Los Angeles Ordains 28 Rabbis

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Yossie Percia

The atmosphere was charged with joy and pride. Parents, friends and community, hailing from overseas and across the States joined to honor the achievement of the newly ordained rabbonim from Kollel Tiferes Menachem in Los Angeles and to mark the culmination of a remarkable 16th year at the Smicha Yeshiva.

The courses of learning include in-depth study of halacha with shiurim from Rosh HaKollel Rabbi Dovid Schmukler, regular shiurim in Chassidus by author Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, night seder in Chassidus with shiurim from Rabbi Schmukler, as well as regular shiurim with prominent local dayan, Rabbi Elchonon Tauber on contemporary Halachic issues. Rabbi Mendel Aidelman serves as a shoel umaishiv, ready to answer questions as they come up.

Classes on unconventional topics in Torah were presented by business entrepreneur Zvi Ryzman, Winner of the Jerusalem Prize for Torah Literature.

Other lecturers and presenters include Rabbi Yanky Raichik and Mr. Bruce Bloom of the Chevra Kadisha, Rabbi Mottie Politiko for a hands-on Hagolah shiur, Rabbi Reuven Nathanson of the OU for a real-life class on today’s consumer kashrus, a course from sofer and mechaber sefer Rabbi Dovid Bressman on STA”M, and a hands-on shechita and melicha class with Rabbi Niasoff.

The curriculum was augmented by Kollel Tiferes Menachem’s third annual all-day course on dating and marriage with Rabbi Manis Friedman especially for the talmidei haYeshiva on the beautiful campus of Chabad of Pacific Palisades.

Rabbi Dovid Schochet, Chief Rabbi of Toronto and Rabbi Boruch Hertz, Rav of Lubavitch in Chicago farhered the bochurim.

Among the speakers to address the crowd were Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin – Head Shliach to the West Coast, Rabbi Hertz, Rabbi Chaim Hanoka, shliach to Pasadena and proud parent and Rabbi Dovid Schmukler – Rosh HaYeshiva of Kollel Tiferes Menachem.

Rabbi Mendel Barber served as master of ceremonies and Rabbi Yitzchok Lutsky addressed the crowd, delivering an impressive Dvar Torah and expressing gratitude for an exceptional year. A video featuring the students from Kollel Tiferes Menachem gave the audience a glimpse into the nature of the bochurim’s regimen and achievements.

The new ordained rabbis are Mendel Abelsky, Izzy Adelist, Mendel Baitelman, Mendel Barber, Leibel Bendet, Mendel Bergstein, Menachem Dahan, Sruly Friedman, Levi Goldfarb, Leibel Hanoka, Mendel Harlig, Reuvy Havin, Naftoli Junik, Zisha Kraman, Yisroel Lifshitz, Eli Lowinger, Yitzchok Lutsky, Mordechai Moscowitz, Yossi Moshel, Mendy Newfield, Avrohom Boruch Phillips, Dovid Raigorodsky, Mendel Raskin, Mendel Reicher, Mendel Tenenbaum, Hershy Weinstein, Chaim Weitman and Mendel Zirkind.

Participants left with an uplifting sense of warmth and inspiration. As one parent expressed, “What they get here, they don’t get anywhere else! This year has really exceeded all of our expectations. Thank you!”