By COLlive reporter
World renowned orator Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Jacobson was seen Wednesday humbly sitting in a small room in 770 Eastern Parkway taking a halacha exam.
The spiritual leader of Congregation Bais Shmuel Chabad in Crown Heights was apparently being tested by Rabbi Zalman Labkowsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Chabad’s Central Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva – 770.
A bochur told COLlive.com that Jacobson was tested on the complex and numerous laws of Berchos Hanehenin (the blessings before and after eating).
“Rabbi Labkowski drilled hard, but Jacobson knew the material well,” we were told; the Rosh Yeshiva quipped as the 2-hour test concluded, “You did very well.”
Rabbi Jacobson, one of the most sought-after speakers in the Jewish world and host of the “Monday Torah” class on COLlive.com, comfirmed this information.
“I was tested on my Semicha by Rabbi Pinchas Hirschprung Z”L (Chief Rabbi of Montreal, who would come to 770 to test the students) and by Reb Zalman Labkowsky many years ago,” he told COLlive. “Yet I never completed part of my last test. So I returned to the zal of 770 to learn and complete the material.”
As dean of online institute for Torah study TheYeshiva.net, Jacobson specifies, “It is never too late to go back to yeshiva, sit and learn Shulchan Aruch, prepare for a test, and get tested by the Rosh Yeshiva.”
Rabbi Jacobson shared a story Rabbi Labkowsky told to him during the exam, which he heard from the late Rabbi Dovid Raskin, Spiritual Director of the 770 Yeshiva.
Once in the early years, on Simchas Torah, the Rebbe came out to the bochurim in the Beis Medrash zal to farbreng. Someone brought the Rebbe a little mashkeh. But the Rebbe asked for more, and only then did the Rebbe make a blessing and say l’chaim.
“It seemed like the Rebbe did not want to make a beracha reshonah without the ability to make a beracha acharonah. The Rebbe thus wanted to drink a ‘revieis’ of mashkeh, so he could make a ‘bore nefashos.'”
ITS NICE TO SEE EVEN IN THESE POSTINGS THAT GOODNESS AND HUMILITY IN ACTION HELPS THE HUMBLE TO GROW AND BE INSPIRED AS WELL AS THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT REALIZE THEIR OWN IMPERFECTIONS
I am truly impressed.
To #3 What makes you say he has a successful life?
I am not saying he doesn’t but what do you know…
In any case, I am totally impressive by Rabbi Jacobson’s actions.
Something tells me he watched the whole R’ Braun fiasco and realized it could happen to him sometimes down the road.
Lesson learned!
Kol Hakavod!
So when are we going to be zoche to have a picture of braun taking his smicha test.
wow im sure dani knew his stuff inside out
and shmuly too
moscow friends
everybody just learn, more and more no matter what no matter who.
as a “not fan” of beis shmuel and his leader, i have to say that i’m very impressed!!
you made my day! very humble of you, i would not expect you to do that!
p.s. when i say tachton i for sure do not mean horav hagoon sh”z labkowsky, i mean the fact of taking a test when having a successful life anyway.
What a “class” act
yasher koach!