Op-Ed: What Does the Kinus Mean to Me As a Bochur?

As a Bochur who is spending this year learning in 770, I am privileged all year round to immerse myself in the unique atmosphere found in and around 770 and at the Ohel. Now, as we approach the upcoming Kinus Hashluchim, there is a special buzz in the air, with Shluchim arriving from all around the world to recharge their batteries for the upcoming year.

A couple of nights ago a friend of mine and myself were speaking about just this, and the question that came to mind was: What does this all mean to a Bochur like myself?

Seemingly, we are supposed to dedicate our time to learning, Davening, and soaking in as much Chassidishkeit as we can, as we prepare for our upcoming marriages, and to make decisions about what path we will choose in life; becoming a “Chassidishe Baalebus” or a Shliach etc. Yet in my Bochur status, what do I take from this “gathering of worldwide Jewish leaders”?

As pointed out by Rabbi Shimon Raichik, the one that sets the bar in Lubavitch is the Rebbe, and he made his opinions known through the countless Farbrengens, letters, and personal encounters with people. So I decided that I would look into some of the Sichos where the Rebbe speaks about the ideas of Shluchim and Kinus Hashluchim. The more I learnt the more it became clear to me that there is a most poignant point that everyone especially us Bochurim can take from the kinus hashluchim, and what it represents; and I would like to share that with you here.

Firstly, let us reflect on what most Shluchim perceive of the Kinus. Year round they are totally submerged in the hustle and bustle of spreading Yiddeshkeit to their communities, with all the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental ramifications that may cause. Once a year they come up for a quick yet refreshing breath of air, when they join in with fellow Shluchim, sharing ideas and drawing strength from one another in there Hiskashrus and dedication to the Rebbe’s Shlichus.

At first glance, a Bochur like myself can be a spectator. Yes I may have conversed with many of the Shluchim, perhaps farbrenged with some of them during Shabbos, I may even be as so lucky to squeeze myself into the banquet! They may have even had an effect on my decision to become a Shliach myself one day. However, thet has no bearing on my day to day life as a Bochur. I do not connect, in my present avoida, with what their Mesirus Nefesh represents!

Is that the way the Rebbe wants us to look at the Kinus Hashluchim and what it represents though?

The Rebbe tells us clearly that our perspective must be different. The lesson from the Kinus Hashluchim is something that should touch us in a way that we are affected to our core!

While in earlier generations the Rebbe Rashab chose just a small select group to be part of Tomchei Temimim, and called them “Neirois Lehoir” and that they were soldiers to of “Chayolei Beis Dovid”, in today’s day and age, there is a fire burning, and therefore, as the Rebbe makes abundantly clear, everyone of us must become a Neir Lehoir, and become a Shliach, spreading and strengthening Yiddishkeit.

The Rebbe spells this out, saying that even us Bochurim learning in Yeshiva, who dedicate all our time to Learning and Davening, have to do so, and do so to the best of our ability, however it must be a Learning and Davening that is rooted firmly with the knowledge that this is part and parcel of my going on Shlichus once I am married.

For example, we have many stages in life, beginning from birth, continuing as a child, a bochur, getting married etc. Each part of life has its own “Avoida”: A child begins putting on yarmulke and tzitzes, and practicing mitzvos as a child, and once he becomes Bar Mitzvah he now begins being Mekayem Mitzvos because of the chiyuv he now has. Yes when he was a child he had a special “Avoida” of practicing mitzvos, but that entire time that he was doing it, he did it with the firm notion that he will soon be Bar Mitzvah and begin being Mekayem Mitzvos “for real.”

So to a Bochur when we spend our years in Yeshiva Learning and Davening, working on ourselves, the Rebbe has taught us that we must not just learn and Daven for itself, but rather to always have a firm knowledge that we are right now in a preliminary stage of our Shlichus. Just like the child before he becomes a Bar Mitzva.

Now when the Kinus begins, and Shluchim start to fill 770 and the Ohel, we should not just be bystanders, identifying with the Kinus in a foreign way, rather we must realize that we to are involved in our future rolls as Shluchim, and that when we spend our way as a Bochur, learning and Davening, we are preparing ourselves for this incredible mission.

And no doubt if we change our approach to Shlichus, and our current Avoida of Davening and learning, in such a way, we will merit to the coming of Moshiach, when the Rebbe will be able to point at us and say: “Reu Gidulim Shegidalti”!

See the Sicha below, an example of just one of the many place the Rebbe speaks openly about how we Bochurim are to see Shlichus.

Free Translation:

“Therefore, we must publicize to every Jew, and specifically to the students of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim, whom the Rebeim raised for the purpose (and dedicated themselves to them, to the degree of self sacrifice) that they should go out in the “Davidic Battle” to bring Moshiach, and that they should all grow to be community activists and Shluchim: Become Shluchim and go conquer the world with Yiddishkeit!”

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