Oholei Torah Hosts Grand Araynfirnish Celebrating the Joy and Sweetness of Torah
In honor of Oholei Torah’s 70th birthday, Oholei Torah invited the community to a Grand Araynfirnish celebrating the beginning of a child’s Torah journey. The response was overwhelming, with the program expanded into two shifts to accommodate the crowds. Over 140 young talmidim were joyfully welcomed into the Oholei Torah family, surrounded by parents and grandparents, united in simcha.
The Grand Araynfirnish culminated a week of celebration marking Oholei Torah’s 70th birthday and annual auction campaign. Each event highlighted a different facet of chinuch and community, and this closing celebration captured the heart of it all, beginning with our youngest talmidim and the sweetness of Torah that will guide them for years to come.
Families arrived to a festive atmosphere filled with balloons and music, setting an immediate tone of excitement and love for Torah. Each family was greeted with their own thoughtfully prepared table, complete with everything needed for the araynfirnish experience. Honey cake, an egg, honey, an Aleph Beis chart, and special pekalach were prepared in advance, along with an Aleph Beis puzzle and a customized magnet to take home, allowing parents and children to be fully present for this meaningful moment.
The program opened with inspiring words from Rabbi Mendel Blau, who spoke about the beauty of beginning a child’s Torah journey with joy and warmth. This was followed by the reading of a Rebbe letter about Hachnasa L’cheder by Pre1A menahel Rabbi Berel Greenfeld. The araynfirnish itself was led by Pre1A mechanech Rabbi Shlomie Schwei, who guided the children and families through the meaningful minhagim, highlighting the sweetness and delight of learning Torah.
Music and spirited singing were led by Pre1A mechanech Rabbi Yossi Goldstein, accompanied by a Pre1A choir that brought added energy to the celebration. The presence of bubbies and zaydes alongside parents and children created a powerful sense of continuity, with generations coming together around Torah and chinuch.
