By COLlive reporter
Photos: Shneur Schiff
Nearly 40 Shluchim were awarded certificates in Seder Kidushin on Thursday, at a ceremony held at the Aguda Shul in Crown Heights.
The Rabbis, who hail from countries around the world and are called upon often to do marriage ceremonies, spent 3 days reviewing the halachos pertaining to the subject.
The course was arranged by Rabbi Nochem Kaplan of Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch in conjunction with Rabbi Yochanan Gurary of Cholon, Israel and his son Rabbi Mendel Gurary, a Shliach in Atlanta, who said he knows of many Shluchim who are called upon to officiate at weddings “but feel unprepared,” he said.
The enrollees in the program were required to review the Halachos in the Shulchan Aruch and various other seforim on the subject, and attend lectures given by experts in the field, including Rabbi Yochanan Gurary, Rabbi Moshe Bogomilsky, member of Vaad Rabonei Lubavitch, Rabbi Pinchas Althaus, Rabbi in Cholon, Israel and Rabbi Mordechai Farkash of Seattle WA, author of a concise sefer which reviews all the minhagim associated with Sidur Kidushin.
There was a rigorous exam which followed the course.
Participants were awarded certificates by Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch, also signed by both Chief Rabbis of Israel, so that all 39 recipients are entitled to do Sidur Kidushin in Israel.
This is first of a number of initiatives in which Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch has cooperated with Rabbi Gurary, whose expertise in this area is widely known.
Other such courses are planned for the week of Gimmel Tammuz, which also brings Shluchim from many places to the New York area.
THEY ROCK
Vaad Rabonei Lubavitch and the Crown Heights community are so fortunate to have you in our midst. Thank so much. You still inspire me since coming to Bedford and Dean. May you be blessed.
I must point out that the course was organized by Rabbi Mendy Gurary with arrangements by his father Rabbi E. Yochanan Gurary, it was under the sponsorship of and approved by Vaad Rabbonei Lubavitch. Let us credit to it is due.
Nochem Kaplan
Wow. Rabbi Kaplan doesn’t stop.
Keep it up!
ZS