By COLlive reporter
Photos by Shawn Levin

There was a buzz in the air on Monday morning, Chai Elul, as months of discussions, announcements and a formal launch finally became a reality with the first morning of learning at the Kollel Tiferes Zkeinim Levi Yitzchok at Chabad of the West Coast in Blouberg, Cape Town, South Africa.

It began at the Chof Av Farbrengen, when the first announcement was made that, in response to the Rebbe’s call 46 years earlier at the 1980 Farbrengen marking his father’s yahrzeit, a Kollel Tiferes Zkeinim, “the Glory of the Elders,” would be established for senior members of the community committed to serious daily Torah study, developing and enriching both their knowledge and their skills in Torah learning.

In recent years, a network of Kollel Tiferes Zkeinim Levi Yitzchok programs has been established in Israel in partnership with Colel Chabad, and the Cape Town Kollel is proud to be among the first branches joining the initiative from the diaspora.

Central to the announcement was the appointment of Rabbi Hillel Bernstein as Rosh Chaburah. Rabbi Bernstein, who has many years of experience as a rabbi and teacher and serves as a Maggid Shiur at the Yeshiva Gedolah in Johannesburg, is beloved by those who have been privileged to learn from him.

Last Thursday night, on the fifteenth of Elul, Chief Rabbi Dr. Warren Goldstein; Rabbi Avigdor Blumenau, Rav and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Meshech Chochma Milnerton; Rabbi Yitzi Tanzer, Associate Rabbi of the Milnerton Shul; and Rabbi Avrumi Katz, Rosh Kollel of the Cape Town Kollel, joined the Blouberg Jewish community and members of the Kollel for its formal launch.

Rabbi Bernstein welcomed those gathered to the historic occasion and introduced Rabbi Goldstein, who drew on powerful Torah themes to highlight the significance of people emerging from semi-retirement and committing themselves to serious daily Torah study as a source of blessing in their lives.

Rabbi Goldstein also expressed appreciation to the pioneering patrons of the Kollel, Mr. Lev Leviev of Israel and others.

Rabbi Blumenau, representing the neighboring Milnerton community, spoke warmly about the spirit of Achdus through Torah that is bringing together members from across the area to study together, expressing the hope that it will set a tone of unity for the future.

Rabbi Avi Shlomo then welcomed members of the Kollel Halacha Tiferes Levi Yitzchok, the original pioneers of high-level Torah learning in the community. The Kollel began on Chof Av two years ago and is now completing its second year of Limaan Yilmedu, having studied Hilchos Kashrus before completing Hilchos Shabbos this year.

Each of the talmidim was then presented with a certificate recognizing a year of dedicated study.

Then, on Monday morning, it all began in earnest.

The shul filled with excited participants, who joined together for a beautiful davening and a delicious breakfast before beginning the central focus of the new Kollel: immersive Torah learning.

The morning opened with an in-depth Chumash shiur by Rabbi Bernstein, followed by smaller learning groups, with participants learning, teaching, listening and sharing together while absorbing the warmth and wisdom of the timeless Torah.

The organizers expressed their appreciation to Barbara Saacks and the catering team for providing the food that accompanied the launch and first morning of learning.