Last night, 26 Iyar 5767, (Monday, May 14, 2007) a dinner was held at the Sheraton Four Points in Montreal, Quebec honouring Rabbi Shneur Aisenstark Shlit”a for his 40 years as principal of the Beth Jacob d’Rav Hirschprung school in Montreal. The dinner was an opportunity for the community to thank Rabbi Aisenstark Shlit”a for his outstanding efforts on behalf of Chinuch Habanos. A new wing of Bais Yaakov d’Rav Hirschprung will be dedicated in honor of him, as the school is bursting at the seams, and more room is desperately needed.
Rabbi Aisenstark led Bais Yaakov on the pillars of אמת ,אהבת ישראל
and שמחת החיים .
Many speakers quoted the words Rabbi Aisenstark’s was famous for saying: “You won’t go down to the חופה with your report card!”
Rabbi Aisenstark Shlit”a was more concerned for instilling proper values than academic objectives, and he was one of the first educators in Montreal who instituted a mandatory חסד program in the school.
He also established the “Achoseinu” program bringing girls from Eastern Europe with little or no Yiddishkeit, back to Torah Judaism, and established the Bais Yaakov Seminary, Bnos Raizel. Rabbi Aisenstark Shlit”a was a father figure to his students, and a visionary, who together with the Gaon HaRav Pinchus Hirschprung, Zecher Tzaddik v’Kadosh l’beracha, became a legend in his time!
All eyes were riveted to Rabbi Aisenstark Shlit”a who in his humility deflected all honor from himself and thanked HaKadosh Baruch Hu with the words “Modeh Ani Lefanecha” throughout his speech. He then went on to praise many individuals among the staff and ba’alei batim of Beis Yaakov d’Rav Hirschprung for making the school what it is today.
The keynote address was given by Rabbi Yissocher Frand Shlit”a.
Article written and submitted by YW Montreal Correspondent.
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2 Responses
Is this the same Rav Hirshprung who was the Rov (Rosh Yeshiva?) in Lubavitch?
A hearty Yoshar Koach to Rabbi Aisenstark! He literally worked over time for Bais Yaakov Montreal to become one of the best schools in the world.
He was authoratitive, yet kind. He instilled all the proper hashkofos besides for the fact that the academic level in learning was outstandingly high.
He advocated discipline and decorum and helped create an atmosphere of of tremendous Ahavas Yisroel amongst all of us. Therefore he was able to earn the well desrved respect and admiration of all.
There was an incident once where he walked into to one of the nursery classrooms. A little girl approached him and in a soft quiet voice asked , ‘Are you Hashem?’ (warm chuckle). Another sign of how he was
seen as a role model. May he be granted many happy years with his family and all of klall Yisroel and may Bais Yaakov Dr’av Hirschrpung(who was the chief Rabbie of Montreal Z L) continue to shine!
Thank you again Rabbi ‘A’,
A proud member of your Alumnai