LA Cheder Awards for Mishnayos Baal Peh

On Sunday 13 Sivan, talmidim of Cheder Menachem Los Angeles, together with their Mechanchim, parents, grandparents, relatives and friends gathered together to mark the culmination of over two months of learning Mishnayos and Tanya Baal Peh, as a present to the Rebbe in honor of Yud Alef Nissan.

Rabbi Mendel Greenbaum, Menahel of the Cheder began the formal part of the event, welcoming the Talmidim, their parents, grandparents and guests. After sharing a few words giving Yasher Koach to the Talmidim, the Rabbeim and the older Talmidim in Cheder who helped out in all aspects of the program, he introduced Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, Head Shliach in California, who spoke to the Talmidim and the parents, reminding them of the great Nachas they bring to the Rebbe who is constantly with us.

Rabbi Yosef HaLevi Shusterman, Shliach to Beverly Hills and Rov of Anash, spoke next, sharing Divrei Bracha, and reminding the Talmidim to keep reviewing that which they have learnt Baal Peh.

Special Hakoras HaTov was expressed to Reb Yankel Ginsburg and family, who are the “Zevulun” of the Mishnayos Baal Peh program, sponsoring the prizes given to the Talmidim, Liluy Nishmas his father Reb Dov Reuven ben Reb Dovid HaLevi obm. Also to an anonymous sponsor who sponsored Liluy Nishmas Reb Isser ben Reb Aryeh Leib obm and HaShliach Horav Yehoshua Binyomin ben Reb Sholom Dovber Gordon obm. Another sponsorship was given by the family of the noted Mechanech who was at the forefront of promoting Limmud Mishnayos Baal Peh, Horav Levi Yitzchok ben Reb Lipman Shapiro obm.

Rabbi Sholom Heidingsfeld, the coordinator of the Program gave a brief overview of this year’s accomplishments, highlighting the fact that this year we learned the most lines of Tanya in the 19 years of mishnayos Baal peh, reaching a total of over 16, 500 lines which include 212 complete Perakim. In mIshnayos, the totals were over 25,000 lines which include,613 Mishnayos, 428 perakim, 56 Masechtos and one Seder and a total of 74,000 lines of Torah Baal Peh, including the above and many lines of Siddur and Yediyos Kloliyos. Every Talmid participating has a share in the Nachas we have brought to the Rebbe.

A special announcement was made regarding Talmidim who are working on completing the first 12 Perakim of Tanya Baal peh and four Talmidim, who have already learned more than 7 Perakim of Tanya were called up to the stage, including 2 4th graders, Levi Yitzchok Hecht and Mendel Zaetz, 6th grader Avremele Levitansky and 7th grader Yitzchok Wolowik who has already learned 12 Perokim Baal Peh. Special mention to the Weiss family, whose three sons are close by with more than 5 perakim already fluent on their lips.

This year’s achievements include the Talmidim of Rabbi Blasberg’s 3rd grade Girsa class who learned the entire Masechta Megilah and Rosh Hashanah Baal Peh and are in the middle of Masechta Taanis, with the teitch. Special mention was made to Yossi Heidingsfeld, 7th grade, who learned the entire Seder Moed Baal Peh.

New for this year was also the addition of Gemara Baal peh in certain classes. A presentation was made to 8 boys in Kita Ches who learned the entire Perek Hakones Baal Peh and were tested Shakla Vetarya with the Rashis. And to 8 Talmidim who learned a significant amount of Perek Hamafkid Baal peh.

Also new to this year was the presentation of awards at the ceremony for Mivtza Torah – Gemara Bifnim, a program by the Igud Hamelamdim. Talmidim in Kitah Vav who excelled in their tests on Perek Hamafkid received seforim according to their points earned in the Mivtza.

After this, every talmid received their prize according to their achievements.

A special thank you to Mrs. Ruchie Stillman, R’ Nochum Labkowsky, Rabbi Leibel Cohen, Mr. Sam Kustanovich, all the Rebbeim and Menahalim of the Cheder and the Cheder board for all their help in ensuring the success of the day’s events.