Toronto Mesivta Bochurim Master Maseches Kesubos Baal Peh

Six bochurim from Toronto Mesivta have successfully completed the entire Maseches Kesubos Baal Peh Bivas Achas—an extraordinary achievement that highlights their diligence, consistency, and deep commitment to Torah.

The mesaymim are: Shalom DovBer Bronstein, Menachem Mendel Goldberg, Yehuda Kalman Marlow, Shneur Zalman Oster, Moshe Rosenberg and Levi Vechter.

Maseches Kesubos—often referred to as Shas Katan due to its breadth and depth—spans 112 blatt and is considered among the most challenging masechtos to master Baal Peh.

This remarkable accomplishment was guided by Hatomim Gilad Yosef Gerschman, Shliach and head of Mivtza Torah for Shiur Gimmel. Gilad dedicated countless hours to periodically farhering the bochurim, and he himself mastered the entire Maseches.

Throughout most of the year, the bochurim were tested on 8 daf at once every two weeks (sometimes 14 per month). Each test was a thorough 20+ minute spot check where the shliach would start any piece and the bochurim would have to continue immediately through every detail of the shakloh vetaryoh (flow of the Gemoroh). Gilad would say that it never ceased to amaze him at how well the bochurim knew the Gemoroh and how much effort they put in during their free time. All the bochurim in the Mesivta knew that if you walk into Zal during supper, you will see someone learning Gemoroh Baal peh. Their commitment served as a powerful source of inspiration for all around them.

During summer seder, the bochurim then did Chazoroh (revision) on the whole masechtoh again, 6 daf a day to be ready for at test on the entire Maschtoh Bivas Achas!

The final farher was conducted by Harav Yaakov Kaufman, Rov of Tehillos Yisrael and a respected halachic authority in the Bathurst–Lawrence community. Reb Shie Fuhrer, Rov, Rosh Kollel, and Dayan of the Bobov community, renowned for his wisdom and guidance, also received and challenged the bochurim with a series of demanding questions together with words of inspiration.

Rabbi Fuhrer remarked:

“Even before I test you, the very fact that you came into this room confident that you can be tested on the entire Maseches Kesubos means you are Talmidei Chachomim. This means that when you walk on the street, you represent Hashem and the Torah. When you are kind and respectful, people will say: This is what learning Torah does to you.”

After just 25 minutes, Harav Yaakov Kaufman observed:

“I don’t need to continue testing you—you clearly all know it so well.”

The Rebbe has spoken on numerous occasions about the immeasurable nachas that comes from bochurim learning and mastering an entire masechta Baal Peh, emphasizing that the true essence of a bochur is to be deeply immersed in Torah. As Rabbi Zalman Oster noted, the dedication and perseverance of these talmidim embody exactly that vision.

May these bochurim continue to grow in Torah and Yiras Shamayim, bringing tremendous nachas to the Rebbe, their families, and the entire community.