Excitement filled the air in Mesivta Lubavitch Toronto on Thursday, as Levi Vechter, 18-year-old son of mashpia R’ Yosef Leib, was mesayem Shas.

Levi, currently learning in Brunoy, celebrated his Siyum HaShas with the bochurim, staff, and guests at Mesivta Lubavitch Toronto.

The bochurim of the Yeshiva were joined by the staff, Rabbi Oster, menahel, Rabbi Vechter, Rabbi Gorman, Rabbi Shochet, Rabbi Wilhelm, Rabbi Chaiken, and Rabbi Rappaport. Many from the zal, including Rabbi Mann, Rabbi Kamman, Rabbi Tzeitlin, Rabbi Zaltzman, and Rabbi Morozov, joined as well. A special guest, Levi’s 5th-grade rebbi – Rabbi Weinfeld – who had been a true inspiration for Levi’s learning (he started towards this goal in 5th grade!) was in attendance as well.

The bochurim were addressed by Rabbi Oster, who spoke about the unique opportunity to be part of such an event – a true Shehechiyanu, even in Sefira! Rabbi Oster spoke about the value of using every moment – a key component of the incredible achievement of being mesayem Shas at such a young age.

Rabbi Mann, mashpia in zal, spoke about the many times that the Rebbe emphasized the מעלה of לימוד התורה in the Rebbe’s ma’amarim, specifically לימוד הגמרא.

Rabbi Rappaport, mashpia in Mesivta, expounded on the meaning of “אשרי מי שבא לכאן ותלמודו בידו” – including literally having a Gemara in hand – and the unique emphasis of Chassidus that even one who has all of talmudo biyado should be a מי with bitul.

Levi gave a lengthy הדרן based on the Rebbe’s sichos and reshimos connecting the end of the Shas and the beginning, and the Rebbe’s hora’ah of the capability of a Yid and the achrayus to use our kochos.

A rav from the wider Toronto community, Rabbi Kanner, spoke to the bochurim of his connection to Levi’s great-grandfather, R’ Lipa Vechter. R’ Lipa, a rav in Toronto who strengthened Yiddishkeit and kashrus in Toronto after the war.

Rabbi Oster handed Levi an envelope from two dear friends of the Mesivta, R’ Oren Antebi and R’ Eli Teitelman, that contained a dollar for each daf.

After Levi finished the final words of הליכות עולם לו אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות, the mazel tovs and singing resounded through the room! The event surely made an everlasting imprint on all who attended! וממנו יראו וכן יעשו. May there be many more! May the zchus of limmud haTorah lead us to the hisgalus of Moshiach immediately. ומלאה הארץ דעה את ה’ כמים לים מכסים.