then launched into a seder niggunim led by another close friend of the Chabad Club, Shua Shneur and were spoken to by the sought-after educator, speaker and mentor, Rabbi Chaim Schochet during Shalosh Seudos. Soon after R’ Moshe Rubashkin led the students in an elevating and powerful havdallah they finished off the Shabbaton with a concert in the Levi Yitzchok Library with renowned musician, Shlomo Katz.
The students left Crown Heights inspired, uplifted and empowered. One student commented: “The Shabbaton was incredible and truly life changing!” Another student stated that the Shabbaton gave him the motivation and strength to become fully shomer Shabbos. A third student remarked that the Shabbaton was literally the best Shabbos of his life. B”H, a great time was had by all.
The Chabad Club would like to first and foremost thank the Rubashkin family for housing all of the students as well as providing several meals. Their amazing hachnachas orchim is truly incredible.
The Chabad Club would also like to thank Rabbi Friedman, Rabbi Kastel and Rabbi Lieberman of Tzach, Rabbi Noach Fox and Kollel Menachem, all of the phenomenal speakers, all of the families that hosted YU students for Friday night meals, Naama Kfare for graphic design, Benshimon for the sound system and finally, Danny Fordham, president of the Chabad Club of Yeshiva University for organizing the Shabbaton.
To donate to the Chabad Club of YU and help their amazing work continue, please contact [email protected].
Big thank you to CH for making us feel welcome and to Danny for all the hard work and effort that was put in to make this a wonderful shabbos!
Danny follows in the path of his ancestors and has their koiches. A descendant of the Bach as well as reb shimon miyaruslav and other gedolei Galicia. Generations of tzadikim dedicated to teaching chassidus seems to flow in the blood.
Wishing you much success!
Both Lubavitch and the YU approaches to Torah and Mitzvos are permeated with thoughtfulness and Ahavas Yisroel.
More power to collaborative endeavors.
Both the Rebbe and the Rav were giants of their times.
How did I know u were not going to be mentioned in neon lights in this article ….
Your a great person לפום צערא אגרא
danny fordham, ur truly an inspiration
This was literally the best Shabbos of my life! Thank you so much to Danny Fordham for putting this together!!! You are the best!!!