This past Shabbos, 550 Pirchei boys from Montreal, Toronto, Monsey, and Passaic joined together for the crown of the Pirchei year

Photo: Pirchei Montreal

Happening in…Montreal

Say “Pirchei,” and many will conjure up cozy images of boys’ youth programs in the ’80s and ’90s. In the city of Montreal, the Bob Ament Pirchei is alive and well, thriving with a program every single night of the week throughout the school year.

This past Shabbos, 550 Pirchei boys from Montreal, Toronto, Monsey, and Passaic joined together for the crown of the Pirchei year — the 41st annual Pirchei Siyum HaMishnayos. Montreal’s Pirchei boys learned and were tested on over 20,000 mishnayos in preparation for the event, and the out-of-town guests contributed with over 10,000 mishnayos of their own.

Programming began Thursday night and culminated with the grand siyum on Motzaei Shabbos.

As always, Montreal’s rabbanim and lay leaders came out in the frigid weather to show their support for Klal Yisrael’s next leaders. It’s noteworthy to mention that Mr. Fred Pfeiffer, a Bergen-Belsen survivor and founding member of Pirchei Agudath Israel of Montreal, sat on the dais as well, shepping nachas over what he helped build.

Monsey’s Rabbi Yehuda Kohn, new Pirchei national director, took to the podium, looked over the crowd, and wondered — what’s the secret to Pirchei Montreal’s enduring strength? Is it the passionate directors? The energetic counselors? The support of the city’s leaders? Perhaps, he concluded, it’s the Pirchei boys themselves — who every night of the year fill local batei midrsashim to learn mishnayos, nursing homes to cheer up residents, or the local pool for good wholesome fun. They’re living life the Pirchei way, learning and having fun while in a Torah framework

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 951)