The Rebbe's Vision Continues
Shimon Sherr
(Shimon at his wedding)
I met Rabbi Yisroel Jacobson in May of 1967 in
Boston while attending the Lubavitcher Yeshiva there and expressed to him an
interest in attending Hadar Hatorah. His retort was how come I had not yet
come to learn until this time! After numerous phone calls to his home and not
being unable to contact him (I didn't know that Rabbi Jacobson traveled to
Italy to procure esrogim for Succos), I finally reached him a week and a half
before Rosh Hoshonah, 1967 and he said to come to Crown Heights.
Upon arriving at Rabbi Jacobson's house on Montgomery Street
he asked if I had a place to sleep. I said no. He immediately replied that I
should sleep here (i.e. his place). Upon awakening the next morning he
directed me to 770 to daven. After returning to his house he asked me if I had
a place to eat and I once again said no. He directed me to 749 Eastern Pkwy
which was the cafeteria for the 770 bochurim. Upon entering there I was
greeted by the cook who asked me in Yiddish "who sent you?" I
responded Rabbi Jacobson and she went into a tirade while I ate my breakfast.
This was my intro to the world of Crown Heights.
As a 19 year old clean-shaven high school graduate from
Boston (first time away from home for an extended period), I felt culture
shock. I was not ready for the newness of a full Torah lifestyle and the
rigors of the daily seder. I do remember the friendliness and support of the
rabbis and other bochurim in helping me get into the swing even though the
physical conditions were less then adequate for anyone.
For 18 years Rabbi Shalom Ber Veshedsky (former teacher and
mashpia) was almost like a father figure to all of us and especially me. His
melava malkas stand out in my mind as a theatrical way of living the joys of
Torah.
Soon after Rabbi Yaakov Goldberg married and became the Rosh
Yeshivah he made a seder out of Hadar Hatorah. I can truly say I have one
thing over Rabbi Goldberg in this life, "I was there before him."
Being in the daled amos of 770 was a plus to many of the
students. We attended the Rebbe's farbrengens, sichos and davening. Others
could only read about these in magazines or hear recordings but we could see
it live and feel it.
I recall when the Rebbe would tour the community on the
first night of Pesach, he would visit Hadar Hatorah among the other
institutions. On two occasions the Rebbe stepped into the Beis Midrash and
dormitories to speak with Rabbi Goldberg and the kitchen to view the seder in
progress.
The Rebbe took personal interest in every Jew, especially
Hadar Hatorah students.
I recall that there was one yeshiva-mate who was not
particularly fond of the study of Chassidus and the Rebbe's farbrengens. On
one occasion I went to get the erev Pesach matzohs. The Rebbe had no prior
knowledge of this student. When it was this time to receive his erev Pesach
matzohs the Rebbe said "take for Gershon".
In the late 60's my good friend Shmuel Ptalis and I would
rise early to daven on erev Yom Kippur and stand outside the Rebbe's office
door to receive the honey cake. There were no long lines then and we enjoyed
the quick access behind the elder chasidim.
Now I am the father of 9 and a grandfather. I still drop in
to Hadar Hatorah to socialize and to learn frequently as well as maintain
contact with my mentors and my first home in Crown Heights.
Throughout the years Hadar Hatorah has kept their standards
high with the warm and nurturing environment established by Rabbi Yisroel
Jacobson and Rabbi Yaakov Yehuda Hecht. When I walk in the doors it is like I
never left it at all. The faces may change but the Rebbe's vision continues.
I know personally many fellow students then and since that
have gone onto becoming shluchim of the Rebbe that are located in far-flung
places all over the world. They seek to educate Jews about Torah mitzvahs. I
will always enjoy my memories and continue to visit Hadar Hatorah in the
future.
