When the 9th grade students of Yeshivas Ohr Eliyahu Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago returned home for bein hazemanim, they each went with something special: mastery of Meseches Sukah.
Most of the bochurim were tested by Rabbi Meir Lichtman, Menahel of Yeshivas Meor Hatorah, and Rabbi Hirsch Unger, Veitzener Rosh Kollel.
According to Maggid Shiur Rabbi Levi Stern, the students began learning the Mesechta during afternoon seder in the beginning of the school year and concluded the 55-folio tractate just before Purim.
“The students come to the Mesivta from a wide range of educational backgrounds,” says Rabbi Stern. “Some have several years of Gemara experience, and others come having just scratched the surface. This intensive learning program is a great opportunity for everyone to dive into the world of Gemara learning and become familiar with the syntax, rhythm, and depth that can be found on every daf of every Mesechta.”
To mark the milestone, the entire class was invited to a celebratory melava malka with the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Eli Nosson Silberberg.
They then began an intensive review period during which they relearned all the material over the course of seven weeks.
To test their proficiency, the students underwent an exhaustive two-part written test that comprised of 200 questions covering the full gamut of the subjects covered.
Over the course of the last few weeks, they were tested by Rabbi Lichtman and Rabbi Ungar, who joined the Dean of the Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe B. Perlstein in quizzing the students.
“I actually enjoyed it very much,” said Rabbi Unger. “It was nice to see how the bochurim were ready for a bechinah from someone they were not familiar with. Even those who were not being tested followed along attentively. It was a very impressive occasion.”
“The bochurim did a superb job,” attests Rabbi Stern. “It was clear that the visitors enjoyed questioning the boys and seeing how well they had learned, and the bochurim seemed to enjoy it as well.”
