Former Tiferes Student Recalls Final Conversation With Rabbi Lipskier

From the COLLive Inbox: A former student of Rabbi Lipskier recalls his early years at Tiferes in Morristown and their emotional final conversation years later.

An appreciation by Yakov Werde

The Alter Rebbe in Sidur im Dach, Shaar Lag B‘Omer, maamar Atah Hitzavtah, offers an expose on the unique qualities of Sefiras Hod Sh’B’Hod, its relationship to Modim D’Rabbanan and its relationship to Lag B’Omer and the Rashbi. See the amazingly re-typeset and annotated 2019 edition volume two starting page 888 for full details.

The heart of the matter is based on Modim D Rabbanan s concluding words Paraphrase these words as, Thank YOU Hashem for giving us earthbound limited creatures the ability to say Thank YOU. The Maamer explains this phrase based on Sefer HaYetzira s principle of He wedges the beginning in the end and the end in the beginning.

Very recently I had a face to face encounter with Rabbi Lipskier that embodied this idea. Read on for the full story.

Brief Personal History

I was arguably the 4th or 5th Tiferes student. I met Rabbi Laibel Alevsky OBM, Shliach to Ohio, on the campus of Case Western Reserve University in August 1972. He personally drove me (and a few others) to 770, where he ushered me in the Rebbe s presence for Mincha in the packed “Kleiner Zal”.

This first time encounter left an indelible impression. A short while later, he dropped me off at the brand new, yet to begin Morristown Tiferes program. The trial summer program had just ended and the Tiferes Bochurim Yeshiva was about to open its doors. If my memory serves me correctly bocur #1 was Avraham Schwartzberg, #2 was Eli Rothman Z L, #3 was Shmuel “Bais”.

These bochurim remained after the summer program to become the founding students of a yet to be named Yeshiva. I was number 4 (It is possible that my mechutan and first chaver Shlomo Greenberg was there too and I am #5). I had a memorable first year cutting my teeth (and my long hair) with Rabbi Lipskier as the only teacher for Tanya, Maamorim, Mishnios, and Gemara Perek HaMafkid all the while transforming myself into a newly minted Baal Teshuva.

Rabbi Lipskier’s farbengens were memorable as well as the trips to 770 for the Rebbe’s Shabbos Mevorchim farbrengens and other special holidays. (Who remembers the Kellner brothers who lived in the basement on the corner of Eastern Parkway and Brooklyn Ave, right next to the Kerister Mikvah?) About 6 months down the road we were lucky to get Rav Avraham Osdober, then Tomchei Rosh Yeshiva as our Gemara teacher for Perek HaZahav.

After that first year there wasn’t more the Tiferes could educationally provide me and with no other choices available, I got “sent upstairs” to Tomchai for matriculation into the mainstream system. From there I moved onto the Crown Heights Chovevei Torah with the Kvutza and then onto Smicha culminating in Chupa and Maasim Tovim.

After I left Tiferes, I gradually lost contact with Rabbi Lipskier. The years passed quickly as I moved from pioneering campus Shlichus, growing a family, professional career, traveling Mohel and more, spending over 20 years in South Florida. Eventually, I returned to buy a house next door to the Yeshiva in Morristown just in time to watch Rabbi Lipskier move out. We reconnected briefly. He went on to found the Seagate Yeshiva. I lost contact again.

Reconnecting
Roll the clock forward to this July 2026 Shabbos Mevorchim Av. We are spending Shabbos with our son and his family at the Lubavitch dominated Inner Circle summer home community in the Catskills. After Davening, they set up a full on kiddish. Being an “older chossid” and a new face they asked me to farbreng with them. I was in the mood and started reminiscing over a few LChaims about Morristown in the early days and being in the Rebbe’s presence as a nuvo baal teshuva in the early 70’s.

After the farbrengen, someone mentioned that Rabbi Lipskier’s youngest son Beryl was in the crowd and wanted to talk to me. We spoke the next day and he asked me if I’d like to speak with his father over a FaceTime call. Of course I agreed. A couple of days later, we set a time.

At the appointed time the call starts: Rabbi Lipskier is seated in a chair and Rebbetzin Ciril is moving on and off camera in the background. It’s immediately evident to me that Rabbi Lipskier is in poor health. It’s hard for me to understand what he’s saying and he’s not able to control his limbs.

I say, “Shalom Aleichem Rabbi Lipskier,” he says a few words. I can’t understand what he’s saying. Beryl offers to help me out and repeat his father’s words. I tell Rabbi Lipskier that I feel like someone who’s having yechidus with the Frierdiker Rebbe in the 1940’s. As you know, the Rebbe Rayatz suffered from Parkinson’s disease and it was very difficult to understand his speech. His secretary, Rabbi Moshe Leib Rodstein would listen and repeat the rebbe’s words. Sensing the situation and realizing I might not have another opportunity, I say “Rabbi Lipskier, thank you for all that you did for me. You molded me into a Chassid and gave me a foundation upon which to build my life. Rabbi Lipskier, I will never forget all you taught me and did for me.” His formerly strong body was broken but his mind was sharp.

Of course he remembered me, “Ahh Yankel the Schnieder” he said with happiness. I understood those words and they touched my heart (I‘ve been a Mohel for 45 years. Are there any other Tiiferes Mohalim?) ”Rabbi Lipskier,” I said, ”I especially remember your farbrengens, I grew sooo much in that year.” After that, I heard his final triumphant words to me: “Smirnoff!!” Then the call ended. For hours, I was glowing in the warmth and the memories. I had tears of thanks to Hashem who arranged for me to express my gratitude and appreciation in person.

In Modim D’Rabbanan we thank Hashem for the ability to say Thanks.

Like the phrase in Modim D’Rabbanan I say, Thank You, Hashem that you gave me the opportunity to say thank you to Rabbi Lipskier.

Never Miss a Headline!

Sign up for the COLlive Daily News Roundup and never miss a story

Opt In

• I would like to receive the collive newsletter

Follow Us!