A few years back, after much careful thought and debate, the Hanhala of Mesivta Menachem of Buffalo decided to make a change to the Gemorah L’girsa seder.
Instead of learning a later perek of the regular “Yeshivah Masechta”, the bochurim would learn a different Masechta altogether.
“It was not easy instituting this new system,” recalls Rabbi Mendel Munitz, Maggid Shiur L’girsa. “No one is ever comfortable tampering with the normal curriculum.”
The idea came from the bochurim themselves.
Learning a later perek of the same Masechta for Girsa wasn’t cutting it. The students wanted a refreshing “change of scenery” for the afternoon. Not just a new topic but a new sefer – a different Masechta that would keep them interested and motivated.
Rabbi Munitz envisioned the powerful feeling of fulfillment and accomplishment the bochurim would experience upon returning home with an entire Masechta “under their belt” and agreed.
With an emphasis on practical application and yiras shamayim topics, a rotation of small Misechtos was chosen. This year’s Masechta was Gemorah Tannis. The Masechta includes the famous “Pirka Dachasidusah” containing many stories about Tzaddikim and the wondrous things that happened to them.
The bochurim actually finished the Masechta shortly after Peasach. As a reward for their hard work, the Yeshivah took the bochurim on a surprise trip to Crown heights for the Great Lag BaOmer Parade.
At his birthday farbrengen on Shavous, the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yosef Munitz, expressed how proud he was of the bochurim’s accomplishments. Rabbi Munitz also expressed what tremendous nachas he received from the half a dozen alumni who came to Yeshiva to celebrate Shavous with him.
Coral Springs may be up and coming but Mesivta Menachem seems to be past that -I thought it was amazing that alumni should come in for their Rosh Yeshiva’s birthday – it shows how much they appreciate the Mesivta and how the Yeshiva keeps up a connection with its bochurim. Now that is a mesivta where I would like my sons to go to!
Coral Springs is the up and coming Mesivta!!
let the haters hate! buffalo you rock and you changed my life!!!!!
Because every good yeshiva runs the academics according to the students requests
If it is a chidush in Buffalo that the hanhalla listened to an academic request of their bochurim, so much so that it becomes newsworthy I would think twice about sending my children there.
The point is not hat they thought of some innovative idea that none others could have or have already been doing… it’s the fact that they actually LISTEN to the bochurim, and understand them. (It’s a gr8 idea and that’s why others have done it as well. )i am really impressed to say the least….
The chiddish isn’t that they use another mesechta for l’girsa – that happens in many yeshivos. rather, the chiddish is that the hanhalah listened to the bochurim, THAT my friends is “cutting edge”!!
YG Melbourne has been doing this for decades.
cutting edge? I’m sure its a wonderful mesivta but cutting edge because they learn a different masechta for girsa?
Great idea! Mesivta Menachem, always looking to improve and cater to the current needs of the Talmidim!
finally a Mesivta that gets it!
i dont get the big deal
choveviei torah has already been doing that for years
sometimes the bachourim do have good ideas MAYBE HANHOLOS SHOULD LISTEN A LITTLE MORE