Bochurim Host Menorah Lighting

By Rabbinical College of Canada

The Rabbinical College of Canada, a private Jewish school for boys, has been established in Montreal in 1941. Ever since it opened up its doors, our institution has been educating between 300-400 children in any given year. We are a unique school, in that we offer to our students, a unique education based on our authentic Orthodox Judaic principles.

We, at the Rabbinical College of Canada, are very proud of our teenage students who, after school hours, are involved in outreach programs. These boys, all of 13-14 years of age, spend every Friday afternoon reaching out to their dear Jewish brethren and share the light of Judaism with them. As soon as they are dismissed from school on Friday, they go all around Montreal, to various businesses run by Jewish owners, don Tefillin on all Jewish employees and simply wish them a “Good Shabbat”. Their short visits enlighten the employees, infuse a sense of Jewish identity and Jewish pride into them and, at the same time, put a smile on all their faces. What a great way to terminate their hard week at work!

Last week, seven of our students took great part in the important mission of publicizing the miracle of Chanukah. To list them by name: Meir Shlomo Ceitlin, Sholom Ber Ceitlin, Menachem Mendel Gurary, Yanky Hilel, Yisroel Kaplan, Yossi Scheiner, and Mendel Wenger. They are a true inspiration to us all!

On Tuesday evening, December 11, 2012, the fourth night of Chanukah, they rented a room in the “Decarie Square” shopping center in order to host a Chanukah party for the businessmen that they have met during their weekly Friday visits. They have begun to develop a close relationship with these Jewish entrepreneurs.

As one of the acquaintances of the boys expressed at the Chanukah party: “These boys make me proud to be Jewish!”

Our students lit the Menorah with all the attendees, explained to them the background history of the Holiday of Chanukah and instilled the joyous Chanukah spirit into everyone, through lively singing and dancing to the melodies of Chanukah songs. They also gave out delicious potato Latkes and doughnuts (foods traditionally eaten on Chanukah), for all to enjoy. Thanks to their enthusiasm and pride in their Jewish religion, they managed to attract a crowd of approximately 15 people who stopped their shopping and celebrated Chanukah with them.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate our students for their wonderful job and tremendous effort. Unlike most adolescents who occupy their spare time with various activities, at times, not very beneficial to them; we are confident that our students will continue to utilize their time wisely and keep illuminating the world at large with the light of Torah and Judaism.