Hundreds Celebrate Semicha at Annual Gala Event

Last week, hundreds of students of the “Lemaan Yilmedu” institute participated in the impressive annual event of “Chag HaSemichah,” which took place in Oholei Torah in Crown Heights, with the participation of rabbanim, maggidei shiurim, and family members who came to celebrate the important milestone of receiving certificates.

The event began with the emcee, Rabbi Chaim Yisrael Wilhelm, who reviewed the revolution that the Lemaan Yilmedu institute has created in the study of Halacha. Today, alongside Semichah studies in Issur V’Heter, there are no fewer than eighteen different study programs, with the participation of over five hundred talmidim, kein yirbu.

Afterwards, the maggid shiur Rabbi Zalman Mergui was invited to recite the Rebbe’s perek of Tehillim, and later the audience watched Mar’os Kodesh—a sicha from the Rebbe regarding the importance of the study of Halacha in general, and Semichah and Dayanus in particular.

The first speaker was R’ Shlomo Berezin, who shared the story of his journey toward Torah and mitzvah observance, and how the climax of that process was the in-depth study of the Shulchan Aruch to receive Semichah.

Rabbi Rafael David Banon, Rabbi and Dayan in the Chabad community of Montreal and a member of Lemaan Yilmedu’s Semichah committee, arrived specifically to attend Chag HaSemichah, and in his remarks extolled the dedicated work of the late Rabbi Zushe Wilhelm a’h.

The keynote address was delivered by Shliach Rabbi Ruvi New from Florida, who shared with the audience the impact that studying the laws of Kashrus over the course of a year had on the life of a busy Shliach, and even more so, the impact it had on all activities at the Chabad House.

Next invited was the Mara D’Asra and member of the Crown Heights Beis Din, Rabbi Yosef Yeshaya Braun, who serves as a member of the institute’s Semichah committee. In brief yet passionate remarks, he praised all the students for the great privilege of investing in organized, in-depth Halachic study, encouraging them to continue their studies.

The final speaker was R’ Daniel Kollin from California, who spoke about attending the Chag HaSemichah celebration last year as the father of a son completing his Semichah studies, and the decision that took root in his heart to follow in his son’s footsteps and earn his own Semichah certificate as well.

This was followed by the distribution of certificates, where hundreds of students received their long-awaited diplomas. Alongside those present in person, the names of graduates who were unable to attend the event were read aloud.