To Be Released: Second Film on Russian Chassidim

The second film created by Rabbi Yitzchak Kogan, Rabbi of the Bolshaya Bronnaya Shul and produced by ACC Studio, will be released before Chanukah. The film is about 'The ten Martyrs' - 10 Russian Chassidim who forfeited their lives 70 years due to their active involvement in spreading out Chassidus in Communist Russia. The debut screening will take place in the Bolshaya Bronnaya shul in Moscow. COL learned that the film 'Invincible' describing the bravery of the Rebbe Rayatz that was published on on Yud Beis Tamuz will be soon available with a Hebrew translation. The first film they produced, Unvanquished, dramatically told the story of the Previous Rebbe's imprisonment. The following is a preview for their first film.

Ya Sizhu...

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Back in the Day

Eli, do you remember any of these kids?

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Stand Back Letterman...

19 Kislev at Headquarters

On a typical evening, you’d walk through the entrance to Mironova and expect to hear the sounds of ping pong balls and playstations. Not any more.

For the past four weeks, all you could hear in Mironova was the sound of boys studying Tanya and Maamorim by heart. They got up early in the morning to go to the Mikva, and spent their free time after school saying Chitas. Each Farbrengen got more intense as the boys took on new Hachlotos, preparing themselves for the New Year of Chassidism.

“Mivtza Yud-Tes Kislev” reached its climax yesterday. A large ceremony was held and the winners of the prizes were announced. Coming in first place were: Misters ?-?-? Sulai and Moshe Olshevsky. With G-d’s help, they will pack their bags in a few weeks, and board the plane to spend Yud Shvat in 770!

Berel Chupin came in second place, receiving a Sony PSP. There were many other prizes including a Kodak 5MP camera, four 3.2MP cameras, gameboys and lots more.

The program was a huge success, filling the fifty boys in Yeshiva with a special energy and excitement that will no doubt continue throughout the year and help bring “Moshiach Now!”

House Call

Being Yud-Tes Kislev, I was feeling a bit inspired by the effect of the Alter Rebbe in the world today. Even in remote areas, sparks are shining in Jewish souls. I decided to call someone who has been to camp and has been inspired, but for some reason or another, has never made it to Yeshiva.

Avrohom Gurevitch is living in Ismael, a small suburb of Odessa. Ismael has no Jewish school and Avrohom’s Judaism is limited to the spark that Yeka lit in his soul. His history with Yeka goes all the way back to the “Simferopol Days.” Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to go to camp this past summer, which makes it almost a year and a half since he’s last been to Yeka. Yet every morning, before he goes to school, he thinks about Yeka. He removes the precious gift that his counselor gave him from it’s bag, rolls up his sleeve and puts on his Tefillin.

When I asked Avrohom if he new today’s Jewish date, he very matter-of-factly said, “Today is Yud-Tes Kislev, the day that the Alter Rebbe was freed from prison.” Recently, the Shliach in Odessa sent a Shliach to his town. Now Avrohom and his father proudly participate in the weekly Minyan every Shabbos.

Avrohom wanted to know if there was a camp this year and how it was. He has an internet connection at home and checks our site regularly, eagerly awaiting new posts.

Avrohom is in the 11^th grade. After he graduates, he wants to enroll in an institute in Odessa and become a computer technician. If anyone would like to say hello, you can leave a comment here. I’m sure he’ll read it.

Avrohom and Eli Chaim. Simferopol, 2002.

Belanova, 2003.

Levi Zelixon, Avrohom and Chaim. Belanova, 2003.

Levi Raskin with Rafi and Avrohom. Belanova, 2003.

Avrohom recieving his Teffillin. Mironova, 2003.

Belanova, 2004.

Tzivos Hashem of the C.I.S. totally prepared for Chanukah

Tzivos Hashem of the Former Soviet Union has finished all their preparations for Chanukah. The director of Programs and Publishing of Tzivos Hashem, Rabbi Shmuli Brown decided its time to give all Shluchim in the whole of the former Soviet Union a chance to benefit from the world reknown olive oil workshop.

Rabbi Yossi Glick, director of the FSU branch of Tzivos Hashem says, “By making workshops available to the Shluchim, it will give them more freedom to make as many programs as possible whenever they would like without having to rely on Tzivos Hashem traveling to their city with our workshops”.

The set that is available to the Shluchim consists of an old fashioned style press made of metal and wood and all the necessary equipment to show the children how to make olive oil whilst simultaneously teaching the children about the Chanukah story and miracles. Tzivos Hashem has already sent out many presses even Europe received.

Besides for the presses that got sent out to the Shluchim, Tzivos Hashem will be traveling around the FSU to the cities that specifically wanted their trained staff to show them the Chanuka program which includes olive oil, dreidel and latke making.

Farbrengen in Seagate

In honor of the 19^th of Kislev, the Rosh Hashanah of Chassidism, a beautiful farbengen was held at Yeshiva Tiferes Menachem of Sea Gate, NY. Everyone made Lchaim, sang Niggunim and listened to words of inspiration from Rabbis Avrohom Lipsker, Abba Paltiel, Sholom Baras and Dr. Dovid Sholom Pape. Aside from the regular faculty and students, many guests and former students participated. Among the students of the Yeshiva are seven graduates of our very own Yeshiva in Yeka.