Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim: Difference between revisions

Following this practice of the Rebbe Rashab who convened a conference to announce the opening of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim, today as well when opening a Tomchei Tmimim yeshiva, the Roshei Yeshiva organize a farbrengen where they announce their decision to open the yeshiva.

On Wednesday, the luminous day of 18 Elul, at two in the afternoon, a "Sheva Brachos" feast was held, where the Rebbe Rashab delivered the message in the name of his fathers, our holy Rebbeim.

The Frierdiker Rebbe, who filled his father the Rebbe Rashab's position after his passing, was the active director of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim, and nothing was done in the yeshiva without consulting him. Under his guidance, Tomchei Tmimim yeshivas developed in quantity and quality.

To maintain the spirit of Tomchei Tmimim even after the years of study in yeshiva, the Frierdiker Rebbe initiated the establishment of the 'Igud HaTmimim' whose purpose was to care for the physical arrangements of yeshiva graduates, finding rabbinic positions for them, strengthening set times for learning Chassidus, and additional activities for them.

The learning first focuses on encompassing and clarifying the sugya being learned on all its sides and details. Afterward, the learner examines and is precise with every significant piece of information, calculating the sevoros of the Amoraim, assembling the details of the sugya in his mind into a unified structure, and approaches pilpul after understanding the halachic pshat of the sugya while doing this carefully to direct toward the truth of the matters.

The Rebbe instructed the Tmimim to write down their chiddushim and publish them in dedicated collections. This unique aspect characterizes Tomchei Tmimim yeshivas where the bochurim toil and labor to be mechadesh in Torah.

On the 20th of Sivan 1902, the Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim was closed for one day by order of the authorities, following accusations from the maskilim (enlightened Jews). The Frierdiker Rebbe (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak) ignored the police order and asked Yaakov the builder to prepare stairs so the bochurim could enter through the window. The next day, a telegram arrived from the police commander giving permission to reopen the yeshiva.

Even during the difficult days of World War I, not only did the enthusiasm of Chabad chassidim not weaken, but they also established yeshivos in various cities. This work continued even after the Soviets rose to power. The number of yeshivos increased even when they were forced underground and had to operate in secret due to persecution and the evil eye of Jewish informers, members of the Yevsektsia, who were determined to destroy the fortresses of religion.

At that time, the American Joint Distribution Committee supported the Tomchei Temimim yeshivos in their time of need. At the initiative of its director Dr. J. Rosen, $50,000 per year was allocated for religious education under the leadership of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, which was considered an enormous sum at the time.

During the Communist era, the Frierdiker Rebbe's educational program (who assumed leadership of Chabad after his father's histalkus on 2 Nissan 1920) changed completely. It expanded to many levels and encompassed various subjects. It cared not only for students close to Chabad chassidus but for all Jewish youth, and dealt not only with in-depth study at a high level but also with elementary education for young children. The Frierdiker Rebbe established dozens of chadarim in secret with the help of his chassidim, and Chabad yeshiva students became teachers and educators for Jewish children.

After his release, he was expelled from Russia, but the Tomchei Temimim network not only didn't close but continued with greater strength and intensity.

Following the virus outbreak, the ability to learn in public spaces was paralyzed. The yeshivos continued to operate through remote learning methods. Many yeshivos used dedicated phone lines through which rabbonim delivered shiurim and farbrengens, and through which chavrusas learned together.

During the period when the Ministry of Health allowed essential educational frameworks in closed and isolated capsules, many yeshivos opened capsules through which they maintained learning on the platforms made available to them.

In the initial period of Operation Iron Swords, the conditions for maintaining educational systems were reduced following Home Front Command guidelines according to the situation. For example, yeshivos were required to provide access to protected spaces within reasonable distance from their learning areas. The yeshivos relocated to buildings with shelters and arranged themselves according to legal requirements.

* '''Sefer HaToldos Admur HaRashab''' RAC Glitzenstein pages 137-242

* '''I am Abraham's Servant''' - In the introduction, memories from Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch, Yeshivas Achei Tmimim Tel Aviv, Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lod, Rabbi Eliezer Krasik

* '''Reshimos Devorim''' - Memories from Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch, Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Kharkov, Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Kremenchug, Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Rostov, Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Montreal, Rabbi Yehuda Chitrik

* '''The First Tomim''', History of Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gurary, documentation about Rabbi Gurary as one of the first Tmimim in the yeshiva

* '''Zichron L'Bnei Yisroel''', Memories of Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson from Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch, and Tomchei Tmimim yeshivas throughout Russia