In honor of the 24th of Teves, the Yartzeit of the Alter Rebbe, the atmosphere in the hallways of YTTL Montreal was transformed by a mission of global proportions. Over the past two weeks, Grades 4 through 7 embarked on “The Great Tanya Competition,” a spirited campaign to create the most beautiful and meaningful Tanya poster.

The students were tasked with two main objectives to bring their class posters to life. First, they hunted for “One-Liners,” powerful quotes from the Tanya itself or from Rebbeim and Chassidim that highlight the greatness of the sefer. Second, they reached out across the globe, collecting photos of the Tanya’s title page printed in diverse locations. The response was incredible, with submissions pouring in from everywhere – spanning from JFK Airport all the way to Abu Dhabi!

The excitement went far beyond paper and glue. Throughout these two weeks, the boys “traveled” the world virtually, joining exclusive live Zoom Farbrengens with Shluchim from the USA, Rome, Morocco, Holland, France, Austria, Hungary, Mexico, and England. These Shluchim shared fascinating stories about printing the Tanya in their respective countries, giving the students a deeper appreciation for the global reach of Chassidus.

As the deadline approached, the energy was palpable. The boys spent hours cutting, pasting, and pouring their creativity into their designs, turning hundreds of quotes and images into true works of art.

On Tuesday, 24 Teves, our lunchroom was transformed into a “Tanya Poster Gallery.” The younger students (Pre-1A – Grade 3) had the special opportunity to tour the exhibit and view the finished masterpieces. We were also honored to host Rabbi Hershel Raskin, who joined us as the official competition judge to review the impressive work.

It was a truly fitting way to mark the Alter Rebbe’s Yartzeit, visualizing exactly how his holy Tanya is printed and learned in every corner of the globe.

Congratulations to the students for their hard work! The winning class has earned a special trip to Hampstead Park for a fun-filled day of ice skating, hockey, and sledding.