By COLlive reporter
Brandishing 450-year-old books alongside sleek new laptops, 13 students received rabbinic ordination on Sunday through Online Smicha’s Institute for Rabbinical Studies, a Chabad-Lubavitch program that is now in its fifth year.
Rabbi Nachman Wilhelm, Rosh Yeshiva of the Institute, presented certificates in the Razag Ballroom in Crown Heights to the new rabbis.
Their names are: Rabbi Simcha Aaron Brandeis, Rabbi Binyomin Diamond, Rabbi Shlomo Dubnick, Rabbi Yossi Feigelstock, Rabbi Moshe Gutman, Rabbi Daniel Ganjian, Rabbi Yechiel Krisch, Rabbi Yosef Lavine, Rabbi Mordechai Mounessa/, Rabbi Dovid Starer and Rabbi Akiva Turner.
The motley group included 2 yeshiva students studying in South Africa (who were not in attendance), an electrician, professors and a pediatrician.
Online Smicha’s intense course of study can run anywhere from one year to nearly three years, and involves regular classes given by Rabbi Wilhelm via online video conference. There are two tracks within the Institute—a standard course of study geared toward working professionals, and an accelerated version intended for yeshiva students.
All graduates of the program must demonstrate proficiency in the Shulchan Aruch and major commentaries, covering the areas of Basar B’Cholov (the laws of meat and dairy), Taaruvos (the laws of forbidden mixtures), Melicha (the laws of salting meat) and select portions of Shabbos and Maachalos Asuros.
After each section of Shulchan Aruch, students are tested by noted scholars, including Rabbi Dovid Schochet, President of the Toronto Rabbinical Council and Rabbi Moshe Gutnick, President of the Organisation of Rabbis of Australia.
At the smicha celebration in Brooklyn, the new Rabbis and their families and friends enjoyed a full course meal while listening to Torah thoughts from guest lecturers, including a keynote address by Rabbi Ezra Schochet, Rosh Yeshiva of the West Coast Talmudical Seminary in Los Angeles, California.
The event was emceed by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shagalov.
Online Smicha is currently accepting applications for the upcoming summer zman. For more, visit onlinesmicha.com or email [email protected]
Mazal Tov, Rabbi Brandeis!!! May your energy and clarity continue to serve you and your community well!
The Ehven family
Mazal Tov Rabbi Yechiel Krisch!!
Kvod Harav!!!
Go Heislers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mazal Tov.
Your neighbors
Having gotten my Semicha when I was 40, I can tell you that this is most heart-warming. Groiser Yashar Koach for a big Kiddush HaShem.
yesher koach to all the new found rabbis. congratulations to smicha brandeis for this great accomplishment. may you go from strength to strength and never become satisfied. always thirsty to do more. thanks for your inspiration.
Yossi, may you go mechayil to chayil. We are so proud!
The Davidsons
I was at the event it was really incredible. It was a true experience of kiddush lubavitch. Each having a beautiful story to share about how they became frum. It was so moving to see their shluchim there with them. Keep up the amazing work!!!!
U inspire all of us