Bochurim Urged to Watch Videos

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Levi Percia

A guest speaker at a welcome farbrengen for 1,500 Chabad bochurim who came in to New York for the month of Tishrei were urged to stay close to the screens.

Rabbi Abraham Shemtov, Chairman of Agudas Chassidei Chabad International, came in from Philadelphia to address the event organized by Vaad Hatmimim.

“I spoke at many gatherings and events, but the feeling here is different,” admitted Rabbi Shemtov, Head Shliach of Philadelphia and the Rebbe’s Shliach to the White House.

“When standing in front of such an amount of tmimim, the children of the Rebbe, that didn’t merit to see him yet are connected to him in heart and soul – the feeling is different.”

In a spirited speech, he called on bochurim – in addition to the rigorous learning program by the Vaad – to simply listen to sichos of the Rebbe and watch videos of the farbrengens of the Rebbe.

“Every move and sound of the Rebbe says ‘absolute truth’ and when standing in front of the truth, other things are not relevant anymore,” he explained.

His words proved effective when a video was shown at the event of the Rebbe encouraging the niggun “kesiva vachasima tova” and the entire crowd breaking out in chassidic dance.

During the Wednesday farbrengen held at Campus Chomesh in Crown Heights, bochurim heard from Rabbi Yoel Kahn, the Rebbe’s choizer and Mashpia of the Central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva – 770.

In his remarks, Reb Yoel said that “when a bochur goes to the Ohel and asks (a blessing) for a personal issue, the Rebbe feels his pain and hurts with him. Later, when a bochur returns to notify that the issue has been resolved, then this news brings joy to the Rebbe.”

The emcee was Elchanan Raices, representing Vaad Hatmimim was Rabbi Shmuel Rainitz, and representing the hanhalos of the Yeshivos was Rabbi Menachem Mordechai Kenig of Lod.