An important event took place at the Jewish Community of Dnipro – at the prestigious international educational institution “Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva Ktana Ukraine,” where future rabbis and leaders of Jewish communities of many countries of the world study, a large Chassidic farbrengen was held dedicated to the 20th of Cheshvan – the birthday of the Fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Sholom Dovber Schneerson, known as the Rebbe Rashab, the founder of the famous system of Chabad yeshivos “Tomchei Tmimim.”
The farbrengen took place at the conclusion of Shabbos and gathered not only the students and teachers of the yeshiva but also numerous guests, esteemed members of the Jewish Community of Dnipro, emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe who work in Dnipro, respected rabbis, and friends of this educational institution, who came to share the joy of this special day. The holding of such gatherings corresponds to the instruction of the leader of our generation, the Seventh Lubavitcher Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who called for visiting the “Tomchei Tmimim” yeshivos on the 20th of Cheshvan, strengthening the connection with their students, and supporting them in the study of Torah and Chassidus.
A special place in the program was occupied by the address of the Chief Rabbi of Dnipro and the region, Shmuel Kaminezki, who spoke about the history of the founding of the “Tomchei Tmimim” yeshivos, their significance for the development of the Chabad movement, and the education of many generations of chassidim. Turning to the current students, Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki reminded them that the Lubavitcher Rebbe himself studied at the yeshiva at their age, and that the years spent studying Torah and Chassidus remain one of the most beautiful and important periods of a person’s life.
A vivid example of the continuity of Chassidic generations was the story of the Futerfas family. Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki recalled the famous chassid Reb Mendel Futerfas, whose life was inextricably linked with “Tomchei Tmimim,” and today in Dnipro his grandson, Rabbi Shneur Zalman Futerfas, carries out the extraordinarily important mission of spreading the light of Chassidus. His son, the great-grandson of Reb Mendel, the young Menachem Mendel Futerfas, who recently celebrated his bar mitzvah, is already studying at “Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva Ktana Ukraine.” Thus, the tradition to which his famous great-grandfather devoted his life continues in the new generation.
The main speaker of the evening was Rabbi Akiva Romanovsky, who shared his personal story. He told how he began his studies at the yeshiva of the “Bnei Akiva” movement, and then moved to “Tomchei Tmimim,” became acquainted with the teaching of Chabad, and discovered for himself an entirely new path in Jewish life, and this choice deeply influenced his entire subsequent fate. Addressing the current students directly, Rabbi Akiva Romanovsky spoke about the unique value of the years spent at the yeshiva, when the foundations of a worldview are laid, personality is formed, and a deep connection with the Torah, Chassidus, and the Rebbe is established.
Among the numerous guests of the farbrengen were also esteemed rabbis and emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe in Dnipro: Yosef Glik, Moishe Weber, Moishe Neumann, Shlomo Segal, Reuven Kaminezki, Shneur Zalman Futerfas, Moishe Listengurt, Yosef Nachshon, Adam Smelyansky, Reuven Milman, and others. The participation of such a large number of guests gave the farbrengen a special atmosphere and significance, emphasizing the importance of this day for the Jewish Community of Dnipro.
“This farbrengen became a wonderful event that gave us all enormous inspiration and joy from the opportunity to celebrate the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab together, right here, at the yeshiva that continues his great work,” noted Rabbi Levi Engelsman, Rosh Yeshiva of “Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva Ktana Ukraine.” “It is especially important that our young students were able to hear not only accounts about the history of Chabad but also the personal testimonies of people for whom studying at ‘Tomchei Tmimim’ determined their entire subsequent life. Such gatherings help one feel the unbreakable connection of generations and become aware of the enormous value that the years of study at the yeshiva hold for every Jew, when the foundations of personality are laid and a person’s worldview is formed. I want to express special gratitude to Rabbi Reuven Kaminezki for his great help in organizing this wonderful evening, and also to thank all the rabbis and guests who came to support our students, and especially the friends and sponsors, thanks to whom our yeshiva continues to develop successfully. And, of course, we thank from the bottom of our hearts for the constant care for the education of the new generation of chassidim and for the opportunity to hold such inspiring gatherings our united and cohesive Jewish Community of Dnipro and personally its head, Chief Rabbi Shmuel Kaminezki.”
