By COLlive staff
Photos by: Yossi Fajnland
The Halichos Olam Chidon was held on Wednesday night, bringing together 23 contestants from Oholei Torah and United Lubavitcher Yeshiva of Crown Street.
The Halichos Olam program, developed for seventh-grade students, aims to inspire and guide talmidim in their mastery of Hilchos Tefillin, based on the sefer Shvach Yokor.
Launched by the Igud Menahalei Yeshivos of Crown Heights, the program is a collaborative effort between Oholei Torah and United Lubavitcher Yeshiva of Crown Street, with a focus on deepening the talmidim’s knowledge of Halacha and strengthening their Yiras Shamayim.
Founded in memory of Rabbi Yehuda Kalman Marlow OBM, whom the Rebbe referred to as an Ish Halacha, the program continues his legacy of halachic knowledge and dedication to halachic clarity.
Throughout the year, participants took a series of written tests. Those scoring above 80% earned monetary rewards, with higher rewards for scores exceeding 90%. The top contestants advanced to the Chidon, where they showcased their mastery in front of an audience of parents, melamdim, peers, and community members. The crowd was visibly impressed by the talmidim’s ability to quote halachos nearly verbatim.
The Chidon began with the recital of the Rebbe’s Kapitel Tehillim by Menachem Mendel HaKohen Blau, a talmid of United Lubavitcher Yeshiva. A Dvar Torah was then presented by Shimshon HaKohen Katz, a talmid of Oholei Torah. Rabbi Yitzchok Wolf shared divrei hisorerus, inspired by the talmidim’s hard work and dedication.
Chidon questions were posed by Rabbi Eli Simpson, principal of grades 6-7 in Oholei Torah, and Rabbi Menachem Mendel Scharf, principal of United Lubavitcher Yeshiva’s Mechina division. Judges included Rabbi Mendel Eidelman, Meisiv in Oholei Torah Zal, and Rabbi Levi Zirkind, 7th grade Rebbi in Oholei Torah.
The program was coordinated by Rabbi Hershel Lustig, Rabbi Yosef Simpson, and Rabbi Leibel Newman of the Igud Menahalei Yeshivos, as well as Rabbi Yoni Lewkowicz, s’gan menahel of grades 6-7, and Mrs. Devi Baumgarten from the administration team at Oholei Torah.
Chidon Winners:
1st Place:
Mordechai Eliron, United Lubavitch Yeshiva
Menachem Mendel Hakohen Blau, United Lubavitch Yeshiva
Chaim Yarmush, United Lubavitch Yeshiva
Shimshon Hakohen Katz, Oholei Torah
2nd Place:
Yisroel Moshe Benshimon, United Lubavitch Yeshiva
Shmuel Hakohen Vaisfiche, Oholei Torah
Yitzchak Hakohen Engel, Oholei Torah
Avraham Yitzchak Rendler, United Lubavitch Yeshiva
3rd Place:
Levi Halevi Duchman, Oholei Torah
Chaim Weiser, Oholei Torah
Binyamin Simpson, United Lubavitch Yeshiva
Efraim Shimon Rimler, United Lubavitch Yeshiva
Blessed
Well done!!!