Poconos Bochurim Doubled Their Gemara Study This Year

Tested on the entire Meseches Bava Basra by the Debretziner Dayan, Harav Shlomo Tzvi Shtern, bochurim of the Poconos Yeshiva celebrated their mastery of a mesechta twice the size of last year’s.

The students of Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch of the Poconos recently showcased their knowledge as they were tested on the entire Meseches Bava Basra. This milestone marks the culmination of eleven months of intense study.

Under the dynamic leadership of Menahel Rabbi Mendel Silman, the yeshiva celebrated its eleventh year since its founding with a remarkable growth spurt in recent years. This year’s ambitious “Mivtza Torah” program was significantly encouraged by Menahel Kloli Rabbi Mendel Hendel. At last year’s Siyum on Meseches Gitten, Rabbi Hendel challenged the students to undertake the completion of Meseches Bava Basra in the following year—a tractate nearly double the size of the previous one.

The task seemed daunting, requiring the students to double their daily learning quotas, but the Mitzvah Torah program, overseen by Rabbi Shmuel Newman, had a clear program, with periodic written tests, which made the goal attainable. The program also included a chazara test and a comprehensive written test at the end of the year on the entire mesechta.

The climax occurred on the last day of the zman. The students underwent a farher conducted by Debretziner Dayan Harav Shlomo Tzvi Shtern, son of the renowned posek Harav Moshe Shtern, known as the “Be’er Moshe.” Harav Shtern praised the students for their exceptional mastery of the material, noting that he had never encountered a group so proficient in the material. He extended the allotted time for the farher, thoroughly engaging with the students on each perek of the masechta. The dayan was visibly pleased.

The celebration of the Siyum took place on Thursday, the 26th of Tammuz, a week before the summer break. The event was held in the yeshiva’s main hall, with the students from Shiur Alef and Bais, along with the hanhala and distinguished guests. Hatomim Levi Movsikov was honored with the Siyum.

The program featured a captivating vort on the Gemara by proud parent Reb Yehuda Vernik, who shared his inspirational journey to Yiddishkeit in Charkov, Ukraine. Rabbi Mendel Hendel delivered a heartfelt bracha, and Rabbi Michoel Golomb, a prominent mashpia from 770 and proud father of Hatomim Yisroel Golomb, expressed his pride in the students’ achievements. Rabbi Menachem Aizenman, the rosh yeshiva, spoke of one of the benefits of committing to a study project that consumes one’s extra time, thereby transforming the talmid into a real yeshiva bochur.

The evening continued with a sumptuous meal and lively singing, and concluded with motivating words from the mashpia Rabbi Shmerel Matusof, inspiring everyone present.