It was a night of palpable joy and gratitude as families, friends, and community members filled Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad in Los Angeles to celebrate a new group of musmachim from Kollel Tiferes Menachem — now marking 26 years of preparing rabbanim, shluchim, dayanim, and other Torah leaders who serve Jewish communities around the world BH.

The year’s curriculum centered on halacha shiurim led by Rosh HaKollel Rabbi Dovid Schmukler, delivered with a depth, clarity, and interactivity the bochurim consistently praised, alongside Chassidus classes from Rabbi Dovid Schmukler and Rabbi Yisroel Noach Raichik, as well as a guest lecture series from Jerusalem Prize recipient Rabbi Zvi Ryzman.

Beyond the classroom, countless hours of learning and farbrengens together forged a genuine camaraderie among the students — the kind of bond that was unmistakable in the room that night. Before receiving Smicha, students passed rigorous examinations on the halachos required for rabbinic ordination.

The program also included comprehensive marriage classes, featuring presenters Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Jacobson, Rabbi Yosef Shusterman, Rabbi Dovid Schmukler, Rabbi Mendel Lipskier, and Rabbi Mendel Schapiro. Sessions covered everything from navigating the shidduchim process to building a Torah home — preparing the musmachim not just for communal leadership, but for their own families.

The evening’s speakers included Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, Dayan Levi Yitzchok Raskin of London, Rabbi Yisroel Noach Raichik, Rabbi Dovid Schmukler, and Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Jacobson, who spoke on behalf of the parents about the role of halacha in Jewish life. Three of the new rabbis — Shneur Wagner, Menachem Barash, and Yisroel Jacobson — addressed the crowd with reflections on their years of study, offering a moving glimpse into the sense of purpose that carried them through the program.

Two moments stood out. Rabbi Yossi Niasoff, a businessman who completed the full program alongside full-time students, opened his remarks by reciting Shehecheyanu over a new fruit — an emotional expression of gratitude to Hashem for reaching this special milestone. And newly ordained Rabbi Yankel Friedman moved the crowd with a heartfelt rendition of “Tanyeh,” filling the hall with music and joy.

The emotional high point of the evening came with the formal presentation of Smicha certificates to this year’s musmachim: Rabbis Moshe Bacher, Menachem Barash, Ari Dworcan, Yankel Friedman, Dovid Geisinsky, Yisroel Jacobson, Nechemia Kessler, Avi Kurinsky, Yossi Niasoff, Yaakov Potash, Mendel Rapoport, Shneur Vidal, Shneur Wagner, and Dovi Wilhelm. As they embark on the next stage of their lives, they do so prepared to serve, strengthen, and inspire Jewish communities around the world bezH.

For more information or to apply, contact [email protected].

Photo credits: Matt Garcia
Video credits: Jonathan Lewis