Talmud Study (Archive)
Talmud Study (Archive)Nati Shohat/Flash90

Lander College for Men (LCM)-Beit Midrash L’Talmud (Talmud study hall) in Queens, NY will host an honorary "Chag HaSmicha" dinner for its students next week Sunday, as a tribute to its graduating students. 

“At this event we will pay tribute to our most worthy musmachim (ordained students), whose exemplary commitment to Torah, avodah and gemilus chassadim (charity) has enabled them to reach this celebrated milestone,” said Rabbi Yonason Sacks, Rosh HaYeshiva of the Beis Medrash L’Talmud. “We take great pride in their erudition and commitment to Klal Yisrael.” 

The smicha program at the Beis Medrash L’Talmud immerses students in Shas (the Talmud) and deepens their understanding of Halakha (Jewish Law), while providing the practical education necessary for success in education and rabbinical leadership.

This is LCM’s second Chag HaSmicha. The first was held in 2010.

“These young musmachim will enrich Jewish life across the United States, many assuming positions as mechanchim and rabbanim,” said Dr. Moshe Sokol, dean of LCM. “Others will pursue careers in a variety of fields, but they will continue to learn and teach Torah, and provide the broadly educated and deeply knowledgeable and passionate leadership our community needs and deserves.”

In acknowledgement of his numerous accomplishments in spreading Torah, Rabbi Shmulewitz is being presented with the Harbotzas Torah Award. In addition to his responsibilities as menahel, Rabbi Shmulewitz also delivers a daily shiur. He studies under his uncle, the famed Rabbi Chaim Shmulewitz, at the Mir yeshiva in Jerusalem, and at the Kollel Beis Yosef in Brooklyn, and has had a distinguished career teaching in Jewish schools in Philadelphia, Atlanta, Long Island and Brooklyn, before joining the staff of LCM.

“Rabbi Shmulewitz is a master educator, whose dedication and warmth inspire his many devoted students,” said Rabbi Sacks.

Rabbi and Mrs. Michael Hasten will be honored as the Parents of the Year for their steadfast commitment to Lander College and to all of Touro. They have six children and their son, Yonatan, is currently studying business at LCM. A pillar of the Indiana Jewish community and an accomplished talmid chacham, Rabbi Hasten established the Rabbi Naftali Riff Yeshiva High School in Indianapolis in 2008. For three years he traveled 1,400 miles each week, commuting between Indiana and New York while he was working toward his masters in Jewish studies at the Touro College Graduate School of Jewish Studies, and simultaneously teaching at the Lander College for Women-The Anna Ruth and Mark Hasten School. Rabbi Hasten is the son of Dr. Mark Hasten, chairman of the Touro College Board of Trustees and its Board of Overseers for over two decades.

The Milgraum brothers, who grew up in Edison, NJ and have three other siblings, are the LCM Alumni of the Year. All four were very active and accomplished at LCM: Koby was presented with the Talmud Award his senior year; Meir, who remained in the Kew Gardens Hills area after graduating before moving to Hillside, NJ last year, is very active in alumni events and his wife, Natanya, is a Touro alumna; Elchanan appears annually for the LCM Accounting Society to discuss his career and currently serves on the LCM Alumni Executive Board as vice president; and Micha, the youngest member of the Milgraum family, served as the vice president of the LCM student government and upon graduating received the College Service Award.

Over the past four years more than 40 students from several states and countries. 

The Chag HaSmicha will be held at Da Mikele Illagio catering hall at 79-17 Albion Avenue in Queens this Sunday, December 7th at 5:30 PM.