Something remarkable is happening at Manhattan Day School at a blazing pace! Living the MDS mission of cultivating a love for Torah and learning text and tradition with joy, MDS Amud Yomi participants just completed their seventh mesechta of Talmud. Students have spent the past few months learning Mesechta Beitzah culminating in a siyum last Thursday. Ms. Chechik, MDS head of school, shared inspiring words to mark the occasion and Rabbi Genack, lower school mashgiach ruchani, encouraged others to join. Rabbi Genack, mentioned how impressed he is with his talmidim as they devote personal time to learning and highlighted that MDS alumni continue to learn with the group. Once the siyum was complete, all students were able to receive a treat and the group participants enjoyed a seudat mitzvah.
In January 2020, MDS rebbeim and students attended the Siyum Hashas. This event spearheaded MDS student daily Gemara learning after seeing Jews come together for this celebration. Rabbi Genack established a unique Talmud learning opportunity for students, alumni and parents and took on the role of bringing daily Talmud learning to his students, in the form of Amud Yomi. The Amud Yomi group was created l’iluy nishmat Lea Kronenberg a”h,” MDS parent, and students quickly joined the group. When MDS was remote, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, students motivated each other by Whatsapping each other when they completed their daily learning. The program has only grown since then, and currently has 40 participants!
Alexander S. and Ayden L., two sixth grade original members commented, “Our Gemara skills have improved immensely and Rabbi Genack drives us each day to push ourselves to spend even a little bit of time learning.” Since the formation of this learning group, a subsequent program, led by Morah Lital Cohen, chair of the MDS Ivrit department, has been motivating girls’ Talmud learning in Hebrew for students in seventh and eighth grade.
MDS students are eager to continue building on their wealth of knowledge and have already begun to delve into the next mesechta.
