A Home For Torah And Heart: Ohr Letzion Chaim Kollel Celebrates Siyum And Semicha At Beth Gavriel

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Prepared with the valued assistance of Rabbi Emanuel Shimonov, mara d'atra Beth Gavriel, and Rabbi Malkiel Yusupov, Administrator, Ohr Letzion Chaim Kollel

There are moments in communal life that quietly say everything about who we are and where we are going. The recent siyum and graduation of the Ohr Letzion Chaim Kollel at Beth Gavriel was one of those moments—filled with warmth, gratitude, Torah pride, and a deep sense of continuity.

For close to 30 years, the Beth Gavriel community has been steadily building more than just institutions. It has been building Jewish life—layer by layer, family by family. From its thriving yeshivah educating hundreds of children, to its mikvah, and now the opening of a beautiful new synagogue, the message has always been clear: Torah is not an add-on to life, it is the foundation of it.

That vision was on full display on 8 Tevet (December 28, 2025), when rabbanim, families, supporters, and community members gathered to celebrate a major milestone for the Ohr Letzion Chaim Kollel. The occasion marked the completion of Halachot Ribbit—the complex and highly practical laws governing financial conduct according to Torah—and the awarding of semicha to a new group of qualified scholars.

A kollel is not simply a place of study. It is a commitment—by the scholars who devote their days to learning, by their families who stand behind them, and by a community that believes deeply in investing in Torah leadership. At Beth Gavriel, the kollel has long been a living, breathing part of the community, shaping rabbanim and dayanim who understand both the depth of halachah and the real-life challenges people face.

The Ribbit program, which formed the core of this siyum, touches on everyday issues of honesty, trust, and responsibility in financial dealings. These are not abstract concepts. They are the laws that guide how Jews borrow, lend, partner, and support one another. In today’s complicated economic world, mastery of these halachot is more relevant than ever.

The kollel is led by Rabbi Naftali Ganzfri, whose words reflected both the seriousness and the heart of the evening. He spoke about the privilege—and obligation—of intensive Torah learning, and about translating knowledge into halachic integrity that strengthens the entire community.

Adding to the significance of the evening was the presence of Rabbi Yitzchak Yisraeli, Chief Bukharian Rabbi of the United States and Canada, who spoke movingly about the growth of Torah institutions and the central role kollelim play in cultivating the next generation of rabbinic leadership. Rabbi Eliyahu Ben Chaim, Av Beit Din of Queens, praised the dedication of the scholars and encouraged them to continue serving as sources of guidance, wisdom, and stability for the wider community.

The highlight of the evening came as six kollel members were formally awarded semicha, recognizing their readiness to serve as dayanim and render halachic decisions: Rabbi Nisan Shalomayev, Rabbi Azarya Pinkhasov, Rabbi Gershon Pinckasov, Rabbi Avraham Isakov, Rabbi Binyamin Khaimov, and Rabbi Reuven Mulodjanov. Each certificate bore the signatures of the senior rabbanim, marking a moment of personal achievement and communal pride.

After the formal program, the celebration continued in true Bukharian style—with a generous buffet, warm conversation, and heartfelt joy. The evening concluded with spirited dancing, a simcha shel mitzvah that reflected not only the completion of a demanding course of Torah study, but the vibrant future it represents.

Special appreciation is owed to the devoted supporters whose generosity sustains the kollel year after year. Their quiet commitment ensures that Torah learning at Beth Gavriel remains strong, relevant, and deeply rooted in the life of the community.