20 Students Tested on Chuppah V’Kiddushin at Boston Rabbinical College

The fourth cohort of the Lior and Shoshana Rabbinical College of Boston successfully completed a comprehensive bechinah in Hilchos Chuppah V’Kiddushin before Harav Eliezer Brod shlita of Eretz Yisroel.

Five years ago, eight stab wounds led to an extraordinary decision.

This week, twenty talmidim became part of that decision.

The fourth cohort of the Lior and Shoshana Rabbinical College of Boston successfully completed a comprehensive bechinah in Hilchos Chuppah V’Kiddushin before Harav Eliezer Brod shlita of Eretz Yisroel—Rav of Karmei Yosef, member of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and Rosh Beis Medrash of Or Menachem at Yeshivas Or Simcha in Kfar Chabad.

The Lior and Shoshana Rabbinical College of Boston is headed by Rabbi Shlomo Noginski, Shliach of the Rebbe to Boston and Rosh HaYeshivah, who holds official Semicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel as well as certification in Dayanus. The Semicha program operates under Shaloh House, led by Rabbi Dan Rodkin, Shliach of the Rebbe to Brighton and Director of Shaloh House.

Together, Rabbi Noginski and Rabbi Rodkin established the Semicha program to prepare a new generation of rabbanim and shluchim who combine profound Torah scholarship with practical experience, genuine Ahavas Yisrael, and devoted service to Jewish communities.

The bechinah marked the culmination of a year that extended far beyond the classroom. Alongside intensive Semicha studies, the talmidim gained extensive hands-on experience in Rabbanus and Shlichus throughout Greater Boston—assisting at chuppos, inspecting and installing mezuzos, kashering kitchens, delivering shiurim, visiting Jewish homes, working with children and teenagers, and bringing Torah and encouragement to hospitals, nursing homes, and community centers.

Throughout the course, Harav Brod personally delivered a comprehensive series of shiurim and prepared the talmidim for the bechinah. During the examination, they demonstrated not only a thorough command of the halachos, but also the practical judgment, clarity, and responsibility expected of future rabbanim.

Following the bechinah, Harav Brod praised the talmidim, saying:

“It is evident that the talmidim learned these sugyos with great diligence and depth. They demonstrated excellent knowledge of Hilchos Chuppah V’Kiddushin and answered the questions clearly and systematically. It is inspiring to see young rabbanim and shluchim preparing so seriously for their future shlichus.”

The mission of the Boston Semicha program was shaped by a defining moment.

In July 2021, Rabbi Noginski was stabbed eight times while protecting the children of the Shaloh House summer camp during a terrorist attack. In the aftermath, Rabbi Noginski and Rabbi Rodkin made an extraordinary decision: if an attacker had tried to kill one Rav, they would answer by preparing eight new rabbanim every year—one for each wound.

Inspired by the Rebbe’s timeless teaching to answer darkness by increasing light, Torah, and acts of goodness, they established the Boston Semicha program. Four years later, its fourth cohort now joins the growing number of graduates serving Jewish communities.

Reflecting on the experience, one talmid shared:

“We didn’t only learn the halachos—we learned how to live them. Every shiur and every opportunity to help another Yid taught us what it truly means to serve a community. The program became a family, and by the end of the year I felt prepared not only to pass a bechinah, but to begin my own shlichus.”

Over the past four years, the Boston Semicha program has trained dozens of rabbanim, many of whom are already serving communities as rabbanim, mechanchim, and shluchim.

Rabbi Noginski said:

“Every Rav serving a community must have a thorough command of Hilchos Chuppah V’Kiddushin. But Semicha is far more than passing examinations. Our goal is to prepare rabbanim and shluchim who combine deep Torah knowledge with practical experience, personal responsibility, genuine Ahavas Yisrael, and the confidence to lead. We want every talmid to leave the program ready to begin serving a community from the very first day of his shlichus.”

As the program prepares to welcome its fifth cohort, it is also developing a dedicated digital Semicha platform, including a website and mobile application, to make shiurim, study materials, review resources, and additional learning tools available to yeshivah bochurim around the world.

The hanhalah expressed heartfelt appreciation to Harav Brod shlita for his outstanding shiurim, personal guidance, and the many hours he devoted to preparing and examining the talmidim.

Registration is now open for the upcoming academic year.

For information and registration:
Phone: +1 (617) 818-6463
Email: RabbiShlomo@shaloh.org

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