This past Sunday, Mishna Beyadi held its National Round via Zoom, uniting top Mishna learners from across the country in an exciting culmination of a year’s worth of Torah study. These students were the highest achievers in their respective schools, selected to represent their schools on a national stage. Though the format was virtual, the energy was real—as students proudly demonstrated just how much they had accomplished.

The event began with a powerful and engaging keynote address by Rabbi Joel Padowitz, author of “The Science Behind the Mishna.” He spoke about the unique value of learning Mishnayos and how understanding the natural world can enhance and elevate our Torah study, drawing us closer to Hashem. His words set the tone for the rest of the morning—an inspiring blend of intellect, depth, and connection to Torah.

Following the keynote, the competition began. Students were tested in rounds that steadily increased in difficulty. The early rounds featured straightforward questions directly from the Mishnayos studied throughout the year. As the rounds progressed, the level of challenge grew.

One particularly notable round presented students with pesukim quoted in the Mishnayos—and contestants had to identify how that pasuk was used or interpreted in the context of the Mishna. This required not only recall but also the ability to connect the dots between Torah Shebichsav and Torah Shebaal Peh.

In the final and most difficult round, participants were given only a brief phrase or blurb from a Mishna. With minimal context, they had to correctly identify which Mishna it was referring to and explain what it was about. This level of questioning was designed to reward only those who had truly made a kinyan in their Mishnayos—who had reviewed deeply and understood the content inside and out.

Mishna Beyadi is proud to announce this year’s winners:

Track 1:

1st Place: Chaim Roth (Torah Day School of Phoenix)

2nd Place: Menachem Mendel Fuchs (Cheder Chabad of Monsey)

3rd Place: Gavriel Maline (Yeshivat Noam)

Track 2:

1st Place (tie): Tzvi Graiser (Torah Day School of Atlanta)

1st Place (tie): Yeshaya Kessler (Zichron Shmuel)

3rd Place: Aaron Perton (Torah Day School of Atlanta)

All the participants deserve tremendous credit for their hard work, preparation, and Torah commitment. The National Round was a celebration of that dedication—and a glimpse into the Torah greatness that lies ahead for these young learners.

Mishna Beyadi continues to grow, now serving 12 schools across the United States, with students from states including New York, New Jersey, Arizona, Georgia, and beyond. Through its structured curriculum, user-friendly Mishna Companion booklets, regular testing, and engaging incentives, the program gives students the tools and motivation to succeed.

More than just a program, Mishna Beyadi is a movement—a mission to ignite a love of Mishna learning and build a strong Torah foundation. By emphasizing understanding, consistency, and review, the program ensures every student can feel the joy of mastery and the pride of achievement.

As Mishna Beyadi closes another amazing year, the organization looks ahead to expanding the program, developing new materials, and welcoming even more students into the Mishna Beyadi family. With Hashem’s help, the future of Torah learning is bright.

Yasher koach to all the participants and mazal tov to the winners. May this be just the beginning of a lifelong connection to limud haTorah.