Mesivta Bais Shalom Postville hosted a special and meaningful Avos Ubanim Shabbos this past week, giving fathers and sons the opportunity to learn together, farbreng together, and experience the yeshiva environment side by side.

The program began Thursday evening, as parents arrived and received personalized welcome packages before joining a live session of the weekly Q&A with Mashpia Roshi, Rabbi Gavriel Levin. Among the many questions were “Can I learn Chitas in Seder?,” “What came first, the chicken or the egg?,” and “Isn’t the mitzva of goel hadam against the idea of Nekama?”

The evening continued with a warm and engaging icebreaker farbrengen led by parent, Rabbi Yitzi Hein, Shliach to Rochester, New York. Rabbi Hein spoke passionately about the transformative power of Chitas, Rambam, and the 12 Pesukim, inspiring all present. The farbrengen soon evolved into an open and heartfelt sharing session, as fathers contributed personal thoughts, insights, and experiences.

On Friday, the fathers had the unique opportunity to join their sons’ Chassidus classes, gaining firsthand appreciation for the depth and vitality of the learning taking place each day in the yeshiva. Following Shacharis, participants enjoyed a delicious breakfast, followed by a fascinating shiur from Rabbi Shmueli Benshimon, one of the Maggidei Shiur, on the topic of not making Kiddush between six and seven. This was followed by a powerful shiur from R’ Yehuda Forster, a father of one of the bochurim and a therapist from Kingston, Pennsylvania, who shared his inspiring journey to Yiddishkeit and the profound impact of Hisbonenus.

The afternoon was dedicated to quality bonding, as fathers and sons headed out for Mivtzoim and local shopping before preparing for Shabbos.

After mincha, Shabbos began with an hour of father-son learning before Kabbalas Shabbos, followed by the Shabbos Seudah with their hosts.

On Shabbos morning, after Shacharis and Chassidus, a farbrengen was held with members of the Hanhala and visiting fathers.

Rabbi Eli Benshimon, Rosh Yeshiva, spoke about the unique role of the yeshiva and its impact on the bochurim. 

Rabbi Gavriel Levin shared a story and spoke about how each bochur has the ability to build his own personal Bais Hamikdash. 

Rabbi Avraham Katz, a local Mashpia, spoke about the importance of learning Torah Or. 

Rabbi Shmuel Kaufman, Principal of YTTL Montreal, and a proud alumnus of Postville Yeshiva, shared that a person is defined not by his failures, but by his successes.

Rabbi Dovid Leib Myhill, Mechanech at Cheder Chabad Florida, spoke about being fully invested in whatever one does. 

Rabbi Nosson Meir Meretzki, Shliach to Penn State and parent of two bochurim, spoke about the value and potential of every bochur, comparing them to gold.

R’ Binyomin Shlyapobersky spoke about the importance of saying Krias Shema at night. 

Rabbi Yossi Chein, a parent with multiple sons who have attended the yeshiva, pointed out that the many alumni who send their children back to Postville Yeshiva show that the Yeshiva must be doing something right. 

It is interesting to note that Bochurim keep coming back to visit Postville even years after their time in the yeshiva.

Rabbi Levi Goldstein shared a vort on the parsha based on a Sicha of the Rebbe. 

Rabbi Yossi Jacobson, Head Shliach of Iowa, spoke about the importance of learning and farbrenging with one’s children.

Following the farbrengen and Mincha, Rabbi Eli Benshimon shared a story about the Rema. Maariv was followed by a Siyum on Maseches Pesachim, completed by Rabbi Sadya Kaufman, Shliach to rural Texas. Havdalah was recited by parent Rabbi Shaya Zirkind of Montreal, Canada.

Rabbi Gavriel Levin then gave a fascinating shiur about ants and their lessons in Torah.

The night concluded with an elegant and festive banquet for the fathers and sons. The program was emceed by Hatamim HaShliach Dovid Braun. Rabbi Koppel Zirkind, Menahel of the yeshiva, addressed the gathering and reflected on the impact of the Shabbos. Hatamim HaShliach Meir Schmukler shared an inspiring story of the Shpoler Zeide. Rabbi Sadya Kaufman delivered a powerful sicha connected to his Siyum on Maseches Pesachim, and Rabbi Levi Tzeitlin shared a meaningful story of the Baal Shem Tov.

After bentching, everyone gathered for a group photo, followed by spontaneous singing and dancing, with Rabbi Levi Goldstein playing the keyboard and Hatamim Menny Hershcovitch playing the guitar.

Sunday morning began with Chassidus, followed by Shacharis and breakfast, giving the fathers and sons a final opportunity to learn and spend time together before departing.

Although additional programming had originally been planned for Sunday, many of the fathers needed to leave early in order to return to New York ahead of an approaching storm. Ironically, while the weather in Postville was calm and beautiful, conditions in New York were rapidly worsening, making an early departure necessary.

Despite the shortened schedule, the Shabbos left a strong and lasting impression, with fathers and sons leaving inspired by the time they had shared together in the yeshiva.

A special thank you to Yisrael Bankhalter, Avraham Chaim Kozlovsky, Chaim Brummel, and Ari Hershkowitz for their dedication and hard work in making this meaningful Shabbos possible.

Additional thanks to Sruli Berkowitz and Sruli Naparstek for their tremendous help in the kitchen and for their efforts in preparing and setting up throughout the Shabbos.

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