“It keeps me out of trouble.”

The “me” in that quote is Rav Pesach Skulnick, Senior Ram and ninth grade rebbe at Yeshivas Heichal HaTorah in Teaneck. The “it” is the acclaimed Dirshu Torah study program founded by Rav Dovid Hofstedter, of Toronto, in 1997. Rav Skulnick has been part of the program since its U.S. inception a little more than ten years ago, completing the entire seven-and-a-half-year Daf Yomi cycle, Gemara with Rashi, and passing a series of tests in a schedule that givses new meaning to the word “rigorous.”

In addition to a monthly exam on the previous thirty blatt of Gemara, there is a test every four months on the previous 120 blatt. Finally, just after Sukkos and Pesach each year, there is a cumulative test on all blatt of the Daf Yomi to that point. Three years ago, Rav Skulnick was one of only eight people in North America to pass that test—on over 2500 pages of Gemara.

This time around, Rav Skulnick is taking the “Kinyan Shas” tests for Gemara, Rashi, and Tosafos. He just took the post-Sukkos test on 1140 blatt.

Additionally, he also studies for the bi-annual “Kinyan Halachah” exams, a five-year cycle of tests that cover the gamut of Halachah, from the laws of Shabbos and Kashrus to the laws of Ribbis and Safrus. “It’s very good ammunition for me as a rebbe,” he says. “When the talmidim say I’m holding them responsible for too much material on a test, I remind them that I take tests, too.”

What inspired a rebbe of over a decade to put on his “talmid hat” and go back to studying for tests? “I saw the Dirshu program advertised in one of the Jewish papers and figured it was right up my alley. I used to write notes to help me remember my learning, so when I read about the tests I called right away to sign up.”

Rav Skulnick, who joined Heichal at its inception three years ago, learned in Ner Yisroel for seventeen years, where he also taught an afternoon Chaburah to advanced students. Additionally, he served as a Mesivta Rebbe at various Yeshivos in Baltimore. Rav Skulnick’s warm and personable character, coupled with his deep concern for the religious and emotional development of each Talmid, make him one of Heichal’s most popular rebbeim. Rav Skulnick lives with his wife and children in Passaic, NJ.

The entire community is invited to study Halachah b’Iyun with Rav Skulnick at Heichal’s Thursday Night Seder program, at 9:15 pm, in the yeshiva, 70 Sterling Place, Teaneck.