For the first time, New Haven will be one of the regular stops Rabbi Yehuda Yaroslavsky makes to grant smicha ordination.

By COLlive reporter

Connecticut is on the smicha map.

Yeshivas Beis Dovid Shlomo in New Haven was honored this week to host Kiryat Malachi Chief Rabbi Yitzchok Yehuda Yaroslavsky for an unusual purpose.

For the first time, studies for rabbinical ordination have been conducted in the Yeshiva by a group of elder bochurim who serve on the staff in the roles of mashpia, mashgiach and dorm counselors of the Mesivta and Zal.

Under the direction of the Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Kalmenson and the Menahel Rabbi Yosef Lustig, the 10 elder bochurim have concluded learning the laws of milk and meat.

Rabbi Yaroslavsky, head of the Chabad Beis Din of Israel, was brought to test them, adding the city to the numerous locations where he regularly tests for smicha.

The bochurim who were tested are (top row, from right) Yossi Rubashkin, Mendel Unsdorfer, Motti Harlig, Sholly Brown, Yanky Rodman, Nochum Labkowsky, Mendel Borenstein, Chaim Wilansky, (bottom row, from right) Aharon Robinson and Yossi Dalfin.

The test lasted for an hour and 40 minutes after which Rabbi Yaroslavsky announced that he was pleased with the responses and that they all passed successfully.