First Smicha Ceremony in Canadian History

On the chilly Friday afternoon of October 24, 1941, nine Lubavitch students arrived to Montreal, Canada from Shanghai, China to strengthen the Jewish community under the direction of the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yossef Y. Schneerson.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe told Rabbi Aryeh Leib Kramer to start a Yeshiva in Montreal together with the other students. Thus, hardly a day after his arrival in Montreal, on Motzei Shabbos, the Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim Lubavitch of Montreal -- Rabbinical College of Canada was established, Sunday being the very first day of Yeshivah with Rabbi Kramer as its acting director. It was initially located in Montreal's Nusach Ari Shul.

In Shvat of 1944 the Lubavitcher Rebbe sent a letter to the Montreal community, Officially appointing Rabbi Kramer as the director of the school.

The Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim didn't charge tuition and it grew rapidly as soon as it was established. By 1955 there were five hundred students. The yeshivah had a strong secular program and attracted students from all types of Jewish families. Many of the graduates went on to become professionals.

On the 19th of Kisleiv, 1955, Rabbi Kramer organized the first ever (documented) Chag Hasmicha ceremony in country of Canada.

This monumental event that took place at the Young Israel was celebrated in high style complete with a catered meal and a nice representation of the Montreal Jewish Community.

As we near the 70 year anniversary since the arrival of those 9 students in Montreal, a special documentary is being prepared about Rabbi Kramer's Legacy- the continuing growth and development of the Jewish community in Montreal.

Today we are commemorating the 11th Yahrtzeit of Rabbi Aryeh Leib Kramer of blessed memory who passed away on the 27th of Cheshvan 5760 (1999).
In honor of this special day we bring you a short clip of a colored video from the Chag Hasmicha in 1955 as part of the documentary to be released.

Please visit www.RabbiKramersLegacy.com for information on the life of Rabbi Kramer. If you have some information to share with us or would like some information on our project please email Yosef@RabbiKramersLegacy.com or call 347-497-6286

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[RabbiKramersLegacy]

Please remember one thing: That when it came to accepting boys into the Yeshiva, Rabbi Kramer NEVER turned down a Jewish child due to lack of funds or background (no matter if he came from a non-religious, Litvish, Chassidish, Modern Orthodox etc. He always accepted the boys with a smile.

[NykIckAssGuy]

Beautiful video!!

[rocky0713a]

How come so many of the the bochurim are clean shaven?

I thought all the rebbeim were against shaving