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10th Annual Chag HaSmicha in Los Angeles

This past week saw the 10th annual Chag HaSmicha for the new rabbis of Kollel Tiferet Menachem – Los Angeles at Moshe Ganz hall B”H.

Some of the speakers at this momentous occasion included Rabbi Dovid Schochet, chief Rabbi of Toronto via videocast, Rabbi Shlomo Cunin, head shliach to the West Coast, Rabbi Dovid Schmukler, Rosh HaKollel Tiferet Menachem, Rabbi Yehuda Lazar, shliach to Lancaster and proud parent and Rabbi Michoel Groden, newly ordained Rabbi and MC.

Mazal tov to Rabbis Yosef Baumgarten, Mendel Bronchtain, Shimon Douek, Mendel Grifkin, Michoel Groden, Peretz Gurwitz, Shmuel Kahanov, Shmuel Lazar, Yeshaya Moscowitz, Yosef Moscowitz, Avraham Nelken, Mendel Ramniceanu, Mordechai Vilenkin, Moshe Wilschanski and Daniel Zebberman and to Rosh HaKollel Rabbi Dovid Schmukler and Shoel U’Maishiv Rabbi Eli Schochet.

The bochurim took their final farher with Rabbi Dovid Schochet shlita, chief Rabbi of Toronto, who farhered them for over five hours with very impressive results B”H. May this auspicious ocassion be the stepping stone for many others be’h, with the new Rabbis taking leadership roles in rabbanus and shlichus the world over.

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17 Comments

  • ashreinu

    Rabbi Schochet: What a legacy! Profound impact on this generation and on future generations through your wisdom, sage advice, guidance and wealth of knowledge.

  • A real farher for smicha

    I was farhered by Rav Schochet for Dayonus(in his home – his basement is wall to wall of seforim). He grilled me for 4 hours straight and then he told me that we will continue tomorrow! (He needed to go to a Din Torah). THAT was an experience I will never forget!!

  • I remember when

    During my farher by Rav Shochet in Toronto the phone rang with shaylos from 6 different counties and at least a dozen local shaylos about all areas of halacha (it was amazing to watch his computer mind answering shaylos!).

    I loved these calls because they gave me a bit of extra time to think of answers to the Rov’s questions.

    As soon as he hung up the phone, the Rov would smile at me and with a twinkle in his eye ask me, “Nu, do you know the answer?”

    One question was a real brain-twister, and I simply couldn’t figure out the answer in the few seconds of the phone call. I was literally sweating!!

    As the Rov hung up the phone and turned to ask me if I know the answer…Boruch Hashem the phone rang a second time with another shaylah! Saved by the bell.

  • My bechina experience

    Rabbi Schochat was bochen me for smicha. Clearly he knows the entire shulchan oruch like his phone number. He asked a few simple sounding questions but as I started to answer I knew I was in trouble because whatever I thought to answer seemed wrong. Then he gave me a “hint” and suddenly I had clarity. He did this a few times during my bechina.

    When the bechina was finished, I walked out knowing the dinim better then I ever was able to with my own learning. I thought I messed up but he passed me and gave me strong words of chizuk and compliments. Rabbi Schochat is not just an amazing gaon but a really nice warm compassionate person.

  • In awe of Rabbi Schochet

    Those of us who had his bechina will forever remember it well. Those who did not experience it will never understand what we mean. Rabbi Shochet is an adam gadol, and being in his presence was my first encounter with true gadlus.

    As someone who recently got semicha in Rabbi Schochet’s house I can tell you that the experience of being tested and experiencing Rabbi Schochet’s greatness will stay with me for the rest of my life. Thank you Rabbi Schochet. Ashreinu mah tov chelkeinu that we Lubavitchers have him.

  • Incredible

    Rabbi Schochet is one of a kind, one in a generation. Unique even in the outstanding Schochet family, a family that is head and shoulders above others in terms of lamdus. Thank you Rabbi Schochet for your dedication to our boys and for ensuring the future by establishing future rabbis.

  • Wondering Who Signed

    I wonder if the students had the z’chus of getting their smicha certificates signed by Harav Boruch Shoima Eliyahu Cunin… that would be special.