After many months of intense study and preparation, the bochurim of Chovevei Torah were tested on Hilchos Basar B’chalav by Rabbi Baruch Hertz of Chicago.
Walking up yeshiva’s iconic steps in the bitter snow and cold, Rabbi Baruch Hertz encountered the heartwarming sight of a zal full of bochurim learning excitedly, wrapping up their preparation ahead of their semicha test.
The bochurim in Beis Medrash Achei Tmimim learnt Hilchos Basar B’chalav over the past six months, and the knowledge and skills they acquired were proudly put on display throughout all their tests.
“It’s so wonderful to see our bochurim put their hearts and souls into their learning,” says Rabbi Levi Tzukernik, principal of Achei Tmimim. “Many bochurim did not believe they themselves could do it, and many were unfortunately disenfranchised in the past. To see them achieve success and finish a part of smicha overwhelms me with nachas.”
Achei Tmimim is a warm home for bochurim looking to grow in their yiddishkeit, chassidishkeit, and learning. The yeshiva’s environment is structured to promote personal growth, and hosts a dynamic and personable staff.
Semicha in Achei Tmimim is completed over two years, starting with Hilchos Basar B’chalav, Melichah and Machalei Aku”m, and continuing the next year with Hilchos Ta’aruvos and Shabbos Smicha is learned in the afternoon, with the rest of the day filled up by regular chassidus, gemara, and yeshiva seder.
Over the past few years, the yeshiva has been proud to welcome prominent rabbonim to test the bochurim on smicha – Rabbi Shneur Zalman Yaroslavski, Rabbi Zushe Winner, Rabbi Baruch Hertz, Rabbi Moshe Kesselman, and others. And in addition to these final tests, the bochurim are tested every two weeks by their smicha maggidei shiruim Rabbi Shlomo Chaim Kesselman and Rabbi Peretz Kaplan, to ensure they have grasped and mastered the material.
“When we founded the new division of the Yeshiva “Achei Tmimim,” explained Rabbi Mendy Blau, Director of Chovevei Torah, “our vision was to reach our talmidim not just with love care and guidance, but to give them the skills to learn so that they can develop a deep appreciation for Torah and continue learning many years after they complete yeshiva. Seeing first hand the bochurim immerse themselves in the world of halacha, gemara and chassidus is truly rewarding, and it encourages us to continue to find a way to expand and build on our success Be’ezras Hashem.”
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