The non-Israeli bochurim of Kiryat Gat yeshiva, who remained even when their friends headed home, utilized the quiet time between air raid sirens to hold a traditional Kinus Torah on Isru Chag Shavuos.
Last week, after the first barrage of rockets were fired into Eretz Yisroel, the Hanholo of Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch in Kiryat Gat, Eretz Yisroel, made the decision to evacuate their some 400 Yeshiva Ketana and Gedolah bochurim, leaving only the non-Israelis to stay and keep the Yeshiva and the city alive with learning.
This Shavuos, the non-Israeli Bochurim “chutznikim” received a psak from Rabbi Zalman Yeruslavsky, the Rov of the semicha program in the Yeshiva, to keep 2 days of Yom Tov, unlike the Israelis who, at home, were keeping 1 day.
On Wednesday, 8 Sivan, Isru Chag in Yeshiva, yet already 2 days after Yom Tov in Israel, the Bochurim got together to strengthen each other with their pilpulim in Nigle, Chassidus, Reshimos and Inyonei Geula U’Moshiach.
The Kinus was held in Yiddish as the Chutznikim understand Yiddish, unlike many of their fellow Israeli Temimim.
The participating speakers from a range of countries, Ukraine, USA, Canada and Australia included:
Harav Mendel Groner, Head Mashgiach who spoke about the Rebbe’s Chidush on that day’s Rambam.
Hatomim Mendel Fisher, who spoke on a recent Tosfos in Bava Metzia.
Hatomim Moshe Kleinberg, the organizer of the Kinus, who spoke about the Rebbe’s Chidushim on the Rambam’s Hilchos Melachim.
Hatomim Mendel Shusterman, who asked interesting questions on stories in Reshimos and offered some answers.
Hatomim Shmuel Yaakov Berkovits, who spoke about the 3 weeks it took the Alter Rebbe to consider adding a single letter in Tanya Perek Mem Aleph and a possible reason as to why.
The Kinus was emceed by Hatomim Menachem Shimonov.
The Bochurim enjoyed hearing their friends thoughts on different topics and felt the unique Zechus of holding such a special event which the Rebbe would encourage, even under the circumstances they find themselves in.
The bochurim say that the kinus brought life to a zal that had been sitting nearly empty for over a week. The bochurim said that what added to the novelty was the fact that the entire Kinus was held in Yiddish, in a zal which is genrally Hebrew speaking.
Moshe! We are proud of you!
Mommy and Tatty