Chabad of Pittsburgh celebrated its first graduation of the Semichas Chaver Program (SCP) in a moving ceremony attended by families and friends on Sunday, June 20.
Founded by Rabbi Elyada Goldwicht 3 years ago under the OU, it is an innovative halachic study program “with a specialized focus on the ethical meaning of halacha,” the OU said.
Upon completion of each topic and successfully passing a written exam every member receives a certificate of accomplishment and divrei bracha signed by the OU’s Rabbi Hershel Schachter and Jerusalem Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar.
The program branched out to cover Chabad poskim under the auspices of Rabbi Betzalel Bassman and Rabbi Avrohom Jacks. They said the event in Pittsburg was “the first such graduation for Semichas Chaver Chabad, and an important milestone in the fast-growing pilot program.”
The program is already partway through its next course, on the practical ramifications of Melachos on Shabbos. Other programs are opening across Lubavitch communities in North America and the world. As Rabbi Bassman himself might say, talk to your local Rabbi for more information.
Lubavitch Center of Pittsburgh under the leadership of Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld, head shliach of Western Pennsylvania and Rov of the Pittsburgh Lubavitch Community, has established a Bais Medrash Division, to encourage limmud hatorah among the growing Chabad Community.
On the day marked in the secular calendar as Fathers Day, fathers from Pittsburgh Anash celebrated their completion of the 18 week course on Hilchos Muktzah with Rabbi Betzalel Bassman.
After a celebratory luncheon and a friendly competition on Kahoot, those who passed the final test received their diplomas signed by Rabbi Rosenfeld, Sydney Dayan Rabbi Yehoram Ulman and Rabbi Gedalya Oberlander of Monsey.
Ten community members, busy husbands and fathers, reviewed all the material learned and passed a test to receive their Semichas Chaver Certificate.
Rabbi Chaim Itkin, director of the Beis Medrash Division of Lubavitch Center of Pittsburgh, was in attendance. He heads the Bais Medrash Division which arranges and provides shiurim, daily learning programs, Kollel Tiferes Zkainim Levi Yitzchok, and many learning opportunities for local Lubavitchers.
“The community response has been very positive, and it has Boruch Hashem seen much growth in its ten months since its founding,” Rabbi Itkin said.
“It is very inspiring to see how much effort was put in by all the participants to learn and review the test material,” he said. “It’s only possible with the ongoing support of their families, and it is heartwarming to see the happy faces of the wives and children by the event, so proud of their family member’s great accomplishments.”
DovBer Naiditch, a writer in Pittsburgh, is only one of the many busy professionals and family men who attend the program weekly. “This meant a lot to me,” he said. “Almost more so than when I originally got Semicha as a young man. To be surrounded by my family and receive this certificate, it felt like I was making such a roshem on my children and even myself.”
