History has been made in Oholei Torah by thirty-eight students!
Every year, sixth grade talmidim in Oholei Torah are motivated to learn Tanya Ba’al Peh – the Frierdiker Rebbe and the Rebbe greatly encouraged bochurim to learn the first twelve perakim by heart before Bar Mitzvah.
How many talmidim actually reach that goal, though?
Past years: an average of three students.
This year: a record-breaking thirty-eight students!
How did that happen?
The change began last summer, when the sixth grade staff decided to initiate a campaign to strengthen and motivate more talmidim to learn Tanya Ba’al Peh. Talmidim were given a comprehensive calendar and curriculum, including daily learning portions to keep up with the intense schedule. Sixth grade Rebbi Rabbi Dovber Blau developed a unique mnemonic technique of memorizing the perakim through song, recording and practicing many perakim with his Talmidim.
How many more students will accept the challenge? The sixth grade staff wondered. From our average of three students a year, will the numbers double? Triple? Maybe even quadruple?
It didn’t take long for the transformation to become noticeable!
Whether aboard a bus, in the midst of an activity, or awaiting dismissal, the talmidim used every opportunity to practice, memorize, and review. They uplifted the air around them, and their parents acknowledge that they transformed their homes as well. They invested hours upon hours of committed effort – and utilized every moment of their spare time to the fullest.
And now, at the end of the year, thirty-eight committed talmidim know the entire first twelve perakim of Tanya by heart!
Here’s how Rabbi Yehoshua Lustig, principal of grades 6-7, described it: “We had hatzlacha way beyond what was originally estimated. This was truly a historic milestone!”
A celebration of this massive accomplishment was the highlight of Oholei Torah’s annual Mishnayos Baal Peh Chalukas Haprasim event.
As parents beamed and the audience applauded, every talmid who achieved this tremendous accomplishment received a certificate, seforim and a cash prize, generously sponsored leilui nishmas Nosson ben Moshe ע”ה Ashkenazi.
Then came the surprise of the day – a friend of Rabbi Lustig, Rabbi Yossi Katz, was so inspired by the accomplishment of these talmidim that he gave each one a surprise gift – a set of Sefer Ma’amarim Melukat from the Rebbe!
Other features of the event included:
Every talmid with over 400 Mishnayos Ba’al Peh points was honored on stage.
Rabbi Mendel Levin, Tzivos Hashem Base Commander of Oholei Torah, ran a Promotion Ceremony and distributed the many prizes earned.
Every talmid who participated in the Iyun track of the Sefer Hamitzvos Chidon and received over a 90% received a special trophy.
Rabbi Lustig concluded the program by thanking the assistant principal Rabbi Yoni Lefkowitz, Tzivos Hashem director Rabbi Mendel Levin, and all the esteemed mechanchim of grades 6-7. He added a special thank you to the sixth grade Rebbeim: Rabbi Osher Broh, Rabbi Gamiel Dray, Rabbi Leibel Vogel, Rabbi Yitzchok Klein, and Rabbi Dovber Blau for their endless efforts, guidance and support in helping their talmidim reach this monumental goal.
Oholei Torah would like to give a tremendous Mazel Tov to these thirty-eight students who made history!
One can give the Rebbe. Especially before zman matan toroseinu…