Renowned author and possek Rabbi Gavriel Zinner expressed his admiration after testing thirty five students of the Machon Lemaan Yilmedu semicha program in Crown Heights, led by Rabbi Zushe Wilhelm.
It’s not every day that you see such a sight.
Thirty-five balabatim, businessmen, men with families, sitting with a distinguished rav, one of the great poskim of our generation, and responding to complicated questions on the laws of meat and milk, clarifying what is the dispute between the Shach and the Taz and explaining what the difference in views is between the Mechaber and the Rema.
It was an additional test in the semicha program of Machon Lemaan Yilmedu which took place with Rabbi Gavriel Zinner, author of Nitei Gavriel and member of the machon’s semicha committee.
The students came to the test well-prepared after learning the halachos of meat and milk in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deiah, in shiurim given by the head of the Machon, Rabbi Zushe Wilhelm, who is known for his ability to explain things clearly. With his help, even complicated, difficult topics were made clear and understandable to all.
The hanhala of the Machon made it their goal to make learning halacha accessible for working people, men with families, without compromising on the level of the learning, so that each one, whether he is a rebbi in yeshiva or a mashgiach of kashrus, a doctor or a lawyer, can master the curriculum and receive a semicha certificate.
Classes are held in the evening after a day’s work and all classes are also on zoom. Afterward, students can watch replays of the shiur on the machon’s website if they were unable to participate in the shiur.
They understand the challenges involved and puts in great effort in preparing the material on the highest level and, at the same time, in the most understandable, simplest way.
The Shulchan Aruch is translated into English and printed in a new edition with summaries of the Shach and Taz on the page. Booklets with summaries of all the material were also produced.
If all that weren’t enough, detailed, colorful presentations to explain the halachos were prepared to make abstract or unclear concepts perfectly understandable.
All these efforts were successful and at the test this week one could see how the students had mastered the material and were proficient in the halachos that they studied. Rabbi Zinner clearly enjoyed the session and he expressed his amazement over the participants’ expertise in the halachos that they studied and encouraged them to continue reviewing the material again and again.
The hanhala of the Machon are pleased with the results and say that after opening three classes which filled up rapidly, they are planning an opening additional classes in Boro Park and Monsey.
For additional details, please visit www.lemaanyilmedu.com
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