Moscow's Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva Marks Historic Expansion with Rabbinical Ordination Ceremony
As the academic year concludes, the Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva in Moscow celebrates a significant milestone reflecting months of dedicated Torah study and Chassidic devotion. The yeshiva's atmosphere is filled with spiritual satisfaction and joy, culminating in a grand rabbinical ordination ceremony for a group of emissary students who successfully passed rigorous written and oral exams throughout the year.
The examination panel included prominent rabbis such as Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, during his visit to Moscow, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Reskin, a dayan and halachic authority from London’s Lubavitch community, and Rabbi Shneur Zalman Yaroslavsky, a Chabad dayan from Elad. The final exam was personally conducted by Rabbi Berel Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia and founder of the yeshiva, who dedicated significant time despite his busy schedule. Special recognition was given to the yeshiva's leadership, headed by emissary Rabbi Yechezkel Lazar and Rabbi David Rosenzweig, who leads the ordination program with great commitment.
The students, originally from the Ohel Torah Yeshiva in New York and brought to Moscow by Rabbi Shaul Shimon Deitsch, the emissary and head of the 'Zil' neighborhood in southern Moscow, serve as role models for local learners. The yeshiva holds a unique status as the only Tomchei Temimim institution worldwide directly approved and blessed by the Lubavitcher Rebbe in 1988, a blessing that continues to inspire its growth and influence.
In response to the community's expansion, a new advanced program is launching under Rabbi Israel Rozen to prepare students for integration into major yeshivas in Israel and abroad, including the prestigious 770 yeshiva in the United States. This initiative complements other educational projects such as the newly established evening and Sunday yeshivas, all supported by the dedicated yeshiva staff, the Education Committee led by Rabbi Mendel Goldberg, and the 770 Foundation under Rabbi Yehuda Davidov.
The ordination celebration and the opening of new programs mark the end of a fruitful year and herald a promising future for Torah study and Chassidic life in Moscow.
