A group of students of Yeshiva University in New York danced the Hupp Cossack like never before since the school’s founding 132 years ago on Motzoei Shabbos.
Yud-Tes Shvat marked the 224th annual Shpoler Zeide’s Seudah, a tradition celebrated annually around the world by descendants of the Shpoler Zeide, or “Grandfather of Shpola,” a disciple of the Maggid of Mezritch and R’ Pinchas of Koretz.
This year, the seudah was hosted at Yeshiva University for the first time since its founding in 1886. Led by descendants Yosef Yitzchak Geisinsky and Avraham Menachem Kener, the meal was held on YU’s men’s campus in Washington Heights, Manhattan, where bochurim filled the room to hear Chassidic stories, sing niggunim, and learn more about the life of the Zeide.
Also in attendance was Rabbi Baruch Simon, a Rosh Yeshiva at YU who shared heartfelt divrei Torah which added to the warm atmosphere by the seudah.
The annual seudah was originally started as a seudos ho’daah by the Shpoler Zeide himself (whose yahrzeit is Vov Tishrei), after his life was miraculously spared, and he asked that his einiklach continue the tradition each year by telling over the story and thanking Hashem for the miracle that He performed.
In addition, the Zeide requested that his descendants not hire waiters and invite the poor to partake in the festive meal. The Rebbe encouraged the seudah each year by sending mashke “for the einiklach.”
In addition to YU, this year’s seudah was celebrated in homes and halls across America and around the world, including Zurich, Switzerland, Melbourne, Australia, and in Eretz Yisroel.
May the merit of the Tzaddik the Shpoler Zeide, R’ Yehudah Leib, protect us all—zchus yegain aleinu.
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Megillas Yud-Tes Shvat
Are any significant Litvish dates marked in Lubavitch Yeshivos?
An Einikel who carries on the warmth and love of the Shpoler Zedie
Heard many times Yosef Yitschok Geisinsky FARBRENG in Morristown and elsewhere. He is #1. Didnot know that he is a descendant of the “SHPOLER ZEIDEH” REB YEHUDAH LEIB of SHPOLAH (That TZADIK of great intellect and fervor whom the REBBE spoke so much of him at FARBRENGENS and wrote about him in HAYOM YOM). so YOSSI its in your genes! Keep up your great work. BTY after reading in the article that the SHPOLER ZEIDE’S yohrtzeit is VOV TISHREI,it occurred to me that perhaps that is why the REBBE would order to sing the HOP KOZAK at many many VOV… Read more »
How refreshing! Achdus among Jews!