It was on Shabbos Parshas Vayeira 5749 (October 29, 1988) on the eve of the auspicious Chof Marcheshvan, the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab, when the Rebbe ordered the deed to be done:
“In every city where there is a Tomchei Temimim . . . each and every one in that city should try to enter the yeshiva building during Chof Marcheshvan (and even better – on the days preceding and following it, as well) and do mitzvos in the three areas: daven or say a kapitel tehillim, learn from the Rebbe Rashab’s teachings, and give tzedaka to his institutions which are conducted in his spirit . . . and it should be done in public gatherings.”
This year, was the first that the community in Vienna was able to fulfill the Rebbe’s horaah, following the founding of the local yeshiva in Elul of this past year.
The yeshiva held a special seminar called “Bar Bei Rav,” in which the whole city, anash and community members, were invited to learn in the yeshiva alongside the temimim and their fathers.
In attendance was the Head Shliach, Rabbi Yakov Biderman, who is behind the tremendous development of Chabad in Austria including and especially in recent years, as well as the founding of the Yeshiva.
The learning opened with a lecture by Rabbi Yisroel Netanelov, Rov of the Beit Halevi-Chabad community, on the topic of “Tzoras Habas” and the Dialogue between Rabbi Yonasan ben Horkinas and Rabbi Akiva (Yevamos 16:1).
The participants then moved on to study the topic of Ahavas Yisroel. Using a unique study booklet compiled in honor of the occasion, they delved into the sugiyos in shas and rishonim on this mitzvah in light of their chassidic interpretations, with special emphasis on the maamorim of the Rebbe Rashab, specifically the mamer “Hicholtzu” which the Rebbe distributed on Chof Marcheshvan 5748. (In the above mentioned sicha the Rebbe added that it would be appropriate to study from it during the visit to Tomchei Temimim.)
The event concluded with a lecture by the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Chaim Fieldsteel, answering the Ramban’s question regarding the contradictions in Rabbi Akiva’s words, “veahavta lereacha kamocha ze klal gadol batorah” (Sifra, Kedoshim 4:12) and his halacha, “your life comes first” (Baba Metzia 62a).
In display at the event where two special exhibitions. The first, From Goshna to Vienna: a special art gallery illustrating the development of yeshivos throughout the generations. The second, Torah Temima: a special book gallery depicting the development of toras hanigleh and pnimiyus torah, and how they conjoin in the Tomchei Temimim curriculum.
Elation was felt by the many participants, eager for the next event in the series.
Amazing event — and amazing rosy yeshiva!
We need more roshei yeshiva as this one — the grounds and the facility looks really nice.
Please includ e a link to the pdf of the booklet