100,000 Lines in Los Angeles

As every year, from Yud Shevat through Yud Alef Nissan, talmidim of Cheder Menachem in Los Angeles worked to prepare a special and most befitting present for the Rebbe in honor of Yud Alef Nissan with their annual Mishnayos Be’Al peh program; together, the talmidim learned and were tested on a total of over 100,000 lines of Mishnayos, Tanya, Siddur and Yediyos Kloliyos.

This number includes: 8,932 Mishnayos – including 139 complete Masechtos and 1,100 Perakim.

Three talmidim learned and were successfully tested on the entire Seder Mo’ed, while one of them was also tested on Seder Zera’im and another on Seder Nezikin. Other accomplishments include talmidim that were tested on the first 12 Perakim of Tanya.

On Sunday, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, a special ceremony was held at the Cheder where the talmidim were awarded Seforim as prizes for their efforts & achievements; Rabbonim, Roshei Yeshivos, Shluchim, Mashpiyim, parents and friends joined together to congratulate the students and recognize their achievements.

Rabbi Mendel Greenbaum, Menahel of Cheder Menachem began the celebration by welcoming everyone by sharing a letter of the Rebbe sent to the Cheder in L.A. in 5738 thanking talmidim for their hachlatos, increasing in learning in honor of 11 Nissan. Words of bracha were shared by Rabbi Shimon HaLevi Raichik, one of the Rabbonim in Los Angeles and Rav of Cong. Levi Yitzchak.

Rabbi Greenbaum then called upon Yossi Lipsker of Kita Ches, whose accomplishments came in 2nd place from a Cheder of over 270 talmidim, to make a Siyum HaRambam. Yossi, who himself learned three perakim Rambam throughout the year, reviewed one of the Rebbe’s Hadranim before making the Siyum.

Menachem Farkash, who learned the most in the MBP program, was then called up to begin the Rambam’s Sefer HaYad, which he preceded with a D’var Torah.

Rabbi Sholom Heidingsfeld, the coordinator of the Mishnayos Be’al Peh program, announced the accomplishments of this year’s MBP, which was followed by honoring the top 4 talmidim with the highest accomplishments, to receive their prizes; Menachem Farkash of Kita Hey, Yossi Lipsker of Kita Ches, Levi Greenbaum of Kita Daled and Yossi Wolowik of Kitah Vov.

The crowd was then treated to the Cheder’s Boys Choir, which sang a Niggun in honor of Shnas hakhel (without music, due to Sefiras HaOmer). After this, every Talmid received a prize according to his achievements.

A special presentation was made to R’ Yankel Ginsburg, the “Zevulun” of the Cheder’s MBP Program, sponsoring the Seforim on a yearly basis, L’iluy Nishmas his father, Reb Dov Reuven ben Dovid HaLevi OBM, being presented with a leather-bound, pocket set of Rambam (this was done in connection with the Siyum HaRambam as well as for his 50th birthday, which was celebrated on the day of the MBP celebration.

Some of the Rabonim & Shluchim who attended include: Rabbi Shimon Raichik, Rabbi Ezra B. Schochet, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Ohr Elchonon, Rabbi Yosef Shusterman, one of the Rabbonim of Anash in Los Angeles and Shliach to Chabad of N. Beverly Hills, Rabbi Mendel Schapiro, Mashpiya in Yeshivas Ohr Elchonon, Rabbi J. Gordon, Shliach and Menahel of Mosdos Chabad in the Valley, Rabbi Dovid Thaler & Rabbi Amram Farkash, Menahalim of the Mesivta Ohr Elchonon, as well as Rabbonim and Shluchim from all over Southern California. Rabbi Velvel Farkash of Crown Heights was also in attendance, representing his father HaRav Yekusiel Farkash of Yerushayaim.