Yesterday, the members of the latest class of the Center for Kehillah Development (CKD) received smichah from Rav Moshe Bransdorfer, one of the leading rabbonim of the Badatz Eidah HaChreidis and Av Beit Din of Sha’arei Horah. Rav Bransdorfer tested the avreichim and said he was profoundly impressed by their comprehensive knowledge and deep understanding in Hilchos Niddah. Rav Bransdorfer has given shiur at the CKD and is a frequent advisor to the CKD staff.

This is the first of many smichos this new group of avreichim will receive during their five years at CKD. All CKD avreichim pass the well known Israeli Rabbanut exams, famous worldwide for their high standards. A year ago, when the CKD scored some of the highest grades in the country on the Rabbanut exam, YWN reported that Chief Rabbi Lau invited the CKD avreichim and staff to his office for special commendation.

At the end of the test, Rav Brandsdorfer told the CKD avreichim: “You learned well. Today you are rabbonim. The Klal needs rabbonim like you”.

Rav Kelemen, CKD Rosh Kollel, commented: “The CKD avreichim have mastered in the last three years hundreds of Dapei Gemara with rishonim and achronim. But what impresses dayanim who meet them is their ability to think on their feet, to apply their vast knowledge of halacha to real life, quickly and precisely, and their sensitivity to the emotional and psychological state of the person who is asking.”

Regarding the rabbinical future of the avreichim, Rav Kelemen shared: “Boruch Hashem, we have already fielded requests from around the world for our rabbonim. I explain that we aren’t releasing anyone for 2 more years, and communal leaders ask me if they could reserve CKD graduates now, in advance”.