An impressive celebration was held at the Marina Roscha Jewish Community Center in Moscow to mark the conclusion of a major Torah learning campaign at Cheder Menachem, the central Talmud Torah in the Russian capital.

The program brought together the talmidim, melamdim, and talmidim hashluchim who helped organize and carry out the campaign. Over the course of two months, the talmidim reviewed and memorized more than 12,000 Mishnayos and 800 blatt Gemara, an achievement reached under the direction of Rabbi Yeshaya Dovber Gross.

A special highlight of the event was the reading of a letter sent by Russia’s Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Berel Lazar, founder and head of the mosdos. The letter was read by Rabbi Zalman Shimon HaKohen Deren, secretary of the Chief Rabbinate of Russia. In his letter, Rabbi Lazar quoted the Rebbe’s words about the power of Torah letters to purify the air, and emphasized to the children that their learning affects both the world around them and their own neshamos.

Addresses were also delivered by community director Rabbi Mordechai Weisberg and Talmud Torah director Rabbi Avraham Gevirtz, who praised the hasmada of the talmidim and the dedication of the staff, under the leadership of Moscow mosdos chinuch director Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Lipsker.

At the conclusion of the program, the talmidim received certificates of appreciation and personal gifts in recognition of their accomplishments. Raffles were then held for valuable prizes, including a special raffle for a coin received from the Rebbe.

The evening was enhanced by niggunim led by Rabbi Avraham Elimelech Gadz, director of the Chiyuch Halev educational institution, who also sang a special song together with his son, one of the Torah campaign honorees.

Photos: Ilya Dolgopolsky