29 New Rabbis in Los Angeles

Despite a local black-out, the atmosphere was bright and joyful as parents, friends and community joined to honor the accomplishment of the newly ordained rabbonim from Kollel Tiferes Menachem in Los Angeles and to mark the culmination of a remarkable 15th year at the Smicha Yeshiva.

The courses of learning included in-depth study of halacha with shiurim from Rosh HaKollel Rabbi Dovid Schmukler, regular shiurim in Chassidus with renown Mashpia and author Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, as well as regular shiurim with prominent local rabbi, Rabbi Elchonon Tauber on contemporary Halachic issues and practical Halacha shiurim with Rabbi Shimon Raichik, Rav Mara D’Asra of Los Angeles. Classes on unconventional topics in Torah were presented by business entrepreneur Zvi Ryzman, Winner of the Jerusalem Prize for Torah Literature. The students had the opportunity to examine lambs for kashrus subsequent to a shechita demonstration performed by veteran shochet and chossid, Rabbi Zalmen Schmukler.

The curriculum was augmented by a revolutionary course on dating and marriage with Rabbi Manis Friedman, a real-time, practical class on public speaking with Rabbi Moshe Bryski, and an unforgettable Shabbaton at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Shalom Laytin in Tuscon, Arizona.

Rabbi Dovid Schochet, Chief Rabbi of Toronto, Rabbi Boruch Hertz, Rav of Lubavitch in Chicago and Dayan Levi Y. Raskin, Rav of Lubavitch in London farhered the bochurim. Among the speakers to address the crowd were Rabbi Boruch Shlomo Cunin – Head Shliach to the West Coast, Rabbi Ezra Schochet – Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad, Dayan Levi Y. Raskin – Rav of Lubavitch Community of London, ordaining rabbi and proud parent, Rabbi Tzvi Freeman of Chabad.org fame – Mashpia, and Rabbi Dovid Schmukler – Rosh HaYeshiva of Kollel Tiferes Menachem.

Rabbi Tzemach Feller served as master of ceremonies and Rabbi Yossi Klein addressed the crowd, delivering an impressive Dvar Torah and expressing gratitude for an exceptional year. A special thank you presentation to the Laytin Family was made in gratitude for giving the Smicha Yeshiva a truly wonderful Shabbaton experience, and a video featuring the students from Kollel Tiferes Menachem gave the audience a glimpse into the nature of the bochurim’s regimen and achievements.

Mazal tov to Rabbis Levi Baitelman, Yudi Begun, Shalom Benzecry, Chaim Bryski, Levi Chazan, Mendel Dinnerman, Sholom Ber Eagle, Tzemach Feller, Dovid Goldberg, Mendel Kantor, Yossi Klein, Leivy Lapidus, Shmuel Laytin, Mendel Lipszyc, Nissy Neparstek, Dov Ber Rabinowitz, Yakov Raskin, Eli Sapochkinsky, Mendel Schmukler, Dovid Shapiro, Eli Simpson, Shmuli Simpson, Rafi Segelstein, Yoel Dov Spinner, Ezra Wiemer, Binyomin Warmflash, Mendel Weinberg, Mendy Weiss and Mendel Wuench.

Participants left with an uplifting sense of warmth and inspiration… and light! Despite all! As Rabbi Schochet remarked, it is just as the Menorah from the Bais Hamikdosh provides light to the world, and not the other way around.