After running Or Temimim Baal Teshuva Program for a while, Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gafni went into yechidus and expressed concern about his ability to daven at length. While the students should be his priority, the Rebbe guided him on how to daven during the week and on Shabbos.
Reb Shneur Zalman Gafni related:
After running Or Temimim Baal Teshuva Program for a while, I came to New York in 5729 (1969) to discuss my progress. I was primarily concerned that my yeshiva responsibilities were hindering my own davening at length.
The Rebbe responded that my talmidim should be my first concern. He gave me an example from the story of Rabbi Shmuel bar Shilas, who the Gemara describes as entirely dedicated to his students, never taking his mind off them.
As the Rebbe spoke, I thought to myself, “This is the end of me; from now on, only the students matter…”
Suddenly, the Rebbe stopped talking and looked up at the ceiling. After a moment, the Rebbe addressed my thoughts. “But we still need to find a solution…”
The Rebbe suggested that I recite several passages of davening slowly, with intensity, and the rest at a regular pace. But I should bend the page where I stopped my intense davening, and after several days, continue to the next part.
The Rebbe concluded that I still had Shabbos to make up for it, adding that “if one davens properly on Shabbos, that illuminates the entire week.”
From The Weekly Farbrengen by Merkaz Anash
Rav Gafni Sheyichye never presided over Yeshivas Ohr Temimim. He presided over The english speaking section of Tomchei Tmimim of Kfar Chabad for many years.Yeshiva Ohr temimim was a new Yeshiva created by & still presided over by Rav Tuvia Bolton with the same general parameters After Gimmel Tammuz 5754. Iwas a Talmid of Rav Gafni’s in Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim In the early to mid Mem’s which was after That particular Yechidus took place well before my time As personal Yechidus with the Rebbe with few exceptions stopped after his heart attack in Lamed Ches!