Lakewood Talmud Torah Completes Shas Mishnayos In Memory Of Bibas Family

NEW YORK (VINnews) — A Cheder Rebbe from Lakewood, New Jersey, together with his students, completed the entire Shas of Mishnayos in memory of the pure souls of the Bibas family HYD.

Rabbi David Ben Harosh, a scholar residing in Lakewood, serves as a teacher for a seventh-grade class at the local Talmud Torah.

After hearing the heartbreaking story of the Bibas family, he could not remain indifferent and decided to take action in their memory.

Speaking with the Kikar HaShabbat site, Rabbi Ben Harosh said:
“As a teacher in a Lakewood cheder, we were all deeply shaken by the horrific tragedy that befell the Bibas family, as well as by the incredible Jewish bravery of the father, Yarden. We felt that in order to uphold the verse, ‘The eternity of Israel will not lie,’ we had to do something for them.”

“I gathered the students,” he recounted, “and we discussed the event and the strength of the Jewish people. Together, we brainstormed ideas on how we could elevate the souls of the young children and their mother, who were so cruelly murdered by Hamas.”

“The best and most practical idea,” he continued, “was to complete a tractate. But we quickly realized that we needed to do something even greater.”

They decided to complete the entire Shas of Mishnayot. The 70 students enthusiastically divided up the tractates, eager to participate in honoring the memory of the redheaded family that touched the hearts of all of Israel.

Within a short time, all the tractates were assigned, and by the 30-day memorial of their burial [they were murdered in 2023 soon after their kidnapping], the students completed the entire Shas. On Monday, they held a deeply moving Siyum, with David Aviv, the student who studied the most, reciting the final lines.

Rabbi Ben Harosh emphasized why this event was so powerful for him:
“Beyond the unfathomable tragedy of the Bibas family, it was crucial for us to send a message from the United States to Israel: We are one people. No matter our differences in opinions or perspectives, when we are attacked, we stand together as one unified nation.”

Rabbi Ben Harosh explained the significance of this initiative to his students:
“When Jews on the other side of the world are in distress, we are in distress. We feel the pain and suffering of Israel, the attempted annihilation of our people, and we show the world that no one can break us.”

The Siyum ceremony took place in the Talmud Torah’s dining hall and was designed in an orange theme—in memory of the redheaded family The students completed the Shas and sang a heartfelt song in their memory, ensuring that their legacy would never be forgotten.