‘Rambam 7:40’ Raffles Trip

“Rambam 7:40” recently marked the conclusion of its seven month Rambam drive at the Rabbinical College of Australia & NZ (Yeshivah Gedolah of Melbourne), at a Farbrengen held on Motzei Shabbos Chai Elul.

Several years ago, the “Rambam 7:40” club was founded by Shluchim of the Yeshivah Gedolah of Melbourne, in order to encourage Yeshivah students to learn the daily quota of the Rambam’s Mishneh Torah (Maimonides’ compendium of Jewish law), as per the Rebbe’s instructions. A daily Shiur is delivered by one of the Shluchim during the daily dinner break, at 7:40pm.

This year, “Rambam 7:40” enjoyed remarkable success, in no small part due to the vision of Dovi Lesches, a successful real estate entrepreneur based in New York City. At Dovi’s insistence, “Rambam 7:40” offered first rate incentives including a weekly pizza lunch (donated in part by Zavdiel’s Vegetarian Pizza & Falafel Bar), a monthly dinner catered by Daneli’s Deli, weekly and monthly raffles with prizes pegged to the amount of attendees, and the year-end grand-prize: An air ticket to spend Tishrei in Crown Heights.

Over the course of the year, many Yeshivah Gedolah students participated and became committed to regular Rambam study. The size of the Shiur steadily increased until more than 25 Bochurim were attending daily. Many Bochurim accepted upon themselves a Hachlota (committment) to learning the daily Rambam in the future.

The Bochurim celebrated their achievements at a recent Farbrengen conducted on Motzei Shabbos Chai Elul. One of the themes of the Farbrengen was the importance of learning Rambam each and every day, even when time is scarce. Being that “Rambam 7:40” is sponsored in memory of Dovi’s grandparents, Reb Moshe (ben Yishayahu) & Mrs Chana Leah (bas Yishayahu) Lesches, it was fitting that Rabbi Shmuel Lesches (of Yeshivah Gedolah) connected this theme with the commitment of Reb Moshe Lesches in rising at 2:45am every morning to devote several hours to Torah-study before his workday began, and the steadfastness of Mrs Chana Leah Lesches in ensuring the highest level of education for her children, even sacrificing everyday essentials in the process.

At the conclusion of the Farbrengen, a Goral (raffle) was drawn by Shliach Menachem Mendel Begun, who coordinates “Rambam 7:40” and delivers the daily Shiur in his uniquely captivating manner. There were 53 entries in the Goral, representing the 23 Bochurim who came to the Shiur for at least one month without missing a single day. The winner of the Goral was Menachem Mendel Rosenbaum, who did not miss more than one day of the Rambam Shiur in the last three months!

For further information regarding the Shluchim activities at the Yeshivah Gedolah of Melbourne, please visit www.rabbinicalcollege.edu.au.