“Remembering the Rebbe: An Inside Story”
Albany NY — Capital Region Chabad Centers welcomed Mazkir Rabbi Leibel Groner for a communal talk “Remembering the Rebbe: An Inside Story” commemorating the Rebbe’s 13th yartzeit.
The diverse crowd at the Albany Jewish Community Center was inspired by hearing about the Rebbe’s personal life, his public teachings and unique vision.
After the public lecture many people joined a chasidishe farbrengen in nearby Cong. Shomray Torah where Rabbi Groner continued telling stories of the Rebbe and hadracha for Chassidim.
The Albany Mesivta communal “Chag HaSiyum” was addressed by Guest speaker Harav Leibel Groner, who also Farbrengened with Balei Batim the night before at the Albany JCC and Cong. Shomray Torah. Rabbi Groner said he was very impressed by the Talmidim’s high level of Niglah & Chassidus and their Hiskashrus. “These 13-14 year old boys didn’t have the zechus to physically see the Rebbe, yet their chayus and inspiration lives with the Rebbe.”
Rabbi Groner raised a question he asked “Reb Moshe” Feinstein about a prepared Seudas Mitzvah during Beha”b fasts when the actual Mitzvah aspect is pushed off. Rabbi Feinstein paskened that the very “Hazmana” preparation transforms it into a Seudas Mitzvah. Rabbi Groner explained various nuances of the Gemara’s final text about the differences between wild and domesticated animals, relating to Avodas Hashem of the two dimensions to our “animal soul.
The Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yisroel Rubin explained why the tractate is called Beitzah (Egg) even though it is really about “Holiday-Laws.” Other foods soften and weaken when cooked, but eggs actually harden the more they are boiled. Our Talmidim strengthened and intensified in their learning over time, and are not slacking off towards the year’s end.
HaTalmid Aharon Simon explained a difficult Tosefos on Beitzah 4a, with a beautiful Chassidic insight of focusing our energy on the positive rather than dwelling with the negative.
HaTalmid Eli O’Brien taught the 2nd Tosefos on Beitzah 4a which explains how “Rabba’s Hachana” applies in case of Shabbos going into YomTov, even when we thought everything was already fully prepared and finished. The life lesson at year-end is that we should never feel finished and totally prepared. There’s always another step, more to learn and accomplish.
Quoting the Rambam’s introduction to Mishna, Rabbi Moshe Mirsky the local Rav of Cong. Beth Israel in the upstate city of Schenectady connected Mesechta Beitzah to Shavuos, and praised the boys’ excitement for Torah.
HaTalmid Motti Rubin tied in Ravina questioning Rav Asi’s sadness to Tanya 26 that sadness has no positive place in Judaism, while occasional broken-heartedness is OK,
HaTalmid Yisroli Backman taught form the Aler Rebbe’s Shulchan Aruch about Tefillin Kavanah, and Rabbi Groner added from the Rebbe that the 3 Mitzvos of Matzah, Sukkah & Tefillin are invalid without Kavanah.
Rabbi Nachman Simon, Mesivta magid shiur l’Girsa, concluded the actual Siyum, as Rabbi Groner recalled a Siyum by the Rebbe in 1951 when he recited the longer Kaddish.
Rabbi Mendel Rubin, magid Shiur Liyun, explained the lesson from a Halacha on the difference between an egg that was laid and eggs found within a Shected Hen: “While Yeshiva students elsewhere remain protected sheltered “in the hen,” our Albany Mesivta students “come to life” and are Out in the world by blending Torah with Worldly Experience!
