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Tracing the Rebbe’s Footsteps: Queens Bochurim Begin Journey Through France

Following the successful conclusion of the 5786 “Mivtza Torah” and the emotional pre-trip farbrengen with Mrs. Hadassah Carlebach, talmidim of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch Queens have embarked on a week-long journey through France, tracing the footsteps of the Rabbeim, Rashi, and the Baalei Tosafos • Read More, Photos

The journey includes stops in Paris, Vichy, Marseille, Nice, Menton, Lyon, Troyes, and Ramerupt. The Temimim have landed in France and officially begun their journey, with the first two days filled with historic visits, Torah learning, farbrengens, and powerful Chassidishe experiences.

Day 1: Landing in Paris, Touring the “Pletzl,” and an Uplifting Farbrengen in Clichy

Upon landing in Paris, the Temimim headed directly to the Sinai Institutions, where they received a remarkably warm welcome from Shliach Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Pevzner. From the very first moments, Rabbi Pevzner devoted himself to ensuring that all of the bochurim’s physical and spiritual needs were taken care of, overseeing every detail of the trip.

After briefly settling in, the Temimim set out for an action-packed tour of the “Pletzl,” the beating Jewish heart of Paris, saturated with memories of the years the Rebbe Melech HaMoshiach spent in the city.

They visited the historic synagogues on Rue des Rosiers, numbers 17 and 25, where the Rebbe davened, delivered shiurim, and danced for hours during the Simchas Torah hakafos. They also visited the former restaurant and butcher shop of Reb Kalman Hemmer, where they learned about the Rebbe’s extraordinary stringencies regarding kashrus.

An uplifting stop took place at the Agudas Hakehillos synagogue on Rue Pavée, the Beis Midrash of Rabbi Rottenberg, where Rabbi Rubinstein once served and where the Rebbe would go to hear drashos.

Rabbi Rottenberg delivered a special shiur for the students and tested them on the masechta they had learned. Deeply impressed by their comprehensive knowledge and depth of study, he warmly blessed the Temimim at the conclusion of the farher, wishing them great success and continued growth in Torah study and Yiras Shamayim.

The Temimim then visited the Rebbe and Rebbetzin’s residences in Paris, including their first apartment on Rue Boulard, known as “Free Home”; the Max Hotel on Rue Boulard, where the Rebbe’s small sukkah was built attached to the window; and the apartment on Villa Robert Lindet.

They also toured the ESTP engineering school in Cachan, where the Rebbe studied.

The first day concluded with dinner and a lively Chassidishe farbrengen at the Chabad House in Clichy with Shliach Rabbi Levi Uzan.

Rabbi Uzan captivated the bochurim with stories of the great miracles that accompanied the purchase of the Chabad House and its future expansion plans. He emphasized a central message: A yeshiva bochur must be completely immersed in Torah study, tefillah, and avodah during his time within the walls of the yeshiva, because this is the key to success and to subsequently going out on shlichus and conquering the world.

Day 2: From Rebbetzin Chana’s Apartment to a Tu B’Av Farbrengen Until Dawn

The second day began with a vigorous Chassidus learning seder in special chavrusos at the community shul. Immediately following Shacharis, the bochurim gathered for a deep and special shiur delivered by the Rosh Yeshiva of Tomchei Temimim Brunoy, Rabbi Yechiel Menachem Mendel Kalmenson, author of Mei Tal.

Rabbi Kalmenson began by explaining the Rambam’s rulings regarding Bar Kochba and the famous dispute between the Rambam and the Raavad regarding Ben Koziva. From there, he demonstrated that there are two distinct definitions of Moshiach—the definition of a King and the definition of a Navi—and that Moshiach can come in two different ways.

Regarding Chabad Chassidim, he emphasized that the belief that the Rebbe is Moshiach does not stem from the definition of a King, but rather from the definition of a Navi, based on what the Rebbe himself told us.

From there, the Temimim continued to the home of Rabbi Pevzner’s mother, an illustrious and venerable woman who served as the driving force and founder of the Sinai Institutions empire in France.

Mrs. Pevzner warmly welcomed the Temimim and shared rare memories and stories she had heard from her husband and father, A”H, about the bochurim of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim in Lubavitch, as well as the mesiras nefesh that accompanied the early establishment of educational institutions in France.

A particularly moving moment took place at the Place de la République, the square symbolizing French liberty and the very revolution the Alter Rebbe fought against. Standing in the famous square, which has hosted massive Lag BaOmer parades for more than forty years with thousands of Jewish children, the Temimim tangibly experienced the depth of the Rebbe’s words regarding the “French Revolution for the good”—transforming a secular place into a place of Kedusha and a tumult of holiness.

Towards the end of the day, the Temimim arrived at the Alexander Hotel on Rue de la Ville-l’Évêque, where the Rebbe Maharash, N”E, once stayed.

The bochurim were moved to see the preserved historic structure, which has a completely new outer shell built around it to maintain its original form. They recalled the well-known story of the Rebbe Maharash telling a Jew who was drinking yayin nesech there: “Yungerman! Yayin nesech dulls the mind and the heart”—words that penetrated the Jew’s heart and led him to complete teshuvah.

The Temimim also visited the Edward VII Hotel.

The climax of the day took place at Rebbetzin Chana’s apartment at 10 Rue Dieu. Rebbetzin Chana lived in this apartment after arriving in France in 5707 (1947), and it was here that the Chassidic world experienced consecutive hours of giluyim, as the Rebbe led the famous farbrengens of Beis and Yud Aleph Nissan 5707.

The students stood in awe before the historic photograph hanging on the apartment wall, capturing that holy farbrengen of the Rebbe alongside his mother, Rebbetzin Chana. Soaking in the majestic atmosphere, they sat down for an inspiring Chassidishe farbrengen, drawing chayus and spiritual energy from the very place where the Rebbe himself had farbrenged.

The Temimim also managed to visit the Chabad-Lubavitch center in Suresnes, directed by Shliach Rabbi Menachem Mendel Ouaki. There, they heard from the Shliach’s son wondrous stories about the miracles surrounding its establishment and its unique construction as a replica of World Chabad Headquarters—770.

But the jam-packed day was not yet over.

When the bochurim returned to the Sinai Institutions, an extraordinary surprise awaited them: a roaring Tu B’Av Chassidishe farbrengen with Shliach Rabbi Reuven Matusof.

Rabbi Matusof farbrenged with incredible warmth and emotion, speaking about hiskashrus to the Rebbe and infusing the bochurim with immense Chassidishkeit. The farbrengen continued deep into the night, concluding only with the break of dawn.

In the coming days, BE”H, the Temimim will continue to the next stops on their journey: Vichy, Marseille, Nice, Menton, and Lyon, followed by Troyes and Ramerupt, the cities of Rashi and the Baalei Tosafos.

More reports and photos will follow.