Yeshiva Ohr Elchanan - Chabad

The Logo of The Yeshiva

Yeshiva Ohr Elchanan - Chabad is a Chabad yeshiva located in Los Angeles, California. The Rosh Yeshiva is Rabbi Ezra Binyamin Schochet.

History

In a letter from 5704 (1944), the Rebbe Rayatz wrote to Rabbi Moshe Schwab about his desire to establish a Chabad yeshiva in Los Angeles:

"B"H 17 Adar 5704 Brooklyn My friend, the esteemed Rabbi, G-d fearing scholar, Rabbi Moshe Schwab ...And regarding what you wrote that you are waiting for the day when, with G-d's help, a Chabad yeshiva will also open in Los Angeles, I am eagerly anticipating those bright days when, with G-d's help, my mission which I was sent to this country for the purpose of spreading Torah with fear of Heaven, will succeed and branches of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch will spread throughout the breadth of this country and neighboring countries. However, now I am still burdened under the load of great expenses, and may Hashem have mercy and open the eyes of the Jews in this country so they will recognize the complete truth in the powerful activities that the center of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim and the center for education matters and Machne Israel have accomplished, thank G-d, and to be of assistance to me to sustain the expenses and expand the activities for good and blessing materially and spiritually."

The yeshiva was founded as a yeshiva belonging to the Lithuanian stream under the name 'Ohr Elchanan' by Rabbi Elazar Simcha Wasserman, son of Rabbi Elchanan Bunim Wasserman.

In 5738 (1978), Rabbi Wasserman transferred the yeshiva to Lubavitch, and because of this, "Chabad" was added to its original name.

In connection with the transfer of ownership of the yeshiva, on 3 Teves 5738 (1978), the Rebbe sent a letter to Rabbi Wasserman and his wife in which he hoped they would do and strive their best to establish the yeshiva, especially since it concerns the field of education according to pure holiness, a most vital matter in our time in every place, and especially in his city where the Jewish population is growing. The Rebbe adds regarding youth education, that however satisfactory the situation may be, there is always room for improvement, and as has been discussed several times, any addition to this is multiplied many times over the years, similar to a seed or tender sapling where even a slight improvement in proper care is multiplied beyond measure when the sapling becomes a fruit-bearing tree. And certainly for them, elaboration on this is unnecessary.

In a farbrengen on Motzei Shabbos Parshas Beshalach, 13 Shevat 5738 (1978), the Rebbe spoke especially about the transfer of the yeshiva, and among other things, the Rebbe said that "all those who now oppose Chassidic teachings, it is only superficial... now something new has happened, that there was a Lithuanian yeshiva and afterwards the Lithuanians united together with the Chassidim..."

Establishing the Chabad Yeshiva

In order to establish and solidify the yeshiva that had now moved to Lubavitch, the Rebbe appointed the Gaon Rabbi Ezra Binyamin Schochet as its head and the well-known Chassid Rabbi Shmuel Dovid Reitchik as the mashpia (spiritual mentor).

The Rebbe also sent a special group of student-shluchim (emissaries) to study with the yeshiva students and serve as living examples for them. This was the arrangement during the yeshiva's first years until 5743 (1983).

The first group was granted a special privilege - to enter for a yechidus (private audience) in which the Rebbe instructed them about the purpose of the yeshiva.

On the 18th of Tevet 5738 (1978), the student shluchim traveling to study in Los Angeles stood in Gan Eden Hatachton (the lower Garden of Eden - the anteroom to the Rebbe's office), along with the Rosh Yeshiva. The Rebbe entered his room with a siddur in his hand, and emerged holding several Ahavas Yisrael booklets, a collection of blessing letters, and a package of dollars. When the Rebbe sent a group of student shluchim to the yeshiva, he would address them with words of blessing before their departure for their shlichus. Each of the Temimim (yeshiva students) received an Ahavas Yisrael booklet and two dollars. Rabbi Schochet also received the collection of blessing letters, and the Rebbe told him this was an addition, since he was the one "overseeing them."

The bochurim (young men) who were part of the first group of students sent by the Rebbe were:

• Rabbi Menachem Nachum Gerlitzky
• Rabbi Gershon Menachem Mendel Avtzon
• Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Bornstein
• Rabbi Asher Pinchas Silverberg
• Rabbi Yaakov Biderman - Vienna
• Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Yehoshua Hecht
• Rabbi Gershon Zirkind
• Rabbi Yaakov Baruch Karp
• Rabbi Yosef Elimelech Kessler
• R' Menachem Mendel Itkin

Thus, each year the departing group would enter and receive the Rebbe's blessing, and when they completed their shlichus, they would enter again and receive a special blessing from the Rebbe. These blessings were collected and printed in the compilation "Migdal Ohr 9."

Rabbis of the Yeshiva

The Gaon Rabbi Ezra Binyamin Schochet has headed the yeshiva since its founding.

• Rabbi Ben Tzion Chaim Oster, Rosh Mesivta (Dean)
• Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Schochet, Rosh Mesivta
• Rabbi Menachem Mendel Cohen (son of Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Cohen), Mashpia
• Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shapiro (son of Rabbi Nachman Shapiro), Mashpia
• Rabbi Amram Farkash, Manager
• Rabbi M.M. Shpalter, Material Manager
• Rabbi Chaim Zev Citron, Rosh Mesivta
• Rabbi Yosef Avtzon, Rosh Mesivta

Publishing Activities

The yeshiva publishes a collection of notes from Tmimim and Anash called "Migdal Ohr."

Upon the completion of forty years of the yeshiva in 5778 (2018), an expanded volume titled "Migdal Ohr 9" was published, which included all the blessings and letters addressed to the yeshiva and its students.

External Links

• [The yeshiva's website: kingstonmesivta.org]
• Historical photo gallery from the life of the yeshiva