A Day of Growth and Care at Oholei Torah Mechina’s Annual Bochur Tog

Oholei Torah’s annual Bochur Tog for the Mechina 8th grade took place this week on Chag HaGeulah Yud Kislev, filling the zal with energy as the bochurim spent the afternoon tending to their personal items and deepening their hiddur mitzvah. The program offered a blend of practical skill building and meaningful chassidishe inspiration, continuing a beloved tradition that helps each talmid take ownership of his growth.

The day featured a variety of stations that guided the bochurim in caring for the items they use throughout the year. Tailors from Troy Organic Cleaners helped bochurim add a button to ensure their jackets close right over left. Belissimo provided hat steaming and cleaning, while See View Optical assisted with glasses adjustments. Bochurim also received tzitzis bendels and participated in a dedicated tzitzis check and repair led by Reb Goldberg. A full tefillin tune up was offered by Machon Stam, and a shoe cleaning station gave the talmidim a chance to upgrade their presentation from head to toe.

In addition to the practical stations, bochurim purchased an ois in the Sefer Torah HaKlali as a zchus for all Yidden, facilitated by Reb Yitzchok Pruss and hatomim SB Raitport. They joined a discussion on the question “What can we do about Moshiach,” led by Reb Goldstein, and wrote heartfelt letters to the Rebbe, each including a hachlota tova. Hatzalah members Menachem Sheinberger and Yisroel Piekarski taught the boys about basic health and vitals, while Chaim Hershkop led a session on exercise, movement, and stretching to encourage healthy habits and proper care of the body.

Menahel Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Wilhelm shared that the annual Bochur Tog has become a highlight of the year, giving the bochurim a chance to refine both their physical and spiritual avodah in an environment that is lively, encouraging, and chassidishe. The program, he noted, instills a sense of pride and responsibility that stays with the talmidim as they grow.

The program traces its beginnings to a simple yet meaningful initiative introduced several years ago. After watching a JEM video in which the Rebbe advised someone to make sure his jacket closed right over left, Rabbi Zushe Wilhelm obm asked his son, Rabbi Chaim Yisroel Wilhelm, whether the bochurim were following this minhag. When it became clear that many were not, Rabbi Zushe suggested bringing in a tailor to help the boys correct it. That small idea quickly took root and, over time, expanded into the full Bochur Tog experience celebrated today.

This year’s event was sponsored and subsidized in loving memory of three cherished mechanchim of Yeshivas Oholei Torah: Rabbi Yeshaya Zusha a”h Wilhelm, Rabbi Shmuel Hakohen a”h Benjamin, and Rabbi Eliyahu a”h Tenenbaum. Their lifelong dedication to chinuch continues to guide and uplift the next generation of talmidim.

Bochur Tog once again proved to be a meaningful and memorable experience, strengthening the bochurim in both practical mitzvah observance and inner chassidishe commitment as they move forward with confidence and pride.

Photos: Yossi Fajnland