THE CHASSIDIC REVOLUTION

“They saw that we davened for hours, loved to farbreng and did mivtzaim. We went surfing, skateboarding, played instruments and then in the middle of it all we would pull out a maamer of the Rebbe and fly with it. They were enchanted,” says Rabbi Mendy Levy. * The story of the educational revolution based in Ramat Gan.

By Reuven H.

 Adefinition offered by Webster’s for the word “revolution” is: a return to a point previously occupied. A rolling back if you will.

That definition married with another which defines revolution as a fundamental or radical change tells us why the young men who started TCR gave it that particular designation.

TCR, The Chassidic Revolution, is an answer to a call, a call that resonates with those who are drowning in confusion and echoes in the voices of young bachurim who have spent their formative years in the Chabad Yeshiva systems but are losing their way.

A genuine struggle for truth and a strong need to find purpose and meaning, to connect the learning to living in a world that has lost its moral compass but passes itself off as slick and all knowing, drives scores of bachurim to find home, truth and answers at this Yeshiva and Summer program that is indeed revolutionary.

When the summer program began several years ago it was with the intent to reinvigorate the bachurim who had begun to doubt that they could lead truly chassidishe lives. These were bachurim who were disheartened, yet still in yeshiva systems. They did not want to return to Yeshiva. They wanted rather to run out and explore the whole world, unsure of what Chabad had to offer. They struggled with having learned Chassidus but not seeing its relevance in their lives. How would it help them earn a parnasa and lead successful lives?

“Then they saw us, the boys of The Chassidic Revolution, and it was something they had never seen before. Not even in summer camp. We were fun, happy and loving. Yet, they also saw that we davened for hours, loved to farbreng and did mivtzaim every moment. We went surfing, skateboarding, played instruments and then in the middle of it all we would pull out a maamer of the Rebbe and fly with it. They were enchanted,” says Rabbi Mendy Levy.

The program, which was founded by R’ Mendy Levy just three years ago, is in memory of his father-in-law, R’ Mordechai Gal a”h, a shliach who dedicated his life to illuminating the truth for all sorts of searching Jews, focusing pointedly and with unique dedication on the young generation. Rav Motti, a baal t’shuva sent by the Rebbe himself to become the head shliach to Ramat Gan 33 years ago, brought his awareness of velt into his shlichus and could passionately guide the hearts of others. 

One of his most famous achievements was the Yehuda V’Yisroel youth center in the heart of Tel Aviv. It was a 3 million dollar center where thousands of non-observant youth would come to get inspired. There they would attend concerts and listen to Chassidus and then go out with a new yet ancient energy to do chesed acts for the surrounding community.

A yeshiva where Chabad bachurim could become well-steeped in the knowledge of Chassidus while furthering their talents and skills was Motti’s long-cherished dream, one which would become his legacy fulfilled a year and a half after his passing.

Rabbi Mendy Levy relates that on the day he became a chassan he wrote a letter to the Rebbe and placed it in an Igros Kodesh. On one side of the page the Rebbe had written wishing someone mazal tov upon his engagement with instruction to “make sure that the wedding should be as soon as possible.” On the opposite page the Rebbe had directed someone to “open a unique style yeshiva for Chabad boys.”

The significance of the first half of the answer was understood albeit painfully, soon enough. The wedding was celebrated “as soon as possible”, and a week after Sheva Brachos Rabbi Motti a”h passed away. The second portion of the Rebbe’s instruction was realized exactly 18 months later, with the opening of “a unique style yeshiva” know as Yeshiva Hachana L’shlichus housed in the previous residence of R’ Motti Gal, a beautiful three story villa in the heart of Ramat Gan.

Rabbi Mendy Levy continues to direct the now three year old summer program and new Yeshiva together with a staff handpicked for both intelligence and for strong moral integrity, for their ability to relate to the students’ needs and for their preparedness to serve as proper role models. They are “Pnimiim,” extremely real and down to earth. Politics, agendas and ego are not part of their lingo.

Another interesting fact about the staff of TCR is that many of them at some point in their lives went off the beaten path when their allegiance to truth conflicted with situations they experienced or observed while in Yeshiva. Frustrated and disillusioned, they searched elsewhere; but the world cannot offer anything more real than Chassidus and so one by one they found their way back, bringing back with them the “spoils of Egypt,” music, art and a general knowledge of the world.

They are baalei t’shuva from religious homes, a unique brand of hybrids. With the passion and fire of a baal t’shuva having discovered Emes in an environment of Emes, combined with the knowledge of a frum from birth bachur who has learned in yeshiva for many years, these young mechanchim are soldiers of the Rebbe who are familiar with the ways of the world and ready to rebel against it or use it l’sheim Shamayim.

The year-round study program consists of in-depth practical Chassidus curricula, Gemara and Halacha. This is bolstered by many other interesting topics spanning all aspects of Torah. The goal is to make Chassidus and Judaism more personal and applicable – as it once was – while integrating the Rebbe’s particular call to the Dor HaShvii: making set times to learn Chassidus and nigleh, taking davening seriously and making time for self-growth, and having mesirus nefesh for Ahavas Yisroel and Moshiach.

In the afternoons the bachurim get to work developing their personal talents, with the specific intention of utilizing these talents for mivtzaim. The study of music, for example, will later be used to produce concerts throughout the year or new Jewish music albums. Rabbi Avi Piamenta, world famous musician and life-long friend of Rabbi Motti Gal, is heavily involved in the program.

With the help of Hashem TCR is concluding its very successful first year. Yeshiva Hachana L’Shlichus is also a Shlichus prep program.

Bachurim from all over the world come and learn Torah in a way that can be applied to their futures. With a very successful smicha program, four bachurim are well on their way to receiving smicha under HaRav Yuroslavski. Our brilliant staff, comprised of young Rabbis and bachur-shluchim, dedicates themselves to making sure every student gets the attention in learning that he needs and the answers to all his questions.

We have a board of advisors including Rabbi Simon Jacobson and Rabbi Zalman Gopin who have their finger on the pulse of Chabad youth in this generation.

Our students also study computer coding which they have put to use producing Moshiach applications. One bachur created an application that tells all of the brachos one will need to say when Moshiach comes. Photography, graphic design, and website building are a few of the additional subjects offered. The bachurim see how Chassidus and what the Rebbe demands of us blend with everyday living.

TCR intends to be the change in the educational system that will make it possible to properly pass on the beauty of our Chassidic culture and heritage and the beauty and vitality of our religion to the youth in this tumultuous generation.

An important part of the curriculum is empowering the boys to develop the qualities of leadership needed in a world that increasingly looks to the young to lead. Through projects including organized food distribution to the homeless and needy, through opportunities to tutor younger children and other leadership skills programs, an atmosphere of responsibility and pride is fostered and inspired. In addition, the bachurim work together with the Central Chabad House in Ramat Gan, organizing mivtzaim, concerts and many other events in the community!

With a first year student body of 15 students, the Yeshiva is looking forward to next year’s expansion. The goal is to become a center from which shluchim can call upon bachurim to help with their shlichus. Whether it’s to assist in the design of a website or to enliven a minyan with the excitement and joy of young Chassidim, the vision is that eventually the graduates of TCR-Yeshiva Hachana L’shlichus, will go on to be shluchim worldwide. This past Pesach the bachurim traveled all over the world assisting shluchim, from South America to Kazakhstan.

Boruch Hashem the success of TCR is seen over and over, summer to summer, ever since its very first season.

As the group of TCR campers and staff gathered at the Jerusalem light-rail station about to embark on a trip, one of the counselors realized he had neglected to make an “Al HaMichya” before leaving the house. The train was due to arrive momentarily, and if he went back to the house several blocks away to make a bracha acharona he would surely miss the train.

To the shock of all the campers who were encouraging their counselor to “just make an Al HaMichya here!” the counselor ran back to the house. The train arrived on time, and strangely it idled, not departing until the counselor returned in a run, while the campers looked on in a state of awe and respect.

With registration for the highly successful summer program officially open and scheduled to begin on July 4^th, 2016 for boys ages 16-18, TCR now looks forward to yet another successful and inspiring summer.

TCR travels all over Israel. Exciting hikes and extreme experiences are partnered with a very meaningful and spiritual learning experience, with time spent touring Tzfas, Jerusalem, Tiberius, Chevron and many other holy cities. Hiking, rafting, horseback riding, surfing, camping and much more makes this a summer experience to remember. Bachurim build lasting friendships and learn about what it means to live as inspired and wholesome Jews.

In Gemara Sota 11B, it speaks about the baby boys that Pharaoh had thrown into the Nile during the exile in Egypt. It also mentions the children born in the fields to their mothers who had self-sacrifice to bring children in to the exile of Egypt. The Talmud relates that the children disappeared into the soil when the Egyptians came to kill them. They were seemingly gone and their parents thought them dead. Lo and behold they all returned safe and sound a little while later and joined their fathers in the ranks of the Jewish people. All this time Hashem had been taking care of them and guiding them. When the Jewish people left Egypt, these children were the first to point with their fingers and say “This is My G-d and I will beautify Him!”

The children of this generation are the ones about whom the Rebbe said “”it will be the little children who will bring Moshiach.” All over, the youth who were lost to the waters of this world are returning to help in the march to bring Moshiach. We have all the spoils of this world that we brought with us as we returned. The goal at TCR is to utilize it all to bring Moshiach to the entire world.