After twelve months of hatzlocha’dike immersive limud haTorah with chayus and simcha, talmidim of Cheder Ohr Menachem concluded their school year with a spirited Siyum ceremony. The event captured the Cheder’s unique spirit: immersive Torah learning, chassidishe warmth, and unwavering hiskashrus to the Rebbe.

After twelve months of hatzlocha’dike immersive limud haTorah with chayus and simcha, Kitos Daled, Hey, Vov, and Zayen concluded their school year with a spirited Chagigas Siyum ceremony in the grand ULY hall. The event captured the Cheder’s unique spirit — immersive Torah learning, chassidishe warmth, and unwavering hiskashrus to the Rebbe.

The program opened with a sicha of the Rebbe about the power of a siyum, emphasizing how each milestone is a springboard for further growth. Emceed by the menahel, Rabbi Mendel Yusewitz, the event moved with grace and purpose.

The crowd then rose to recite the Rebbe’s kapital, read by R’ Itche Mishulavin – representing the Cheder’s Vaad Haruchni, with special kavana for our brothers in Eretz Yisroel. Rabbi Zalman Goldstein – a lead hanhala member, read the Rebbe’s letter addressing the Chagigas Hashiyum. Rabbi Goldstein proceeded to summarize the Rebbe’s words on the avoda of summer break for the talmidim hamesaymim and for their parents.

Birkas Kohanim was led by Rabbi Dovber Bryski, melamed of Kita Daled, setting a tone of heartfelt tefilla. After which, Rabbi Bryski gave each talmid his end-of-year teuda and personal shevach.

Harav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, Badatz Mara D’asra and a proud parent, addressed the talmidim on how to combat the yetzer hara and overpower him to sit and learn, and how dear it is to Hashem when this takes place in the summer months.

The vice principal, Rabbi Yossi Overlander, invited the highest-ranking Tzivos Hashem officers of the Cheder to lead us in the Twelve Pesukim. He also recognized great achievements of various talmidim in MBP with a special certificate for chassan and sgan hakita.

Rabbi Levi Belinov and Rabbi Moshe Javen then addressed their students completing Kita Hey and gave each his teuda and unique shevach. They were followed by Rabbi Yisroel Botnick, who addressed his graduating Kita Vov.

Kita Zayen then took center stage with a spirited presentation. First, they all made a siyum on Masseches Tomid as per the Rebbe’s request, led by their mechanchim Rabbi Yisroel Greenberg and Rabbi Chanoch Hecht. They also gave all a taste of the Kita Zayen experience as they sang a chassidishe niggun together.

Rabbi Yosef Moshe Rubashkin, speaking on behalf of the class, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Cheder, hanhala, and melamdim. Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein shared appreciation on behalf of all the parents.

A highlight of the evening was a special tribute video by the graduating Kita Zayen, honoring Rabbi Yitzchok Fuchs, the longtime Pre-1 Alef melamed. The video recognized Fuchs’s indispensable role in laying the foundation of Torah, chassidishkeit, and hiskashrus for each talmid.

The ceremony concluded with Rabbi Yusewitz awarding each graduate a certificate and the traditional Mincha Maariv siddur — marking their transition with pride and purpose. The evening left all present uplifted and inspired, as Ohr Menachem’s talmidim prepare to carry their learning and chassidishkeit into the year ahead with confidence and joy.