Detroit Rewards Hard Study

As the Shnas Limudim in Detroit came to a close, together with it, did the vast Mivtza Torah happening in the local Mesivta. On this past Thursday night (4 Ov) a large celebration took place, marking the culmination of the Mivtza and rewarding its participants.

The Mivtza launched by the Talmidim Hashluchim, at the beginning of the last Zman, was to encourage the Bochurim to learn as much as they could of the Mesechta Pesachim, by heart, and promised to duly reward those who would undertake this all but simple endeavor. The Bochurim responded very positively and almost the entire Yeshiva participated.

It was arranged that there be two separate trails, one marking the Rebbe’s 110th year, and having as goal to learn 110 Blatt of Gemoro, and another celebrating 61 years of the Rebbe’s leadership, with 61 Blatt as its objective. The Bochurim could be seen during breaks, at night or at any other time, pouring over the Seforim, and pacing down the hallways while memorizing the long pages of Gemoro.

At the conclusion of the 12 week Mivtza, the hall of the Yeshiva was grandiosely adorned for celebration; and if the Bochurim had done theirs, it was time for them to collect their premium. A lavish meal was served, and the stage saw its walls covered with Seforim which were to be the Bochurim’s recompense. The prizes were made possible by various generous sponsors, at the helm of whom stands the known Chabad supporter Ben Federman, CEO of 1saleaday.com

At the opening of the evening, Emcee Shliach Mendel Jacobs introduced Rabbi Stein who addressed the crowd with a letter from the Rebbe he had received for an event of this kind, in 5750, as the Menahel of the Cheder. He was followed by Rabbis Leime Wilhelm, and Levi Kaplan, respectively the Rosh Yeshiva and Menahel Ruchni of the Mesivta. Hatomim Peretz Garelik made a siyum of the Mesechta, and Hatomim Sholom Ber Weiss said over a Hadran of the Rebbe on Pesochim. Finally, just before the prizes were handed out, the Bochurim heard remarks from Shliach Mendy Minkowitz, representing his fellow Shluchim.

A special point was made to thank Koppel Chaiton, formerly a Shliach in the Mesivta and consequently a Maggid Shiur, who in addition to his general assistance in all matters concerning the welfare of the Bochurim individually, was crucial in the preparations of that very celebration.

The Bochurim were also treated to a special guest, who was especially flown in for the occasion, so after the formalities were over, Rabbi Yossy Lew, from Atlanta, GA took the platform , and his Farbrengen kept the Bochurim mesmerized till the wee hours of the morning, when only forced by his return flight did Rabbi Lew make his way to the airport.

Special thanks are also due to a dear friend of the Mesivta, Rabbi Yona Schapiro for his ongoing support.

Bochurim Sholom Ber Weiss, Menachem Deren, Moishe Spalter, Shmuel Freedman, Peretz Garelik, Tzvi Alperowitz, Mendel Shmotkin, and Levi Shmotkin went as far as completing the entire Mesechta , and Bochurim Mendel Plotkin and Mendy Grossbaum completed the 61 Blatt of the first trail.