The Special Class Reunion With Rabbi Akiva Wagner A”H

This upcoming Monday, 17 Iyar 5786, will mark the third Yahrtzeit of my rosh yeshiva and personal mashpia – Harav Michoel Akiva Gershon a”h Wagner. To say that he lived an exemplary life and affected hundreds of talmidim, is an understatement.

I would like to share a deep understanding that I had a few years ago which really changed the way I view myself as an educator. I hope that it will be beneficial to others as well. 

The Reopening of Yeshivas Lubavitch in Toronto

Yeshivas Lubavitch in Toronto was founded in 5717 (1956-57), as can be seen in the Rebbe’s brief biography in the beginning of the Hayom Yom. The Yeshiva closed shortly after and was reopened decades later by Rabbi Wagner, a Toronto native. 

The yeshiva reopened in Elul 5756 (1996) with two classes; Shiur Aleph and Gimmel Mesivta. The next year, Elul 5757, I joined the older class which became the first class of the Yeshiva Gedola. I was there for two years as a talmid, and returned two years later as one of the Talmidim Hashluchim.

Pioneers of a Founding Class

Being part of a founding class is risky, since a fledgling Yeshiva is oftentimes not so organized and established, but in our case it was life-changing. We were a group that became very close with each other and felt that we were true pioneers (which we indeed turned out to be…). The highlight, of course, was the very deep connection that we formed with our beloved rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Akiva Wagner, through his shiurim, farbregens and discussions.

An Idea Is Born

Time passed, and everyone in our class continued their personal journey of life. Most built Chassidishe homes of their own and pursued different paths in their professional lives. Some became rabbanim and shluchim, while others became businessmen and askanim. It is only natural that, as time goes on, relationships are maintained on differing levels. Some of my former classmates remained close friends while I lost contact with others. 

This all changed when we heard the terrible news that Rabbi Wagner was diagnosed with the dreaded disease and suddenly Tehillim groups were organized which also reignited forgotten relationships. In Tishrei 5782 (2021), one of my former classmates had an amazing idea: As it is now 25 years since the refounding of the Yeshiva, it would be a tremendous chizzuk and nachas for Rabbi Wagner if we would gather together for a class reunion/farbrengen.

The idea was set into motion and at the end of the month, we gathered in the hall of United Lubavitcher Yeshiva on Crown Street as the attached photo shows. Many of us live in Crown Heights or were able to fly in, and others joined virtually. While it was very hard for everyone to see Rabbi Wagner in his weakened physical state, his face was glowing and he led the (short) farbrengen with full energy and life.

As the official event was nearing to an end, Rabbi Wagner asked everyone in attendance to get up and share something that they internalized and remember from Yeshiva. 

The Mindset-Shifting Realization

This is the part that was so illuminating and mindset-shifting for me: 

While we sat through hundreds of hours of official shiurim and talks, that was not what was mentioned by those in attendance. Almost everyone emphasized the personal connection and the bond that was created by the unofficial moments and unscripted farbrengens. These were moments of true caring and kindness and warmth expressed at the right time.

I don’t mean that the hours of preparing and delivering world-class genius shiurim were not remembered or appreciated, it is just that these official duties don’t penetrate the heart of the student to create that everlasting connection and bond as much as the informal moments when truth is shared in an uplifting way and caring is shown to the student as an individual.

The Great Principle of Education

This Lag B’omer (Tuesday) is exactly fifty years since the Rebbe taught the second half of the “12 Pesukim and teachings of Chazal”. While usually the parades would only occur if Lag B’Omer was on a Sunday, 5736 (1976) was an exception because it was “the year of Chinuch”. The 16th passuk is from the great Rabbi Akiva: “Said Rabbi Akiva: ‘To love your fellow as yourself’ is a great basic principle of the Torah.” 

To Rabbi Akiva Wagner, this was the great principle of education. That the student should feel that he was truly cared for, even their physical needs. 

The great Tanna Rabbi Akiva had a student named Rabbi Elazar Ben Shamua. He is famously quoted in Pirkei Avos (4:2) as saying “let the honor of your student be as dear to you as your own”. He must have learned that from his teacher. 

Rabbi Akiva a”h Wagner lived it and led a revolution in education based on it. Vehachai yitten el libo – may we, those who knew him and benefited greatly from him, take his life lessons to heart and make them grow and prosper.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on the above with me by sending me a personal email: rabbiavtzon@gmail.com