Halikut Concludes With Final Competition and Siyum

Photos: Shalom Burkis/COLlive

Over 300 bochurim from around the world qualified to take part in the Halikut Siyum this year, with three finalists competing for the grand prize – all of the Rebbe’s seforim.

After months of preparation, three hundred Chabad bochurim gathered at Chabad of Great Neck, NY Thursday for a full day Halikut siyum event.

The bochurim first took the final test of this year’s Halikut program. The finalists then appeared in an on-stage competition where they were tested by the choizrim on a full sefer of Likkutei Sichos of the Rebbe.

Now in its fourth year, the Halikut program is revolutionary in its effectiveness on bochurim’s learning. Each bochur takes three general tests which then qualify him to attend the Halikut Siyum, where the grand test is taken on all the Sichos at once. This in effect requires the Bochurim to review the Sichos many times so that they remember all the details of the entire sefer.

For the on-stage competition, moderated by Rabbi Amram Farkash, Bochurim proved their knowledge on a full Sefer of Likkutei Sichos. They were tested by Choizrim Rabbi Nachman Schapiro and Rabbi Leibel Schapiro.

The winner of all the Rebbe’s Sforim was Zali Lifshitz of Boise, Idaho, a student in Morristown Yeshiva. The other two finalists were Meir Greenberg of Morristown Yeshiva and Mendel Gourarie of Detroit Yeshiva.

The program concluded with a Banquet dinner addressed by Rabbi Yosef Lustig and a keynote address by Rabbi Menachem Schechter.

Special thanks were given to the organizers of the Halikut program, a project of Vaad Hatmimim led with dedication by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Altein, together with Halikut’s organizers Tzvi Alperowitz, Boruch Ceitlin, Peretz Garelik and Mendel Goldman. Thanks were also given to all the shluchim of each participating yeshiva that made Halikut possible, especially Mendel Azimov, Levi Katz, Levi Sudak, Berel Marazow, Berry Zirkind, Schneur Wilhelm and Menachem Schmerling for all their tireless effort.