As winter 5770 continues, children from across the continent are getting treated to the warmth of Torah as they prepare to greet Shabbos.
Now in its third year, the Likras Shabbos erev Shabbos learning program continues, b’ezras Hashem, to grow by leaps and bounds, featuring over forty groups in dozens of communities across the United States and Canada, as well as Mexico, following a similar, highly successful program in Eretz Yisroel. The program now teaches close to 1,000 children each week, bli ayin hora.
Geared towards children ages nine through thirteen, each Likras Shabbos group is taught by professional “geshmake” rebbi for thirty-five minutes, beginning at roughly an hour before the zeman. Likras Shabbos’ atmosphere is renowned for its warmth and simchas hatorah, and its volunteer participants are treated to weekly refreshments and raffles, in addition to a host of other exciting rewards for their learning.
Likras Shabbos parents and rabbeim relate their amazement at the children’s proficiency in the complex world of hilchos Shabbos; terms like kli sheini, irui etc. and their relationship to practical situations are well within their grasp. Much of the credit for this great accomplishment is the world renowned Meorei Halacha illustrated series of sefarim, workbooks and audio shiurim by Rabbi Fischel Schachter on several melachos, which is specifically geared to young children.
Following last year’s program, Likras Shabbos talmidim were given the opportunity to voluntarily take a bechina, which most talmidim eagerly did-with great results. Large scale siyumim were celebrated in Lakewood and Toronto for area talmidim following the past summer, where great prizes were distributed and raffled off to participants. Following this year’s program, Likras Shabbos will iy”H once again offer a bechina and hold siyumim; a special siyum for the Cleveland and Detroit Likras Shabbos groups will iy”H be added.
Another highly popular Likras Shabbos program to iy”H be continued this year is the summer erev Shabbos learning program, which attracted roughly 2,000 talmidim in camps and day camps as diverse as Bobov, Stolin and Romemu, among many others, last year. The exciting summer program features an independent, easy curriculum, which is specifically tailored for the leisurely summer months.
Rabbi Yossi Hirsch devotedly coordinates the North American Likras Shabbos groups. He relates, “In addition to the limud hatorah and chinuch benefits for the children, I’m increasingly hearing touching personal stories and perspectives from Likras Shabbos rabbeim and askanim. One rebbi related how he sees the program as having protected his children from illness since he joined; an askan relates the special hatzlacha that he witnessed in his business since he got involved. The wife of one rebbi recently related her satisfaction that her entire family is now ready for Shabbos once her husband leaves home to teach. We look forward to many others joining this program and meriting its zechusim.”
Indeed, children from diverse yeshivish, chassidish, Sefardic, etc., kehillos in cities as spread out as Brooklyn, Lakewood, Brooklyn, Detroit, Milwaukee, Toronto, etc., unitedly create an enormous kiddush Hashem and participate in the uniform Likras Shabbos program and curriculum. Recently added communities to the rapidly growing Likras Shabbos roster include Montreal, Far Rockaway and Waterbury, Connecticut.
All talmidim are currently learning hilchos dosh, and will iy”H be mesayem this limud at the end of this cycle in the weeks following Shavuos. Although already in middle of the Likras Shabbos cycle, new groups are still welcome to join and will be accommodated to participate in the upcoming siyum, b’ezras Hashem.
For more information on how to form a Likras Shabbos group or join an existing one, please call Likras Shabbos at (732)363-0669 or email [email protected].
(YWN Desk – NYC)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
One Response
I am so excited that my son gets to join next year. Kol hakavod.
One suggestion: if there are any points, incentive, prize cheshbonos etc., may I suggest that the boys get extra credit if they bring a note saying that did something concrete lekavod Shabbos, or is that the price of admission?