London Joins for 45th Kinus Torah

For the 45th year running, the Lubavitch community in London held its annual Kinus Torah which takes place on Chol Hamo’ed Pesach, attracting a crowd of close to 100 members of anash and the broader community.

The first Kinus Torah was organized in 5732 (1972) by R’ Yehuda Leib Ives and others as part of the activities of Tzach (Tzeirei Agudas Chabad). Since then, it has become an annual event where Bochurim returning home from Yeshiva for Pesach are given an opportunity to give over a taste of the in-depth learning in which they are involved all year at Yeshiva.

Opening the evening, Rabbi Levi Paris – a Magid Shiur at the Lubavitch Yeshiva Ketana – gave over a talk of the Rebbe explaining the dispute between the Rishonim regarding dipping the Matza in Charoses.

Using a projector, Dayan Levi Yitzchak Raskin – Rav of the Lubavitch community – explored the seemingly contradictory sources for the verse “Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuso Le’olam Vo’ed”. While in one place it is attributed to Yaakov Avinu, in other places it is attributed to Moshe Rabenu.

Coming from the central Yeshiva at 770, Hatomim Gavriel Schwei explained why in presenting sources for Moshiach, the Rambam prefers a proof from Torah over a proof from Nevu’ah.

Representing the Yeshiva Oholei Torah, Hatomim Shmuel Cyprus presented the Chidush in the Rebbe’s Ma’mar “Matza Zu 5749” over what has been explained in previous Ma’amorim.

As this year is a year of Hakhel, Hatomim Menachem Vogel discussed why we do not find any instruction of Chazal to commemorate the Hakhel ceremony.

After presenting a concise summary of Hilchos Taaruvos, Hatomim Yaakov Raskin led a discussion on the distinction between and definition of “taste” and “substance” in Halacha.

The Rabonim in the crowd included: Rabbi M. Gordon, Mashpia of Yeshiva Gedola Lubavitch; Rabbi M. Zavdi, Menahel of Lubavitch Yeshiva Ketana; Rabbi E. Kesselman, Mashpia of Lubavitch Senior Boys School; Rabbi R. Dubov, Mashpia at Yeshivas Lubavitch Manchester; Rabbi S. Lew, Headmaster Lubavitch Senior girls school; Rabbi Y.Y. Pewsner, Mashpia at Yeshivas Oholei Tora in NY; Rabbi N.D. Dubov, Shliach to Wimbledon, UK; Rabbi M. Brackman, Shliach to South-East London; Rabbi Y. Austin, Rav of Nelson Street Shul; Rabbi A. Citron, Rav of Walford Road Shul.