In honor of Chof Av, the Anash community of Toronto hosted Rabbi Ehud Kvin from Florida, drawing 100 members together for a three-day program of meaningful farbrengens and shiurim that inspired and uplifted the community.

This past week, the Anash community of Toronto had the privilege of hosting Rabbi Ehud Kvin from Florida for a series of deeply enriching events. The visit was arranged in honor of the yahrzeit of the Rebbe’s father, R’ Levi Yitzchok, and it brought together numerous members of the community for a variety of learning sessions and farbrengens. The highlight of the visit was the strong emphasis on dedicating more time to Torah learning, drawing a direct lesson from R’ Levi Yitzchok’s life.

The gathering began on Thursday night with a warm and spirited farbrengen attended by about 100 members of Anash. Rabbi Kvin shared words of inspiration and reflection, setting a powerful tone for the weekend ahead. The farbrengen served not just as a moment of commemoration, but as a spiritual uplift, allowing participants to connect more deeply with the legacy of R’ Levi Yitzchok, namely his mesiras nefesh for yidishkait, and more particularly, his dedication to Torah learning. 

Rabbi Kvin inspired the community to carve out more time for Torah study in their daily lives, emphasizing how R’ Levi Yitzchok’s legacy and the Rebbe’s focus on Chof Av both serve as reminders of the importance of dedicating oneself to learning. This theme resonated deeply and set a meaningful tone for the days that followed.

On Shabbos, there was a special afternoon shiur and farbrengen for women. Around 30 to 40 women participated, engaging in their own uplifting discussion drawing inspiration from the Rebbe’s emphasis on the significance of this day.

About 70 community members gathered an hour before Mincha for an engaging shiur led by Rabbi Kvin. The shiur delved into the topic of minhagim—exploring their sources, their significance, and even the question of whether certain customs might have become exaggerated over time. It was a fascinating and thought-provoking session that resonated deeply with those in attendance.

The learning continued into Sunday morning with the start of a Yarchei Kallah. At 8:00 AM, participants gathered for a Chassidic shiur that focused on R’ Levi Yitzchok’s insights into the mitzvah of shofar. Following a delicious gourmet breakfast, around 80 attendees listened to an in-depth halachic shiur on the topics of bishul Yisroel and pas Yisroel. The morning concluded with a lively Q&A session, featuring pre-submitted questions and answers, drawing over 100 community members into an engaging dialogue.

In sum, the weekend left the Toronto Anash community feeling uplifted and inspired. Rabbi Kvin’s visit was a true testament to the power of learning and the unifying force of Torah.