The first ever Kinus dedicated totally to mesivta mechanchim took place at the Chabad Midtown Center building in Manhattan, Tuesday and Wednesday 27th and 28th Tammuz.
For two days almost 70 mechanchim, of whom Reb Yoel Kahn said in his address, “they hold future of Lubavitch in their hands” came to listen and to learn, to present and to confer, to consider and make collective decisions about the wide array of issues the face.
Rabbi Sholom B Halberstam, menahel of Mesivta Lubavitch of Chicago, arranged to have his 130 talmidim spend the days away of the yeshiva campus so that as many magidei shiyur as possible could attend.
Others kept on a skeletal staff to accommodate their mechanchim. In all, almost 50% of the staff and menahalim of 13 Chabad mesivtas in the US and Canada were in attendance.
The Kinus was sponsored by the new Igud Mesivtas Chabad, a division of the Merkos Chinuch Office, led by Rabbi Mendel Itzinger. The Igud sponsored a number of extremely successful programs during it inaugural year.
Most notable among the V’Hogiso program which helped 300 talmidim completed and were tested on the whole of meseches Bava Basra.
Every mechanech in attendance had the greatest praise for Rabbi Itzinger and his initiatives.
The mechanchim heard presentations from experts in the field, the presented and critiqued each other’s ideas, they shared, they discussed and yes, they argued over finer points of how to present a particular passage. Menahalim met for many to discuss various universal concerns, exchange ideas and decided on a number of cooperative programs for the coming year.
They heard Divrei Chizuk from the venerable Reb Yoel Kahan, Reb Shlomo Zarchi, and Reb Nachman Twersky.
They listened as Reb Michoel Zeligson and Reb Nochem Kaplan presented on advice from letters and responses on Chinuch from the Rebbe.
On Wednesday Rabbi Dr. Yosef Yitzchok Shagalow made a series of presentations on the responsibility of yeshivas in dealing with mental illnesses. He discusses various mental disorders which teens may suffer from, what some of the triggers are and how yeshivas need to respond and deal with the challenges associated with them.
Rabbi Chaim Janowski, menahel of the Mesivta of Coral Springs, adeptly chaired a round table discussion and regretted that the agenda of concerns was too lengthy and time too short.
Rabbi Hershel Raskin, menahel of the Lubavitch Mesivta in Montreal, commented of the seriousness of all present. “Everyone is here to learn, there is no frivolous ceremonial stuff.”
Rabbi Yehoshua Metzger, director of Chabad of Midtown, welcomed the attendees. He commented, “Every session and workshop is captivating. It’s heartwarming to see so many educators dedicated to the future of our children.”
Kain Yirboo
As a clinicial social worker working with our youth and program coordinator/supervisor for a guidance counseling program reaching hundreds of students in LA, I would love to hear what was shared at this important conference! Mashi Benzaquen, LCSW
very interesting let us all say Lchaim for the Chabad Mesivtas Kinus keep up the good work
All year round, ready to listen to both parents and staff alike.
When my son needed a Yeshiva, I found a knowledgeable listening ear. He advised and helped our son get into the perfect Yeshiva.
After all that he called to check in that all was OK.
Thank you Rabbi Itzinger for all you do!
Are there recordings that are accessible?
It’s . Called a farbrengens a very rich part of lubavitches foundation,roots… Just need some limits that’s it!
The leading professional mental health expert dealing with bochurim
finally someone doing something for our bochurim. are girls schools next on the agenda?
What a wonderful event. I hope on the agenda was discussing alcohol and smoking so rampant in our boys yeshivas!