Editing Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim (section)

== Establishment and Founding of the Yeshiva ==
Extended article - '''Tomchei Tmimim Lubavitch'''

At the wedding feast of his son, [[the Rebbe Rayatz]], on Sunday 15 Elul 5657 (1897), the Rebbe Rashab announced that he wished to make an important announcement to the public on 18 Elul concerning all our Rebbeim. Later, the Rebbe Rashab convened a conference attended by about fifty select elder rabbanim and wealthy supporters of Anash who were in Lubavitch at the time for the wedding celebration. The Rebbe opened the conference with a general announcement about his holy decision to establish a yeshiva for Torah-knowledgeable bochurim who would engage in studying Chassidus with yiras shamayim.

On Tuesday, 17 Elul 5657, the Rebbe Rashab selected the first eighteen talmidim who were accepted to the yeshiva. The Rebbe entrusted them to the Chossid [[Shmuel Gronem Esterman|Rav Shmuel Gronem Esterman]] - to teach them Chassidus according to the order he arranged.

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<ref>In the year 5732 (1972) when the Tmimim moved from their place of study at 770 Eastern Parkway to the Chovevei Torah Yeshiva building, they held a farbrengen at the beginning (apparently this was due to the custom of the Rebbe Rashab). The Rebbe gave his blessing to this move (Likut Maanot Kodesh 5732, response 68 from the 21st of Adar 5732). This practice was also followed at the opening of Yeshiva Gedolah Lubavitch Beit Shemesh and others.</ref>.

==== The Official Announcement of the Yeshiva's Opening ====
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.

This is how the Rebbe Rayatz describes it: At two in the afternoon, a "Sheva Brachos" feast was held. My father was in joyous excitement and said: "Jews throughout the world know that on Wednesday the luminaries were hung. Even on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday there was day and night, but the luminaries were hung on Wednesday. Today, 18 Elul, is the luminous day when [[the Alter Rebbe]] and Moren[[The Baal Shem Tov]] were born, and on this holy day I am establishing a yeshiva by the command and blessing of our holy fathers and Rebbeim, a yeshiva that will produce talmidim with [[mesiras nefesh]] for [[Torah]] and avodah in the ways of Chabad Chassidus."

The Rebbe Rashab said a Chassidic discourse on the topic of "The light created on the first day with which Adam HaRishon could see from one end of the world to the other," and afterward said with a bright and welcoming countenance: "May it be His will that the Shechinah rest in our handiwork. On the fourth day of creation the luminaries were hung. Today is 18 Elul, the holy day when Morenu the Baal Shem Tov was born 199 years ago. With this beginning of the yeshiva - which I have not yet named - I am kindling the luminaries that Morenu the Baal Shem Tov and the Rebbeim bequeathed to us in order to fulfill the promise of spreading your wellsprings outward, to hasten the coming of [[Moshiach]] Tzidkeinu."