By COLlive reporter
Tzeirei Agudas Chabad – Lubavitch Youth Organization (“Tzach”) in New York has announced the appointment of 5 Mashpi’im, whose role will be to attend to the needs of Chabad families in the Crown Heights community.
“Having a mashpia is something that the Rebbe campaigned for with great vigor,” said Tzach’s Program Director Rabbi Kasriel Kastel. “Its practical necessity is so vital that it can’t be overstated.”
The Mashpiim that were announced are Rabbi Yehoshua Werde, Rabbi Sholom Zirkind, Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Wilhelm, Rabbi Meyer Soussan, and Rabbi Shneur Zalman Goldberg .
These individuals “are already involved in Mashpia roles in various capacities for many years, and Tzach is now harnessing their abilities to serve the greater Chabad community (of Crown Heights),” they said.
In Chabad, Mashpiim are viewed as spiritual guides. In Yeshivos and some communities, it is a paid position that includes teaching Chassidus, leading farbrengens and tending to one’s spiritual growth.
The Rebbe, however, called on Lubavitchers to seek a personal Mashpia figure that can provide them personal guidance in the study of Torah, the practice of Mitzvos, the ways of Chassidus and fine character traits.
Their contact info is:
Rabbi Werde: rabbiw@chye.info
Rabbi Zirkind: sholomzirkind@gmail.com
Rabbi Wilhelm: rabbicyw@gmail.com
Rabbi Soussan: Meyer.soussan@gmail.com
Rabbi Goldberg: szgoldberg@gmail.com
Excellent , the Rebbe wants us to talk to a Mashpia not always is easy to find now B”H we have six.
The Rebbe is very happy about it
Let’s just please give them full respect do to them
Good initiative! Any steps taken to make having a Mashpia easier is a huge Mitzvah and Zechus! Particularly for woman, I think having an anonymous hotline would be fantastic. The names of those “on call”, would be posted on a website, but those calling will remain anonymous. This would be geared for those with specific challenges or dillemas, who either don’t have an ongoing Mashpia yet or have one who aren’t experts in the particular question. Anyone interested in helping get this off the ground, contact rvchabad@sbcglobal.net. If Tzach can do this, it would be wonderful! In the meantime for… Read more »
Its nice to see tzach getting involved with such an important need. However what about our appointed rabbanim of the crown heights Beis Din? There was a charity campaign campaign for them which barely raised $30,000!!!??? What a shame!!!! Where is the community when it comes to our rabbanim which the Rebbe referred to “Abir Shbaabirim”!!!???
If these people were already Mashpeim what exactly is tzach adding?
See comment #17. No one has appointed any of them as your mashpia, just given you the option.
Excellent question! Add mediation and other training counselling to the mix too!
It is wonderful that they are “nice guys” and “chassidish”, but what are their qualifications to guide others through real tough situations? To guide a tour through Jewish sites in Manhattan is not the same as guiding a young man through a difficult period in his marriage, or a father having difficulties raising his children!
Is a mashpia chosen by the color of his kapote, or is there a training and vetting process? Please let us know WHO these people are professionally before giving their contact information!
Is a real Dugma Chaya of a Chossid! Try his Shul!
PS: I know him already from Brunoy. He was from the top Bochrim!
This is a fantastic idea!
As I assume they will be dealing w Shalom bayis, family matters, etc have all these mashpiim received some kind of abuse education?
Very important!
Some rabbanim have .
As a community, we must ensure that these mashpiim have received some education on abuse (domestic, child abuse etc)
Thank you so much tzach,this so important
I am currently unemployed and looking for work. I have vast knowledge in chassidus and Nigleh and I feel that I can be a strong positive influence on the youth in our community. I will always be there to listen to the community and share my advice. I am loving, caring, and have a wonderful and approachable personality and feel that I have the physical and spiritual makeup to handle this job. Where can I apply???
How can anyone “appoint” a mashpia for someone else? The Rebbe’s instructions are that each person chooses his own mashpia, as per asei *lecho* rav. This is another example of people deciding what’s good for everybody else.
Honestly you’re right. If everything waa going according to plan, then yes. The simple, aidele mushpa will go over to someone who he thinks is worthy of being his mashpia and ask him. The mashpia will agree and the mushpa will follow all orders with Kabolas Ol. But, the reality is very different than the imagined way that it should be. Most people do what they want without asking anyone, and the ones that are searching don’t know whom to ask. Even the ones that are asked to be mashpia convince themselves they are not worthy of being a mashpia.… Read more »
Yes, I remember creating that list.
But it wasn’t that long ago. (Unless mine was a different list).
I put it together in 2002.
It was hard work! But it was worth it! We found many incredible women who were happy to share their themselves with others
will they talk to the landlords to lower the rentby the chasidise yungeleit ???
Rabbi Shushan is the best kept secret in Crown Heights. He is hard working, un-apologetically chassidish to the core. Brilliant, knowledgeable, caring. He distills chasidus and maamorim in a fashion that is approachable and understandable. His shul is beautiful b’gashmius and b’ruchniyus. The mispalelim are from diverse backgrounds and Rabbi Shushan, having earned it, commands an atmosphere of respect that most shuls in CH can and should be envious of. I often ask myself why it took me so long to discover this gem a block away from my house.
Avremi Gourarie
In the 1980’s, Neshei Chabad posted in the Neshei newsletter the names of maybe 20 women or more who were willing to be mashpios for the women and it was even divided according to categories like chinuch for younger kids and for teenagers. Sholom bayis. Ruchniyus, parnosa, etc.
Many women took advantage of that, because before that I had asked 2 women to be my mashpia and they both said no.
Maybe Neshei will do it again.
This is good.
Moshiach Now!
perhaps it is to be mashpiim of the town, similar to how Reb Eizik of Homil was the mashpia of Homil. 🙂
May these mashpiyim, and our entire community, go from strength to strength!!
how come there were no elections??
and surely women should have a say in who their husbands are speaking too…
Hatzlacha Raba to the new Mashpiim!!
Hopefully everybody in the community is able to benefit from them in a proper way with authentic and beneficial guidance.
May the Aibershter bless them with the ability to tap into their reservoirs and bring good things to all those around them.
I’m trying to figure out what is the point of this. Mashpiam happen naturally when you someone is a role model.and its.different choice for everyone. This is too staged….
What a tremendous idea. May the originators and implementors of this wonderful idea be blessed with all good things. This article has made the world a brighter place, thank you.
Thank to tzach and rabbi Bengy p for putting in months of planning for this to come through
These mashpiaim will change crown hights for the better
How about some women appointees for the women
Growing up in the mid mems hearing the rebbe shturem about it & having no clue on how to appoint a rav ( no one was offering any tips or salutions & not being close 2 anyone i felt could fit that role ) made me feel very bad & guilty that i could not fullfill the rebbes will , so this is very commendable .
Everything you wrote is true.
No one is forcing anyone.
Here are 5 more options to choose from. If you have/ choose another Mashpia : Tzu Gezunt. Good on you.
P.s. just trying to understand you. Where does it say anywhere that anything is forced? Like I read the same article and didnt feel someone is forcing me to do something. TiA
is for real the most hartzige, honest, and reliable person i ever met. Im so excited to see him up here!!!
It’s an excellent initiative
I think five is not enough
The community needs more
However it still great
The more the better
Happy to see that they got younger guys who actually understand the system
So important
Ty so much Tzach for this amazing idea
excellent idea thank you!
can same be done for women?
also what will these mashpiim be doing? shuirim?
thank you very much!!
It would be nice to know what the behind the scenes administrative aspect is. E.g. are they paid by community, subsidized. Or is tzach mere giving them a heksher, etc.
Mazel tov ! May you go from strength to strength in assisting members of our community with their physical and spiritual growth.
Thank you Benji P.! Really looking forward!
Please provide their contact #s.
Doesn’t the mishna say *asei* l’cha rav? The mashpia mushpa relationship cannot be forced, it has to be chosen by both the mashpia and the mushpa.
How interesting….
Is this some kind of joke
Great news! Each one of you should have tremendous Hatzlacha!
Will they be paid? where can we donate?
Hatzlacha Raba!!!