At prestigious Yeshiva Shaarei Shmuot in Beit Chilkiya, 500 students attend Rabbi Genack’s shiur on Masechet Yevamot.

(Courtesy of OU) OU Kosher CEO Rabbi Menachem Genack delivered a shiur in January on masechet Yevamot to the 500 students of Yeshiva Shaarei Shmuot, an elite yeshiva in Beit Chilkiya, located on a moshav in central Israel.

Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Naftali Schapira and his co-rosh yeshiva and nephew, Rabbi Aryeh Schapira, also attended. Also present were OU Israel’s Rabbi Yonatan Korach and Rabbi Genack’s son, Rabbi Moshe Genack, assistant rabbi at Congregation Shomrei Emunah in Englewood, and who gives shiurim at Yeshivat Heichal Hatorah in Teaneck.

Rabbi Genack maintained a close relationship with Rabbi Naftali Schapira’s father, the preeminent Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Schapira, z”l, founder of Yeshiva Be’er Yaakov located between Ramle and Rishon Lezion, where he was rosh yeshiva for 60 years. Born in what was then Minsk, he came to Israel at 18 and was one of three remaining students of Rabbi Yitzhak Velve Soloveitchik, z”l. Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Schapira’s son and grandson went on to found Yeshiva Shaarei Shmuot. The date of Rabbi Genack’s shiur at the yeshiva marked the yahrzeit of Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Schapira’s wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Faiga Tzipora Schapira, z”l.

“It was truly a pleasure to teach the students of such a wonderful, growing yeshiva,” Rabbi Genack said of Yeshiva Shaarei Shmuot. “These are top students, and it’s an honor to give a shiur to such fine minds.”

Afterward, Rabbi Genack gave a shiur at Yeshivat Shaalvim in Israel’s Ayalon Valley, where two of his grandsons are studying.

Rabbi Genack said he tries to give a shiur at Yeshiva Shaarei Shmuot every time he visits Israel. During the first years of the pandemic, he delivered the shiurim virtually.