Editing Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim Montreal (section)

== Development of the Yeshiva ==
During the month of Cheshvan, the Frierdiker Rebbe sent the renowned mashpia Rabbi Shmuel Levitin to help establish the yeshiva in its first steps. Later the Rebbe instructed to arrange a working committee to manage Tomchei Tmimim, which would be chosen by the local Anash. The Rebbe instructed to appoint R' Yehuda Albert as head of the committee - apparently an activist who helped and supported the yeshiva greatly. Rabbi Levitin left the yeshiva shortly after the 10th of Kislev 5702, about a month after arriving at the yeshiva.

Less than a month after the yeshiva opened, the nine students conducted major outreach among the city's Jews and gathered twenty-four young students from among the city's synagogues, for whom they established two classes of a yeshiva called "Achei Tmimim", temporarily in the Chabad Nusach Ari synagogue on Park Avenue.

The Frierdiker Rebbe was not satisfied with the success, and about a week later sent a letter to Rabbi Levitin, complaining that they had gathered "only" twenty-four students. He gave practical instructions on how to gather more students. As part of the outreach, the students published a newspaper called 'Der Chaver' for a year calling on young parents to send their children to yeshiva.

Meanwhile, young men who had traveled from Germany to England were arrested because they spoke German and were suspected of spying for the Germans. These young men were sent to a detention camp in New Brunswick, Canada. After the Frierdiker Rebbe worked to free them through Rabbi Levitin, in Pesach 5702 they joined the yeshiva, including Aharon Klein, Yehuda Sputz, and Reuven Tzvi Yehuda Feigelstock, who became close to Chabad Chassidus thanks to this rescue.

A year later in 5703 the yeshiva had over two hundred students. The Frierdiker Rebbe sent a letter saying that thank G-d after great effort that the students exerted, there should have been at least five hundred students.

In 5710 Rabbi Yehuda Chitrik was appointed as the spiritual director of the yeshiva. On the 15th of Shvat 5712 the Rebbe instructed him to establish Ach Tmimim Hashluchim.

On the 19th of Kislev 5716 the yeshiva celebrated together with five hundred students the first semicha ceremony recognized in Canada. The impressive evening was held at Young Israel with participation of all the city's Jews. The students were tested by Rabbi Hirschhorn - the chief rabbi of Montreal. The Rebbe instructed to make it a big celebration and the mayor and congressmen were invited. The Rebbe sent a special representative, Rabbi Shlomo Hecht, who made a great kiddush Hashem.

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