5 Years to R’ Michoel’s Minyan

This upcoming Shabbos, Parshas Trumah, marks the fifth year of Reb Michoel’s Minyan in Oholei Torah.

When Oholei Torah wanted to commemorate the legacy of Reb Michoel Teitelbaum, the co-founder of the yeshiva, they founded a special Shabbos minyan for the talmidim – Reb Michoel’s Minyan. Reb Michoel had a most powerful and steadfast commitment to davening and surely derives much nachas from this minyan.

Since its inception 5 years ago, Reb Michoel’s Minyan has grown to be one of the largest Shabbos minyanim in Crown Heights, with a weekly participation of 150 boys and 75 ba’ale battim. This minyan’s uniqueness is that it is specifically geared towards all the children of the community from all the schools. With the talmidim running the show, motivated by prizes and positive recognition, Reb Michoel’s Minyan has been a positive influence on well over 1000 boys who have been taught the proper conduct required in shul, the importance of davening with Kavanah and the significance of being able to carefully listen and follow Krias Hatorah. Coupled with the chassidishe varmekeit unique to Chabad Chassidim, the energy felt during the shabbos davening at Reb Michoel’s Minyan is palpable.

The Minyan takes place in the beautiful Raitport Beis Medrash, Oholei Torah Zal, where the majestic and airy feeling of the spacious shul allows the talmidim to daven alongside their fathers, undisturbed, at their own tables.

Reb Michoel’s Minyan is the brainchild of Rabbi Joseph Rosenfeld, Executive Director of Oholei Torah. Together with the generous support of Reb Yossi and Kayli Malamud, the minyan continues to grow in leaps and bounds. Parents of the talmidim have found it to be a wonderful opportunity to spend quality time with their sons in a meaningful way and have taken to supporting the minyan in a most generous manner. R’ Dovid Malka sponsors the kiddushim in a most openhanded manner. Mr. & Mrs. Dovid Yerushalmi, Mr. & Mrs. Mendy Yadgar and Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Malamud have been ongoing supporters of the Minyan.

In addition to the ongoing weekly prizes, this past Yud Shvat, the students who excelled in davening were privileged to visit the Frierdike Rebbe’s apartment on the second floor of 770. Rabbi Rosenfeld recalled his memories of being a bochur at that time to the talmidim. Most uplifting was when they talmidim chazzered Basi L’gani and sang the Benoni Nigun. On Chof Beis Shvat another group visited the Rebbe’s house on President Street, where they learnt mishnayos and were greeted by Rabbi Yossi Freidman of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch.

The driving force behind the minyan is Rabbi Velvel Karp, who takes from his own time and energy to see that the minyan continues to inspire all the participants. Rabbi Yossi Bryski leads the davening.

It’s refreshing and vital to have such a minyan for the children of the community, giving the old style ‘Junior Congregation’ a whole new and exciting outlook.