A Unique Opportunity to Bring Daily Halacha into Your Life Cohen

Imagine being able to learn nearly all of hilchos Pesach this year before Pesach. Yes, we are only just beginning chodesh Elul and Pesach seems far off on the horizon but learning hilchos Pesach is a serious undertaking and if you start now, with Dirshu’s Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program, you can come into Pesach on a completely different plane. What a wonderful kabbalah to make before Rosh Hashanah, a kabbalah to bring daily halacha into your life!

HaGaon HaRav Shraga Shteinman, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Orchos Torah, said that this is exactly what we should be doing now in Elul as we begin thinking about the upcoming Rosh Hashanah, “It is incumbent on all of us to make a cheshbon hanefesh and discern what we need to improve. One of the things that every Jew must analyze is if his knowledge of daily halacha is up to par. If he finds himself lacking, he should optimally make a kabbalah to accept upon himself to improve and learn the halachos that he needs to know. Are we sufficiently familiar with the halachos of Pesach? If the answer is no, then now is the time to accept upon oneself to learn hilchos Pesach.

“What better time to join the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha than now?!” Rav Shraga Shteinman exclaimed, “If we make this kind of kabbalah, we will see that, little by little, we will gain a knowledge of the halachos of each Yom Tov, each day and Shabbos. What better way to amass zechusim than to make a kabbalah to learn daily halacha?!”

Permeating One’s Life with Halacha!

The Dirshu Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program was established in the month of Iyar, 2008, at Dirshu’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration in Eretz Yisrael. The program received not just the blessing but also the active encouragement of the senior Gedolei Yisrael of that time including, HaGaon HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zt”l, HaGaon HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, zt”l, HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, zt”l, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Wosner, zt”l, and yblc”h, the Gerrer Rebbe, shlita, the Belzer Rebbe, shlita, the Sanzer Rebbe, shlita, and many others.

As the many thousands who already participate know, the program features a daf of Mishnah Berurah daily, five days a week, with Friday and Shabbos set aside for chazarah. When a Dirshu delegation visited the Gerrer Rebbe, shlita, the Rebbe encapsulated one of the primary purposes of the program: “When someone makes learning halachah and knowledge of Mishnah Berurah part of his daily learning schedule from a young age, he becomes accustomed to living in such a way that for the rest of his life his every action is permeated by halacha.”

Currently, the Daf Hayomi B’Halacha is already moving towards the latter part of its third cycle. They have just completed the difficult halachos of Eruvin and are set to embark on hilchos Pesach.

Hilchos Pesach is one of those areas in the Mishnah Berurah where lomdei halacha with limited time often choose to learn only the seemingly more relevant halachos. Many of the important simanim, which on the surface, seem to either be very intricate or not as relevant to our times are therefore neglected. Countless individuals suffice with learning the beginning of Chelek Hei which deals with the halachos of bedikas chametz and biur chametz and then skip over to the seder night thereby missing numerous vital halachos. There are the halachos of taaruvos chametz, the halachos of what one must do if, G-d forbid, he finds chametz in his house on Pesach, the halachos of kashering keilim, baking matzos and the list goes on…

In fact, during the last machzor of the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, one of the lomdim remarked, “I would never have dreamt that I would one day be zoche to learn all the halachos of baking matzos, all the complex details on how to properly sell chometz to a gentile and the detailed wording of the shtar, the document of sale. When would I have ever sat down and properly learned the difficult halachos of hagalas keilim, kashering keilim for Pesach with so many associated, contemporary scenarios? But I have done just that, thanks to Dirshu’s Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program.”

Fleeing This World for the ‘World of Hashem’!

During the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha’s last machzor, the Sar HaTorah, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, was still with us and before the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha embarked on Chelek Hei, he said something that can serve as the greatest catalyst to start learning hilchos Pesach with the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha. He said, “In our generation, the generation of ikvesah d’Meshicha, there is a great tumah, impurity in the world. The power of the yetzer hara in this world is greater than it ever was. That is why we must flee from ‘this world’ and enter ‘the world of Hashem’. What is the ‘world of Hashem’? The ‘world of Hashem’ is the daled amos of halacha.”

Perhaps HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Hillel, shlita, Rosh Yeshivat Ahavat Shalom, put it most succinctly when he said, “By promoting a daily Mishnah Berurah program, Dirshu has done a colossal chessed for Klal Yisrael. The Mishnah Beruah is not just a halacha sefer, it is a sefer that builds the life of every Jew. The Chofetz Chaim spent over 25 years writing the Mishnah Berurah. Until you really learn it, you cannot appreciate the work that went into it. Dirshu has given all of us a window into the greatness of this sefer.”

Whereas some of the Dirshu programs cater to those who are able to devote a considerable part of their day to learning, the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program is for everyone. Now, during Elul, the month of teshuvah when we begin our march towards Rosh Hashanah, it is the optimum time to join and begin Chelek Hei. Learning daily halacha with a structured program will have a transformative impact on your life. 

What are you waiting for!?

To join Daf HaYomi B’Halacha please call, 888-5-Dirshu, or e-mail, info@kolleldirshu.org.

Inspirational and Timely Advice from Rav Dov Landau, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and Rav Dovid Cohen

Fire! It was fire!

As the venerated Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, completed his drasha, he became so animated, so full of fire, so full of passion!

With great emotion, he said, “Everyone here in this room knows that the Olam HaTorah is facing tremendous adversity. There are so many gezeiros. There is the draft and there are other gezeiros. They are trying to fight against us with every tool at their disposal. I want you to know what the approach of a ben Torah should be. How does a ben Torah battle against these gezeiros?”

“The answer,” he exclaimed passionately, while raising his arms to heaven, “is only through limud haTorah, only through being careful about mitzvos, only by creating a vibrant kesher with Hashem! If we are truly connected to Hashem that will bring us the siyatta d’Shmaya if we constantly think about what Hashem wants from us; if we live with Him and ‘know His name,’ they will not be able to touch us; you have nothing to worry about at all!”

Rav Moshe Hillel’s powerful address was given at a unique “Seder Hachanah” event held last week by Dirshu. The event, which was expressly for bachurim from all over Eretz Yisrael who are graduating yeshiva ketanah (high school age) and will be entering yeshiva gedolah (beis medrash) next year, featured leading senior Gedolei Yisrael offering practical advice on how to be successful in yeshiva.

There was a unique question and answer session with the venerated Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, shlita. They were also addressed by HaGaonim HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron, HaRav Messoud Ben Shimon, shlita, Sephardic Rav of Bnei Brak and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr Elitzur, and Rav Yaakov Shternshus, shlita, Mashgiach of Yeshiva Shaarei Shmuos. They were also treated to an address by Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, Nasi of Dirshu.

In addition, many questions about how to be successful in yeshiva gedolah were posed during a unique shailos and teshuvos session to the three panel members, HaGaon HaRav Yehoshua Eichenstein, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Yad Aharon, HaGaon HaRav Bunim Schreiber, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Nesiv Daas, and HaGaon HaRav Chaim Peretz Berman, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva at the Ponevezh Yeshiva.
Indeed, it was an unforgettable scene!

More than four thousand bachurim all the same age, from all over Eretz Yisrael converged on the Armanot Chen Halls in Bnei Brak to hear guidance - the upstairs floor of the hall, the downstairs floor of the hall, the streets and all the hall’s environs were full, full of bachurim! Those who could not gain entry watched on screens. The bachurim came in droves anxious to quench their thirst for guidance at this pivotal stage in their lives.

HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, Shlita: The Power of Tefillah

Rav Dov Landau, who could not personally attend, answered shailos that had been posed to him in his house about how a bachur can grow and be successful in yeshiva. The video of Rav Dov answering shailos was shown at the event. Wherever one looked, one could see bachurim listening with bated breath, some taking notes as they were zoche to hear from a Rosh Yeshiva who has spent more than eighty years in the Olam Hayeshivos.

Rav Dov began by saying that one extremely important hishtadlus that one must make to be successful is simply to daven to Hashem and beg Him for success. Rav Dov explained that certainly tefillah is the primary hishtadlus but, of course, a bachur must also push himself to be deeply immersed in learning.
“The learning has to occupy his mind. He should live with what he is learning. When he encounters a new insight, he should think about it!”

Rav Landau then elaborated, “Genuine growth comes from stopping to appreciate every fresh insight in Torah rather than rushing ahead.

“When something truly new suddenly occurs to you,” Rav Landau said, “your eyes should light up! You should be excited! Every genuine chiddush should awaken a sense of wonder.”

At the same time, he emphasized how discipline is indispensable.

“A bachur must be disciplined and comply with what the yeshiva requires. He may think he’s a great genius, and he can do his own thing but that is incorrect, he must be disciplined.”

When Rav Dov was asked whether bochurim should involve themselves in issues surrounding the gezeiros on bnei yeshiva he answered, unequivocally, “They should learn. They should not be thinking about those things. They should think about their learning, and about bein adam l’chaveiro. Respecting another person is extremely important - listening to him, rejoicing when things go well for him, and if, chas v’shalom, things are not going well, sharing in his pain.”

HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Shlita: “Yeshiva Gedolah Is A Fresh Slate!

Rav Moshe Hillel’s drasha was a shiur klali in what it takes to be successful in yeshiva. “The first thing a bachur should know,” Rav Hirsch began, “is that in just one month from now, you will be making what might be the most transformative change of your life.”

He went on to enumerate several points that every bachur must know before coming into yeshiva gedolah, advice that would empower them to truly succeed in yeshiva and in life.

“A bachur must really understand the purpose of the ostensible ‘freedom’ in yeshiva gedolah in comparison with yeshiva ketana. Until now you were always under someone’s control. You slept at home and were under your parents. The yeshiva ketanas are very regimented and you are under constant watch. In yeshiva gedolah there is much more ‘freedom’. When a person has more freedom, he likes to think, ‘I will now decide what is good for me and otherwise…’ That is a mistake! That is the yetzer hara talking! A person must make for himself a rav, a guide. He cannot rely on his own seichel because often the yetzer hara is in charge of his seichel. Independence doesn’t mean that ‘I alone can do what I think is good for me’. You must remain under the guidance and rules of the yeshiva.”

Rav Moshe Hillel emphasized that “Yeshiva gedolah is a fresh slate! Even someone who was not so successful in yeshiva ketanah is empowered to make a fresh start and should come in with great she’ifos. Never let the past define you. Even if you were not previously successful in Torah, in tefillah, in yiras shamayim, now is the time to break with the past and start fresh!”

HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, Shlita: “What IS a Yeshiva? A Yeshiva is a Factory!”

When the Rosh Yeshiva of Chevron got up to speak everyone saw that he was gripped by emotion. “It is a very emotional moment for me to stand before this amazing elevated tzibbur. We in the Olam Hayeshivos have been through a difficult year. It has been a year when the Olam Hayeshivos has been under attack and myriad efforts have been made to harm the yeshiva world. I think that the greatest response to what we have been through is what we are seeing here tonight. We are standing here in front of a crowd of thousands of bachurim that want to do one thing, they want to join Hashem’s army, the army of the yeshivos. They know where the eternal truth lies. They know what their purpose is in the world!”

Rav Dovid went on to give seminal advice on how they could be successful in yeshiva. “Let us try to encapsulate what a yeshiva is, some say it is a place where we learn Gemara or learn how to learn Gemara. That is incorrect. Yes, what we primarily do in yeshiva is learn Gemara, but that does not define what is a yeshiva. When a person l’havdil wants to become a doctor or an accountant he goes to college to learn that trade. A yeshiva,” the Rosh Yeshiva continued, “is not a college! It is a factory, a factory that builds and produces the unique product called a ‘ben Torah’. It is a factory that creates and raises the talmidei chachomim who will continue the mesorah of Klal Yisrael for the coming generation.”

Rav Dovid also spoke about social standing in the yeshivos. “In more recent years, I have seen that a bachur’s social standing in the yeshiva has become a big deal. Everyone wants to be looked at as geshmak, normal, a person who people want to be around. I am not minimizing the importance of social interaction to a degree, but incessant focus on it? Not only doesn’t the incessant focus help one’s social standing, but it will ultimately hurt his social standing as well.

“If a person focuses more on his learning and not on his place in the social life of the yeshiva, perhaps at the beginning, he won’t be looked at with as much admiration but with time, the entire yeshiva will look at him with great admiration. He will be more socially acceptable than the bachur who spent so much time in idle chatter in order to be ‘with it.’”

HaGaon HaRav Messoud Ben Shimon, Shlita: “You Will Receive the Reward of All of Them!”

Rav Messoud Ben Shimon, the venerated Sephardic Rav of Bnei Brak, began his address by asking a question. “What do we do? We find ourselves in such difficult times, what do we do?”

He answered, “The Yerushalmi writes, ‘If you see that people have given up on learning Torah, your job is to be strong and learn with even greater tenacity and you will receive the reward of everyone. The Alter of Kelm explains that if a person learns when others are not learning, being that he is standing in the breach and doing what is ostensibly their job, he will receive their reward.

“This gathering and the deep desire of each bachur here to be successful in yeshiva,” Rav Ben Shimon thundered, “is the greatest testament to the eternity of the Torah. You will receive the reward of all of them!”

Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Shlita: The Importance of Recognizing that “Everything Depends on Me”

Another highlight of the event was the passionate address by Dirshu’s Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita. Rav Hofstedter was not able to attend in person this year and instead a video of his address was played.
Rav Hofstedter cited the words of Rav Eliyahu Dessler who compares the way a person progresses in Torah and avodas Hashem to a ladder that is rooted in the ground but reaches all the way to the heavens.
He explained that a person must climb that ladder one rung at a time. He must conquer the yetzer hara at the level where he is currently. Rav Chaim Volozhiner says that when a person tells his slave to climb up to the roof, he doesn’t demand that he jump up from the ground to the roof in one jump. He means that he should climb up one level at a time.

“It is this important lesson,” Rav Hofstedter continued, “that every bachur has to understand about aliyah in ruchniyus. He must proceed step by step. Don’t jump and try to do everything at once. A bachur should not think, ‘I am in yeshiva gedolah, I can reach shleimus right away!’

“That is not a healthy thought. Growth in ruchniyus is a process. Slow and steady. Our she’ifos must be to reach very high, but the way to get there is slowly, step by step.

“Even if a bachur periodically falls, he must remember that the ladder is still there, waiting for him. Just because you fell once, that shouldn’t be an excuse to fall again. The ladder is always waiting for you.”
Rav Dovid added that it is important for a bachur in yeshiva gedolah to realize that his entire hatzlachah in yeshiva and in life depends on… him and him alone!

“If you invest the effort and realize that everything depends on you, then you will be successful!”
He related a story that transpired in the Holocaust with one of his family members. The Nazis came to their city and shut down their fabric store. Without the store, they could not live but they also could not try to escape.

The problem was that any older person caught on the street was beaten and taken to a concentration camp. There was one child, the youngest in the family who realized that at that time the Nazis weren’t rounding up children. The child took fabric, rolled it around his body and then put his clothing on top of the fabric. The child journeyed by himself to another city and was able to sell the fabric at a handsome profit. The child returned to his town with money and thus helped keep the family going.

“How did this child have the strength and courage to venture out alone among the Nazi beasts? How? Because he realized, ‘It all depends on me!’”

“Baruch Hashem, you bachurim are living in times where you don’t have to take your life into your hands. Your parents are responsible for you, you have supportive families and rebbeim, you have food and board, but still, there is an element of ‘everything depends on me,’ that you must internalize if you really want to have hatzlacha in yeshiva. If you realize that everything depends on you,” Rav Hofstedter concluded, “Hashem will give you strength that you didn’t even know you had to succeed!”

Fortunate Is The Generation Where The Young Listen To The Elders!

One could see the smiling, yet earnest faces of the bachurim as they exited after being infused with such divrei chizuk and hearing so many real-life scenarios played out in the question-and-answer sessions. Their shining countenances were the best testament to how glad they were to have heard practical guidance from the Gedolei Hador on the most important period of growth in their lives!

The sense of achdus that permeated the event was likewise phenomenal. Thousands of bachurim - Litvishe, Sephardic, Chassidic, all the same age, came together to hear guidance from Gedolei Yisrael. This is Dirshu! Enhancing limud haTorah for Yidden of all ages and affiliations!

Fortunate is the generation where the young listen to the elders!

Unique, a word that pales when describing a triple siyum.

It was a siyum not on one, not on two but on all three “Bavas” - Bava Kama, Bava Metziah and Bava Basra that have recently been completed in the Dirshu Chaburas Shas Iyun Program. The siyum was held at the home of the venerated Rosh Yeshiva of the Chevron Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, and was attended by choice maggidei shiur in the program.

“Once a person gains a comprehensive knowledge of Bava Kama, Bava Metziah and Bava Basra,” Rav Cohen said, “he comes with a hekef of the entire Seder Nezikin at his fingertips. All the foundational sugyos in Nezikin are contained in the three Bavas: kinyanim, nizkei mammon, geneiva, gezeilah, yerushos, it is all there. When someone learns iyun and says a sevara with all three Bavas at his fingertips, it is a different chiddush, a different iyun. The Torah is one big puzzle,” Rav Cohen continued, “You can’t just learn one small part and figure out how everything fits in. You must have knowledge of sugyos throughout Shas. Not just by learning them quickly and perfunctorily, but through learning them the way this wonderful Chaburas Shas program learns, day in and day out, Gemara, Rashi, Tosafos, and the main rishonim. That is the true tzurah of a talmid chacham.”

The Power of a Tzibbur Learning Together

The siyum at Rav Dovid Cohen’s home was not the only siyum held on the three Bavas.

In Bnei Brak, there is a large shul called Beis Medrash Beis Hashem led by its distinguished Rav, HaGaon HaRav, Rav Yitzchok Kolodetzky, shlita, a son-in-law of the Sar HaTorah, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l. It is a large shul with hundreds of members. Under the direction of Rav Kolodestzky, the members of the shul have adopted the Chaburas Shas program as one of their daily limudim.

Hundreds of shul members learned all three Bavas and took tests on them. Their accomplishments were also celebrated with a beautiful siyum attended by the Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstedster, shlita.

Rav Menachem Kessler, shlita, a maggid shiur in the kehillah, opened the evening by pointing out that there was a common denominator between Beis Medrash Beis Hashem and Dirshu: both of them never stop coming up with new ideas and ways to enrich the spiritual lives of their members. Beis Medrash Beis Hashem is always adding new spiritual initiatives and the Dirshu Chaburas HaShas has been a game changer for all the participants.

In Rav Dovid Hofstedter’s address, he spoke about the ketores. “There are seeming contradictions regarding the ketores,” he began, “We know that when Korach and his men brought the ketores, they died as a result. On the other hand, we know that that very ketores is what stopped the plague. What then is the ketores, a killer or a savior?

After putting forth a brilliant explanation based on the words of the Shem M’Shmuel, the essence of Rav Hofstedter’s answer was that when there is unity, when the entire Klal Yisrael is together as one, the ketores can stop a plague. When it is each man for himself, such as by Korach and his people, however, then the ketores causes death and destruction.

Focusing his full gaze on the members of Kehillas Beis Hashem, Rav Dovid exclaimed, “In this elevated, wonderful tzibbur of talmidei chachamim there is the special quality of the learning that each of you do on your own. What you should know, however, is that you are not individuals who happen to be learning. You are a part of a tzibbur. When you are part of Chaburas Shas or any of Dirshu’s learning programs, you are not alone. You are joined together collectively by thousands of fellow lomdim all over the world. What you do doesn’t just positively impact you, your chavrusah and your own families. Rather your learning goes far beyond the yachid effecting a positive impact on the entire Olam HaTorah thereby elevating all of Klal Yisrael!”

The Antidote to Galus

Rav Yosef Rosenblum, one of the maggidei shiur in the kehillah, cited the frightening words of the Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh in Parshas Vayechi. The Ohr Hachaim says that Am Yisrael merited to be redeemed from the first galus, the galus of Mitzrayim in the zechus of Avrohom Avinu. We were redeemed from the second galus in the zechus of Yitzchok and from the third galus in the merit of Yaakov Avinu.

Now we are in the last and final galus, the galus of Edom. In whose zechus will be redeemed from this last galus? In the merit of Moshe Rabbeinu, who brought down the Torah from Har Sinai. The Ohr Hachaim then says something truly frightening. He said the main reason we have not yet been redeemed from this galus, the main reason why it is taking so long is because Moshe Rabbeinu does not want to redeem those who are beteilim min haTorah, those who don’t learn Torah!

Standing here at Kehillas Beis Hashem with Dirshu, we can say that we are not beteilim min haTorah. We are immersed in Torah, in Chaburas Shas, in other programs… Let us come together and beg Moshe Rabbeinu that he should come and redeem us, bimheirah b’yameinu!

The Simcha of True Yedias HaTorah

At the siyum in the home of the Rosh Yeshiva of Chevron, Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Cohen echoed this theme.

“What a zechus!” he proclaimed, “What a zechus it is for a talmid chacham who has learned all three Bavas and really knows the foundational sugyos of them all! This kinyan, this acquisition that they have made puts them into a totally different category of talmid chacham. This is the simcha that we feel today, the simcha of true yedias haTorah.”

“On the one hand,” Rav Cohen continued with a sigh, “we are living in a time of great hester panim. Yeshiva bachurim and kollel yungeleit are being thrown into jail for the ‘sin’ of learning Torah! Talmidei chachamim are suffering due to monetary sanctions as well.

“When I see how despite all this, we are producing true talmidei chachamim, it brings me simcha! When I see the geshmak in learning of those people who have completed masechtos with iyun in a way that they truly know it, it fills me with light and hope!”

Start This Week and Complete the Masechta by This Coming Yom Kippur

Imagine davening the Yom Kippur Mussaf and being intimately familiar with the avodah of the Kohen on Yom Kippur! This year it is possible and relatively simple. The Amud HaYomi is beginning Masechta Yoma this week, 12 Iyar/April 29. By learning one amud per day, you can come into Yom Kippur with a clear understanding of every aspect of the avodah and exactly how the kapparah of Yom Kippur was done. What a zechus and kapparah that would be for you and Klal Yisrael!

Indeed, since the Amud HaYomi was established over two years ago at a gala event in Vienna in the same place where the Knessiah Gedolah was held, in the same city of Vienna where Rav Meir Shapiro established the Daf HaYomi, multitudes have joined the Amud HaYomi, finding that the slower pace enables them to better understand what they are learning.

In an unprecedented development, just last week, HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky, shlita, venerated Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh and the Zekan Roshei Yeshiva in Eretz Yisrael, issued a historic letter calling on Yidden all over the world to join the Amud HaYomi as they embark on Masechta Yoma.

The Letter

In his seminal letter Rav Berel writes:

It has already been many years since my dear friend, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, established Dirshu, the worldwide Torah learning organization, and he has merited Divine support that has enabled him to spread the learning of Torah in an incredible way.

In the last years, he has added another amazing program, Amud HaYomi and Baruch Hashem, the learning of Amud HaYomi has spread tremendously throughout the world. Moreover, Dirshu is doing everything to help the lomdim join and be successful. They also publish a wonderful kuntress every month called Iyun HaAmud where they bring many of the primary points of lomdus that will help the lomdim better understand the amud.

Rav Berel continues with a clarion call calling on all to join the Amud HaYomi,

Now the [Amud HaYomi] is beginning Masechta Yoma. I have come to strengthen [the learning of Amud HaYomi] because it is something that is possible for almost everyone to add this limud to their regular learning sedarim. In doing so, they join the tens of thousands of Yidden in Klal Yisrael and thereby gain wide-ranging knowledge of Shas.”

The senior Rosh Yeshiva then points out that it is especially important to join for Masechta Yoma,

Masechta Yoma is unique because aside from the fact that it is a masechta in the seder of Moed, it is also a masechta that opens up the foundations of seder Kodshim.”

Rav Povarsky concludes his letter by giving a heartfelt bracha to Dirshu and its Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter that they should continue to increase Torah learning among all segments of Klal Yisrael.

Hundreds of Shiurim World-Over

The great interest being generated for the learning of Amud HaYomi in advance of Masechta Yoma was not born in a vacuum. In the weeks before Pesach, the Amud HaYomi program learned Perek Arvei Pesachim and Dirshu invested great effort into facilitating the opening of many new Amud HaYomi shiurim so that participants could learn the sugyos of the seder night before Pesach. The response was phenomenal!

For example, in the Five Towns area itself, ten new shiurim opened! Among them a shiur given by Rabbi Yoni Levin, at Beis Medrash Hachaim V’Hashalom, a shiur given by Rabbi Heshy Blumstein in Kehillas Yismach Moshe, a shiur given at the Bach Jewish Center by Rabbi Benny Berlin and a shiur given by Rabbi Yosef Spiegel at Beis Medrsash Ostrov Kalushin and numerous others.

In Lakewood alone there are thirty Amud HaYomi shiurim in addition to the hundreds more who are learning with individual chavrusos.

Throughout the United States and Canada, Dirshu has established over 200 Amud HaYomi shiurim with many hundreds more in Eretz Yisrael and Europe!

The Secret to the Amud HaYomi’s Success

Why has Amud HaYomi become so popular in such a short time?

HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron, best encapsulated why the Amud HaYomi gained popularity so quickly by giving hashkafic insight into its entire purpose.

Rav Cohen recalled how, when the foundational meetings were held to establish the Amud HaYomi, “I shared an important thought. Rav Meir Shapiro had tremendous zechuyos when he established the Daf HaYomi. Many people have, baruch Hashem, completed the entire Shas through learning with the Daf HaYomi and that is wonderful. Nevertheless, the fact is that for those who learn the daf in a half hour or 45 minutes, it is nearly impossible to learn it properly.”

Rav Cohen maintained that the slower pace of Amud HaYomi enables a person to learn with a much more enhanced understanding of what he is learning and allows more time for chazara as well.

HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch Shlita: “This Limud Has The Power To Protect Klal Yisrael

Another important reason, especially relevant now amid the great uncertainty in the world, as noted by HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita.”Several months ago, right before the Amud HaYomi embarked on Masechta Eruvin, the Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva said, “This limud has the power to protect Klal Yisrael at a time when its enemies seek its destruction. Everyone knows the difficult situation in which the Torah world finds itself. And what saves us?” he exclaimed, “Only an increase in Torah learning and in kavod haTorah!”

Perhaps the powerful and compelling letter written on Rosh Chodesh Shevat by HaGaon HaRav Isamar Garbuz, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Orchos Torah, best explains why it is so important to join the Amud HaYomi. He wrote,

It is already more than two years since the Torah organization Dirshu established a program to learn Shas with the Amud HaYomi, where lomdim learn one amud every day and therefore merit to have an eternal kinyan in yedias haTorah….

After Pesach, they will go m’chayil el chayil and begin Masechta Yoma [about Yom Kippur] which they will learn until the coming Yom Kippur.

This will provide tremendous benefit because the lomdim will be able to learn about the Yom Tov of Yom Kippur in advance of that holy day.

The Amud HaYomi has become one of the staple limudim for Klal Yisrael as many have found that the slower pace of learning truly connects Jews to Torah. The fact that they can understand what they learn at a deeper level intensifies their bond with Torah in a profound way.”

If you want to experience the avodah on Yom Kippur in a way that you have never before experienced it, NOW is the time to join the Amud HaYomi. Don’t push it off!

To join the Amud HaYomi and to complete Masechta Yoma by this coming Yom Kippur, please contact Dirshu at info@dirshunj.org or at 1-888-5Dirshu.

Dirshu’s Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter Meets With Senior Trump Administration Officials at State Dept Regarding Rampant Antisemitism

“I would say it is absolutely critical that you not only call or write to your congressman, but that you actually come down to his office and meet with him or one of the leading members of his staff and express your feelings about the rise in antisemitism. Emails and phone calls are very good but even if it might cost resources, the fact that you’re taking the time to come to Washington DC to visit your member of Congress or a member on his team to be able to run these issues has an impact unlike any other aspect of communication.”

Those were the words of Ambassador Mark Walker, Principal Advisor on Global Religious Freedom at the U.S. State Department, in a fascinating conversation with Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi of Dirshu, held not long before Pesach.

Rav Hofstedter’s visit to Capitol Hill in Washington, which is just one aspect of the shtadlanus that Rav Hofstedter and Dirshu has been doing for Klal Yisrael, included a comprehensive and productive meeting with Ambassador Walker. The primary focus of their meeting was the rising climate of antisemitism and tolerance for Jew hatred that is evident in the United States and in many other places throughout the world.

During the course of his visit to Washington, Rav Hofstedter met with prominent legislators such as House Majority Leader, Rep. Steve Scalise, a very important representative who was very receptive to the concerns of the Jewish people as presented by Rav Hofstedter. Rav Hofstedter also met with Rep. Randy Fine of Florida, a rising star in the Republican party, Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX), Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) — one of the largest conservative caucuses in Congress and also Chairman of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.

His visit concluded with a meeting at the office of Senator James Langford of Oklahoma, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Border Management, Federal Workforce, and Regulatory Affairs.

“A Ticking Time Bomb” – a Firsthand Report

What was the purpose of Rav Hofstedter’s visit to Washington? Dirshu is of course primarily a global Torah organization with offices and programs all over the world in tens of cities and on six continents. As an organization with a global footprint, Dirshu has seen and heard firsthand reports from its tens of thousands of lomdim all over the world about the deeply concerning uptick in antisemitism in their respective communities.

Indeed, antisemitism has gone mainstream. It is no longer necessary to hide one’s antisemitism. Comments that just a few years ago could have ended one’s career are now considered normal in America. In Canada, Europe and Australia, it is even worse!
Rav Hofstedter, who is both a son and son-in-law of Holocaust survivors, is especially sensitive to this terrible scourge of antisemitic resurgence.

He came to Washington baring a painstakingly compiled special report on antisemitism entitled “A Ticking Time Bomb.”
It was a comprehensive report from the field based on the research that Dirshu has done from its worldwide constituency. Rav Hofstedter felt that the voices of Yidden who are out there in centers of Jewish life around the world were not being heard. He felt that b’makom she’ein ish, Dirshu must come forth and raise the alarm.

The report, given to Ambassador Walker who would be sharing it with secretary of State Rubio and many others on Capitol Hill, offers firsthand testimony and statistics about the uptick in rabidly antisemitic conduct, attacks etc. in North America, Europe, Canada, Australia and South Africa.

The Report

The report also mentions specific areas of concern as well as causes. Firstly, it outlines the Roots of Contemporary Antisemitism.

Some of the manifestations of antisemitism that Jews are facing that were highlighted were:

Popular Hostility

Grassroots hostility toward Jews, particularly in areas with large Muslim populations.

Media Bias

International media outlets frequently frame the Israeli Palestinian conflict in a one-sided manner that reinforces anti-Israel narratives.

Diplomatic Double Standards

International organizations often treat Israel as a morally equivalent actor with terrorist organizations.

Academic Ideology

Universities serve as incubators for ideological narratives that portray Jewish identity and Zionism as inherently oppressive.
Ambassador Walker Reaches Out To the Frum Community

The meeting that Rav Hofstedter had with Ambassador Walker was particularly fruitful and instructive. There seemed to be great chemistry between Rav Dovid and the ambassador and it was clear that the ambassador, himself a former congressman from South Carolina who sat on the influential foreign affairs committee, and has the ear of Secretary of State Rubio and President Trump, is determined to use every lever of American power at his disposal to tackle the issue of antisemitism both in America and worldwide.

In fact, Ambassador Walker clearly feels a kinship with the frum community and the Torah community. He recently attended the Dirshu Kinnus Olam HaTorah where he addressed the Melava Malka and participated in a panel regarding antisemitism. He also visited Eretz Yisrael a few months ago accompanied by Rav Hofstedter where he had a private meeting with Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka.

At the most recent pre-Pesach meeting between Rav Hofstedter and Ambassador Walker, held in the Grand Lobby of the United States State Department, where flags of virtually every country in the world are displayed, one couldn’t but feel the historic nature of what was happening. Here, in the very State Department where eighty years ago, the many antisemitic civil servants did everything in their power to suppress and downplay the news of the extermination of the Jewish people while frustrating attempts at intervention, a meeting was taking place with a sympathetic ambassador who is working for an administration that deeply cares about antisemitism and wants to help.

“Does the Leadership Really Comprehend the Gravity of the Situation?”

Rav Hofstedter asked the ambassador, “How do we address the global rise in antisemitism and attacks against Jews? It seems to be an epidemic, it seems to be a plague, and it seems to be increasing. I want to ask you - do you feel that the leadership really comprehends the gravity of this situation?”

Ambassador Walker responded, “Two answers come to mind. The first answer regarding how to address it, is boldly!
“The root of this antisemitism is very spiritual in its foundation, and I think you cannot exhibit timidity when you’re dealing with this kind of cancer, so it very much needs to be pushed back in a very bold, loud manner.

“Any kind of antisemitic behavior needs to be addressed by our leadership, and we have some great leaders including Secretary Rubio and others who have taken strong positions on this. Our ambassador from America to Israel, my good friend Ambassador Mike Huckabee, is not bashful at being bold and calling this out for what it is.

“The second thing I would say beyond just being bold is that we have to work together collectively. When lawmakers and government are united in pushing back on this, whether it’s in Europe, whether it’s in our country, I think it can have a much greater effect.”

The Pernicious Role of Tucker and Other Influencers

Ambassador Walker also addressed the pernicious role of influencers such as Tucker Carlson and Candace Ownes in legitimatizing and spreading antisemitic tropes.
“We had a great American get assassinated by the name of Charlie Kirk this past year. Charlie was an incredible advocate for the conservative cause, and he was somebody who could speak incredibly with young people and whose voice resonated. After he passed, there have been some influencers Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and others who have tragically used some of that horrific situation to try to promote or say that Charlie had moved in a different way than what many of the people who knew him said he was. We knew him to be a strong conservative, somebody who supported Israel, which is well documented.”

Even though antisemitism is surging from the right, Ambassador Walker maintained that it is still far more prevalent and dangerous on the left. The bulk of it is coming from more of a radical leftist like those you see on the college campuses and similar places.

“But,” he cautioned, “we have to make sure wherever it’s coming from, people who have an (R) by their name or a (D) by their name, whatever it is, we must be bold and we must make our voices heard in order to try doing the best we can to root out antisemitism.”

“Does the Administration Realize that Antisemitism Ends up Threatening the Entire Society?”

Rav Hofstedter asked the ambassador, “As you said the president and many in the administration understand the problem, but do they realize that if allowed to fester it doesn’t only threaten the Jewish people but ends up threatening the entire society, as history has shown over and over again?”

Rav Hofstedter continued by proposing funding and mandates on holocaust education. The ambassador responded that it is difficult to legislate these matters because that could lead to a slippery slope of future administrations legislating their “pet” issues and when “big government” starts it doesn’t stop so easily…

However, when it comes to campus violence and things that go beyond “speech”, the ambassador passionately said that every single person must contact his government representatives in congress, the senate and advocate. “When you make your voice heard, especially when you come in person, politicians listen. Come visit your member of Congress, call, get an appointment, come down, look them in the eye and say, ‘this is why it’s important’ or ‘this is what’s happening in our community’…”

Ambassador Walker’s Message to the Jewish People

Rav Hofstedter underscored his point by relating a personal story to the ambassador, “You know when I was a kid, I was very lucky to have one grandparent, my grandfather. My wife has no grandparents. My mother lost both parents and my father lost his mother in the Holocaust, but I had a grandfather. Many times on the Sabbath we would go visit him and we would talk. I remember he many times opened his heart and with such acute pain, he told me that he could not understand, ‘What was the world doing, what were the Jews in America doing when six million of their brethren were being exterminated, murdered in cold blood. Were they going to the ball game?’”

Ambassador Walker responded, “That is exactly why we must respond to this behavior and stand up to this. Iran’s motto for the last few years has been death to Israel, death to America and we pay attention to those things and now together with Israel we are removing that threat.”

Rav Hofstedter replied, “So the message to the Jewish people is don’t be in a position where you are going to have to explain to your grandchildren or great grandchildren why you didn’t do anything when you could have. We must be proactive. You can pay a small price now or a greater price later…”

“Should I tell you a bit more about my first trip to Panama twenty-five years ago?” asked Rabbi Eli Mansour, Rabbi of the Safra Synagogue, at the historic Dirshu Maamad Ahavat HaTorah recently held in in Panama. “I’ll tell you! Twenty-five years ago, I wasn’t speaking in this beautiful, large auditorium. It was a gathering in The Club. Many of you weren’t even born! The unforgettable Chief Rabbi of Panama, Haham Sion Levy, zt”,l told me, ‘Rabbi Eliyahu we have a crisis in Panama, we need chizuk in kedushas hamishpacha, in shemiras Shabbos, in kashrus!’

“And who did I address in that club twenty-five years ago?” Rabbi Mansour exclaimed, “There were no white shirts! There were no black jackets! No one was wearing a hat! There was no band playing Jewish music, no Yoreh Deah on the tables, no talmidei chahamim at the dais! Nothing like this!

“I gave a speech for men and women sitting together. We were trying to convince them that it is kedai to keep tahara, to eat kosher, that it is kedai to keep Shabbos. Who would have believed that one generation later we would already be coming here?! Who would have believed that now the discussion is Daf HaYomi, Amud HaYomi, Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, Mishnah Berurah, this learning, that learning, more iyun, less iyun… Now we are already dealing with different sheailos!!

Those were the powerful words from a seminal address delivered by Rabbi Mansour. To understand the history of the Torah revolution that the Panama Jewish community is undergoing, one had to witness this Dirshu event! It was an event where more than 1,000 men, women and children representing the entire cross-section of the community came to celebrate Torah learning and to pledge their commitment to sustain accountable limud haTorah.

Never in its history has the Panama Jewish community ever experienced an event for the sole purpose of promoting limud haTorah, as one community leader, related, “When I told people about the upcoming Dirshu event, the first thing they asked me was. ‘How much money do you want from me?’ Indeed, most Rabbinic guests who come to Panama come to raise money, but I told them that in this case Dirshu and it’s Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, are NOT coming to raise money! They are coming to GIVE! They want nothing more from the community than to increase Torah, to try facilitating more shiurei Torah, to try raising the level of daily accountable Torah learning in our community.”

A Line of Demarcation And a Night of Highlights

In truth, the Dirshu event was a rally on behalf of limud haTorah and a demarcation line that perhaps will forever be a “before and after moment” regarding the renaissance of Torah in the Panama Jewish community.

Never before in the history of the community has everyone - all the community’s Rabbanim, Ashkenazim, Sephardim, yeshivish, baalebatim - come together to show their support and admiration for something like Dirshu, an organization whoseraisond'être is to enhance Torah opportunities in the community.

One highlight of the evening was the speech of the Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstedter whose remarks, personality and life story made a profound impact on the community. Rabbi Hofstedter also took the opportunity, while he was in Panama, to visit numerous Torah institutions throughout the city and address many of them as well.

Another highlight was the emotional, enthusiastic, beautiful musical entertainment led by Naftali Kempe and accompanied by a large band and choir, all of whom came especially to Panama for the event.

The combination of drashos and Divrei Torah for the heart and music for the soul, provided the more than one thousand members of the Panama community an all-encompassing spiritual experience that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

One of the most heart-warming moments was the grand entrance of all the Rabbanim of the community culminating in more than twenty-five Rabbanim representing the entire spectrum of Panama Jewry taking their place at the dais. There could be no greater expression of the chashivus of what Dirshu is doing for the community than the presence of the entire rabbinic leadership.

After the event, one prominent askan, commented in amazement that the most powerful moment was when all the Rabbanim joined together to dance with achdus and simcha.

An awe-filled silence settled on the room as Rabbi Eli Avraham, a prominent marbitz Torah who is at the forefront of many of Panama’s Torah activities, was asked to make a siyum on Masechtah Pesachim that is being completed by Dirshu’s Amud HaYomi program. After Rabbi Avraham completed the Kaddish the entire assemblage burst into spirited song led by Naftali Kempeh. The emotion in the room was palpable as the feeling of being connected to the wider Torah world enveloped Panama’s Jewish community.

In an evening replete with highlights, the singular video messages recorded especially for the event by leading Gedolei Torah from Eretz Yisrael was particularly impactful. Special messages tailormade for the Panama community were delivered by HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Avraham Salim, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Me’or HaTorah, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Chevron Yeshiva, and HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Yedidya Zafrani, shlita, Av Beis Din, Kesser Torah and Rosh Yeshivas Sifsei Chaim.

Their individualized words of chizuk contained timely messages for the community combined with a sense of joy, as each one of the Gedolim expressed their excitement over the fact that the Dirshu revolution is coming to Panama.

Rav Moshe Hillel expressed tremendous joy about the remarkable Torah strides made by the Panama community in recent years and then he spoke about Dirshu, saying, “I have seen what Dirshu’s programs to strengthen the learning of Torah, whether it is Gemara or halacha, have done for the Jews of Eretz Yisrael and America. They have added so much to the spiritual lives of those who are part of Dirshu and who have profoundly upgraded their Torah learning. I am certain that joining Dirshu’s programs will likewise tremendously elevate the level of Torah learning in Panama.” 

Rav Hofstedter: The Imperative To Go Out Of One’s Comfort Zone

There is no doubt that one of the highlights was the powerful drasha given by Rav Dovid Hofstedter.

Rav Dovid delivered a dvar Torah that showed how a person having to come out of their comfort zone to go above and beyond. He explained that Mordechai HaYehudi had every reason in the world and every justification to bow down to Haman. It was permitted. It wasn’t idolatry. Nevertheless, the passuk tells us, “U’Mordechai lo yichreh v’lo yishtahave – and Mordechai refused to bend and refused to bow.”

Rav Hofstedter continued, “There are times in life when a person or a community is faced with a challenge; there are times when there is every reason in the world not to try achieving a specific goal and many times it is possible that the reasons are even justified. Sometimes, however, when a difficult challenge presents itself, we, just like Mordechai, come to the realization that this is our purpose and if we don’t elevate and motivate ourselves to meet this challenge head-on, we may squander the opportunity forever.

“This wonderful community that has, bli ayin hara, grown so much, is at a crossroads. The foundation has been built. Now the people of this community are empowered to accept upon themselves and decide with an ironclad decision to elevate themselves and achieve an important goal! This city can become an ihr v’em b’Yisrael in Torah study! It can be a community that when people come to visit, they can say that this community, this unique community, has flourished to become full of talmidei hahamim from east to west and from north to south.”

The applause was deafening as the entire assemblage stood on their feet clapping. You could see the glint of the challenge in their eyes as they contemplated meeting that challenge head on.

The Story Of A Young Girl Who Went Above And Beyond

Rav Hofstedter concluded his remarks with a fascinating story that emotionally drew the assemblage into his personal world.

“We are now in the period between the Yamim Tovim of Purim and Pesach. I want to tell you a story about someone who had all the excuses in the world but instead rose to the occasion and merited in that zechus, something eternal.

“Around one-hundred years ago this person, a young girl, lived in a tiny little village in Europe before the Holocaust. There was no Bet Yaakov school in her village, no day school, no summer camps and no Bnos groups. There wasn’t even a minyan in town during the week. The chinuch she received was what she learned from her mother, her father, her grandmother, and her uncles. The town was so small that in order to have a minyan on Shabbos, they would have to bring in bachurim from a nearby town. In our world, we would say that she had no chinuch...

“When the war broke out, she was all of sixteen years old. At that young age, she was taken to Auschwitz, and from there to a brutal slave labor camp called Allendorf. Then came Pesach, 1945. She knew that it was simply impossible for a Jewish girl to eat chametz on Pesach. But not eating chametz meant starving. Nothing less. Still the chinuch she had received at home was so real, so sincere, so G-d fearing, that she felt that come what may, she would not eat bread on Pesach. There was a problem, though. If the Nazis saw that the prisoners didn’t take the bread, they would beat them to death, so she had to take the bread. What did she do? She took the bread and buried the pieces in the ground.

“Not long after that fateful Pesach, the last Pesach of the war, the allies began bombing Allendorf. The Nazis liquidated the camp, sending that girl with all the other prisoners on the infamous death march. They marched for days and days. People were falling and dying all around. There was no food, no water… nothing!

“And then it happened! One day, the Nazis suddenly disappeared! The allies were almost there! That girl and her friends were a short distance from a farmhouse when she collapsed. She simply couldn’t carry on. Her friends, however, brought her to the farmhouse, gave her water and some food that revived her and brought her back to life.

“What enabled her to last on the death march until that point even though so many others had died? Just before they were herded away to begin the death march, she remembered the hidden bread and retrieved it. It was that bread; bread that she had not eaten on Pesach so that she could refrain from eating chametz; that bread saved her life, giving her sufficient nourishment to withstand the cruel march into Germany…! Until they were finally liberated.

“Morai v’Rabbosai! That young girl was my mother, a”h! It is because she survived that I am here with you tonight! Because there was a young girl who had all the teirutzim, all the excuses in the world but pushed herself above and beyond, to do what she felt was important in order to fulfill her purpose in the world!”

The History of Dirshu in Panama

Rabbi Gabriel Chizkiya, who leads Dirshu’s activities in Panama, described how Dirshu has grown in Panama, raising the spirituality of the community. Dirshu has been in Panama for more than a decade. It began with a group that learns the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha and more recently the Amud HaYomi. In the last few years, however, the Torah base of the community has grown exponentially. There is a very large yeshiva and there are also teachers of Torah who have come to the community, and this has facilitated a tremendous spiritual growth and Torah learning. The younger generation, here in Panama, have also gone to learn in yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael and have later returned to the community after their marriage. These young people are coming with a background in Torah learning and are now being offered serious learning opportunities even as they are already involved in the business world.

Many baalei batim learn at the kollel in the morning or in the evening and they have avreichim as chavrusos. Dirshu programs such as Amud HaYomi are perfect for them! The set schedule along with the built-in review and possibility of taking tests serve as even greater motivators. In addition, an Amud HaYomi chaburah has opened, where there are many chavrusos learning at the same time and a rosh chaburah who is available to answer questions.

“Now,” Rabbi Chizkiya continued, “in the aftermath of the event, I have been swamped with phone calls, messages and even people coming up to me in the street saying that they want to join a program. They came to the evening of Ahavat HaTorah and were so inspired! They don’t want to lose their enthusiasm! They want to grab the opportunity to incorporate more Torah into their life in a sustainable way.

“Another byproduct of the event,” Rabbi Chizkiya stressed, “was the very positive impact it made on the women of the community. Although many young men go to learn in yeshiva, most of the girls and women remain in Panama and don’t have any exposure to the Torah world as the boys do. One community member told me that the presence of prominent rabbanim and the opportunity to hear messages from gedolim, the inspiring music and the fact that so many came to the event just to celebrate limud haTorah has strengthened observance and Judaism in many homes!”

“Panama Will Never be the Same!”

Perhaps the words of a prominent community leader said in the aftermath of the Dirshu event in Panama, says it all. “The day after the event, I went to pray in the kollel, and I met an avreich. This avreich told me, ‘You know, when we were saying Minha today, during Modim, do you know what I did? I thanked the Ribbono Shel Olam for sending Dirshu, and this amazing event to Panama. Panama will never be the same!”

At the Dirshu Convention, the Women of Dirshu Celebrate “His” Torah… in “Their” Zechus

There was an aura, a spiritual energy of kedusha and tahara, pulsing through the lobby.

That pulsing energy was accompanied by a glow, a pure, lechtig glow emanating from the many hundreds of women whose hands were covering their faces as they welcomed the Shabbos Malka; the flames of their lecht dancing, reflecting the flames of Torah that they had all come to celebrate.

Kedusha? Tahara? In a hotel lobby?

It was a sight that left one amazed. The sight of so, so many Yiddishe Mammes whispering tefillos, gazing in wonder at the lecht that they had just kindled in the lobby of the Armon Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. The sight of so many Yiddishe Mammes ranging from newlyweds to young mothers, to grandmothers and even great-grandmothers, all united by the light of Shabbos and the light of Torah, literally took my breath away!

And then I spotted her, one of my “Dirshu friends”, a woman whose husband, like mine, learns in Dirshu and who comes to the Dirshu Shabbos for a spiritual booster shot. This time, however, I noticed that she was wheeling a newborn baby, a very, very newborn baby.

“Mazal tov!” I lean over, offering to hold her precious bundle, soothing him with his pacifier. “Wow! This baby looks really new?”

“He is,” she agrees with a beatific smile. “He is three weeks old.”

“Three weeks old and you still came?!” I look at her wonderingly.

“Well,” the smile doesn’t leave her face, “we discussed it back and forth but really, I decided that there was no way I could miss this Shabbos! So here we are!”

And that said it all. Every woman in that hotel was there because, “There is no way we can miss this Shabbos!”

Greeting Shabbos Together

They came in droves, women from all walks of life and all corners of the country, women of all ages and from all different backgrounds, all came with one goal: to return home rejuvenated! To return home infused with chizuk to continue in their mission of doing everything possible to enable and empower their husbands to learn, review and learn more Torah! To gain an even deeper appreciation for their role as the eizer kinegdo.

One by one, the women finished their whispered tefillos, raised their heads, gazed lovingly into the hundreds of dancing flames and headed into the Crowne Ballroom to raise their voices together l’kras Shabbos with a medley of song and inspiration.

The evening was opened by the MC, Mrs. Miryam Swerdlov, whose simchas chaim injected an uplifting feeling of joy into the assemblage, eliciting smiles and laughter interspersed with her messages of chinuch tailored to the theme of the Shabbos, “Nashim b’may zochyon.”

A heartfelt, melodious Kabbalas Shabbos followed, led by the sweet and powerful voices of the Harmonies Choir led by Mrs. Hindy Ausch. The entire assemblage accompanied the young girls, singing the age-old words of the tefillos with Yiddishe niggunim.

It was a magnificent start to a Shabbos replete with food for the soul, opportunities for growth, passion and inspiration, complimented by a remarkable array of delectable seudos and oneg to please the palate as well.

Over the course of Shabbos, the women were treated to a panoply of speakers with messages that penetrated deep into their hearts and souls.

The Kochos of the Four Imahos Implanted… in US!

In one of her speeches, Rebbetzin Slovie Jungreis-Wolff passionately and emotionally described how each of the four imahos implanted unique kochos into the DNA of every single Jewish woman.

“Yes!” she exclaimed, “Each one of YOU has the koach of the imahos!”

She then poignantly described how Sara Imeinu gave us the koach to always look at everything as good, as fresh. The Torah tells us Sara Imeinu lived 100 years, 20 years and 7 years kulo shavin l’tov! “Really? Was Sara’s life good? She left everything to follow her husband. Where to? ‘You will see!’ What did she see? Famine! But it was good! Sara was barren for so many years and then poof! Hagar came and immediately bore Avrohom a child! That was good?! And finally, her husband took her son to the akeidah! Good?! Yes! Sara looked at everything in life as good and therefore each of us has that koach!”

“Rivka instilled in us the ability to go. When everyone tried to convince her to stay, she said, ‘eilech – I will go’. With those words, she gave us the ability to go and do, to never, ever give up on a child just because the world tells us to!”

She continued by explaining how Leah engrained in the psyche of Yidden to truly, sincerely thank Hashem for no reason other than to say thank You! Until Yehuda was born, people did thank, but with a selfish bend, such as when we thank our children for cleaning their plates off the table, in the hopes that it will encourage them to clean up again next time. And Leah said, “Hapaam odeh es Hashem – this time, I am just thanking Hashem!”

“And Rochel? She gave us the koach to cry! Rochel Mivaka al baneha! Each of us has inherited that ability, of a mother crying for her children!”

Our Support for Our Husband’s Torah = Their Ticket to Gan Eden!

Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner magnificently portrayed how it is a woman’s koach to spread Torah. Just by being there for our husbands, just by supporting our husbands and sons, encouraging them to committed learning, we become their ticket to Gan Eden.

She shared the story of Rav Elya Lopian’s wife. Rebbetzin Lopian had nine boys, and the family was poverty stricken. Another woman came to the Rebbetzin, “Rebbetzin Lopian,” she said, “You have nine boys! Can’t you send just one of them to work? Won’t that ease your poverty?”

“You know,” the Rebbetzin answered, “in this world, I don’t need my children, but when it comes to the next world, BOY will I need them!”

Rebbetzin Feiner then quoted the Gemara that says that “A man who doesn’t marry has no simcha, no life and… NO TORAH!”

“But,” Rebbetzin Feiner exclaimed, “It doesn’t say that about a woman! Every single woman can have Torah by encouraging and empowering her husband, her sons, her brothers to learn! Every woman’s koach spreads Torah far and wide, all over the world.”

In a panel discussion, Rebbetzin Feiner also encouraged every woman to do something for herself, that makes her b’simcha because if she gives to herself, she will be able to give to her family. “During a difficult period of my life, I was in a store and I picked up a purple Klik bar. I told that Klik bar, ‘I am buying you now because you are going to make me happy!’ To this day,” Rebbetzin Feiner concluded with a big smile and to the accompaniment of much laughter, “the thought of that Klik bar makes me happy!”

“Write it Down… and Burn it!”

Throughout the Shabbos, Mrs. Miryam Swerdlov interjected pithy wisdom and humor in her short introductions and speeches. One particular story held a deep chinuch lesson.

“One summer, a staff member came to give me the honors of dealing with a bunk that had misbehaved terribly. ‘Girls,’ I announced sternly. ‘I want you to meet me in back of the bunkhouse at midnight but first, I want each one of you to write down e…x…a…c…t…l…y… what happened and bring it to me.”

Mrs. Swerdlov went on to explain that she never intended to read the papers. Instead, as the girls gathered around, she had someone take a match and ignite an entire garbage can of papers. Then she had each girl put their letters in the burning fire. “Finished! Hashem forgives you also!”

“That is what everyone can do when you are feeling upset – write it down, burn it in the sink and poof! It is gone! Sad – write it down and burn it! Get all your feelings out on paper and then burn them! Then you won’t be weighed down by your feelings, and you will be able to be b’simcha!”

A Hug from Hashem!

The spiritually uplifting Shabbos was brought to a close by Mrs. Devoiry Ginsberg, who painted a picture of her most remarkable daughter, Hindy, a”h, a girl who was stricken with cancer at the age of sixteen and fought the sickness valiantly, with tremendous kochos hanefesh, simchas hachaim, emunah and bitachon. Anyone hearing about such a young girl losing her life at that age might think, “Tragic!” But Mrs. Ginsburg, with her engaging smile and soft-spoken voice, tells a story that is anything but tragic. In fact, the words said by Rebbetzin Jungreiss-Wolff from her father, encapsulate young Hindy’s story as well: “A long life is not good enough, but a good life is long enough!”

Mrs. Ginsburg brings us into Hindy’s journey through her journal. There is not a dry eye in the audience as she gives example after example of the nissim and hashgacha that she and Hindy so appreciated. One example happened when Mrs. Ginsberg washed all of Hindy’s blankets and then Hindy got cold. “I felt so bad! I could not understand what possessed me to wash all her blankets. Hashem, I thought to myself, what now? I headed back to the hospital, feeling down when suddenly, some women pushing carts passed by. ‘Um… Miss?” they called out, ‘Do you have a child in hospital?’ When I answered yes, they asked, ‘Would she enjoy one of our hand-crocheted blankets?’ It was the coziest, yummiest blanket! What a hug from Hashem!”

It was but one story among so many that showed a family’s love of Hashem… and Hashem’s love of Yidden who love Him!

Centuries of Learning Under This Roof!

And then came Motzoei Shabbos when the nashim of Dirshu were treated to a choice of fun, engaging activities such as picture drawing analysis by Mrs. Breindy Lipschutz and the opportunity to decorate personal drinking glasses, led by Mrs. Esty Berkowitz. This was followed by the penultimate climax of the Shabbos, the Melave Malka and what an experience it was!

In addition to the luscious, china-plated, three course meal, the Melave Malka featured a program replete with inspiration, musical interludes by Mindy Blatt and the Harmonies Choir along with practical, take-home messages, leaving the women with memories to keep them going long after the night wound to a close!

Once again, the inimitable Mrs. Miryam Swerdlov served as the Master of Ceremonies to introduce Mrs. Chany Feldbrand who spoke about what it means to be a Dirshu wife for over 25 years.

One of the many highlights of the night was when a granddaughter of Mrs. Hofstedter came up and emotionally described how when she dreams of a worldwide movement of Torah, she pictures one person standing behind it, “My Bubby!” Enthusiastic applause filled the room as Mrs. Hofstedter came up to receive a stunning gift presented by her very own granddaughters.

Torah: The Ultimate Simcha!

The main speaker of the evening, Rabbi Joey Haber, drew a magnificent picture of the confusion that clouds the vision in today’s world and how there is one and only one thing to bring simcha amid the confusion and that is Torah! He explained how there is a part of the curse of Adam that we don’t all know. It is the curse of “kotz v’dardar tatzmiach loch”. He then brought the Bnei Yissoschor who highlights the difference between the word echad in Shema and the word acher in the aseres hadibros about not having an el acher is just the last letter of each word: daled and reish. The confusion between echad, Hashem and the Torah and acher, all the avoda zarahs of the world is the biggest obstacle to happiness. Torah brings clarity! Someone who commits to learning Torah for real, with Dirshu, gains clarity!

“We are now in the month of Adar,” Rabbi Haber concluded, a month when the alepf of anochi Hashem Elokecha, is the first letter of the word, followed by the daled and reish. Anochi Hashem, Hashem and His Torah bring the ultimate simcha!”

The night wound to a close, tying up the ‘mishloach manos’ of a wonderful, uplifting Shabbos that will serve to inspire and encourage all the remarkable Dirshu women for many weeks to come!

Thousands of Lomdim led By Gedolei Yisroel Participate in Dirshu Convention

“Every yeshiva leaves an indelible stamp upon its talmidim. You can tell what roshem the yeshiva makes by observing the talmidim of that Yeshiva. Dirshu is also a yeshiva! It does not have a brick-and-mortar building, but it is a yeshiva! What special imprint does the Dirshu Yeshiva leave on each of its talmidim? The answer is that a lomed Dirshu always has a Gemara in his hand! Wherever he is! Yes! The shtempel of a Dirshu yeshivaman, is the consistent Gemara in his hand. Whether he is visiting a doctor’s office or is at work; whether it is bein hasedorim or he is on a bus. A lomed Dirshu grabs every extra minute possible to learn more, to review more, to gain more clarity in his daily learning! That is the imprint of the Dirshu Yeshiva!” exclaimed HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Tiferes Yerachmiel, during the shalosh seudos at the recent Dirshu Convention held on Shabbos Parshas Terumah.

In truth, shalosh seudos was but one highlight of a Shabbos full of remarkable spiritual delights and plateaus. From the fiery battle of Torah witnessed during the dazzling shiur following the Shabbos morning davening, delivered by HaGaon HaRav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Shlomo to the deeply inspiring melave malka during which the participants of the convention were showered with a collection of powerful words of chizuk and daas Torah from Gedolei Yisrael from across the spectrum.

Over the course of Shabbos Kinnus Olam Hatorah, as the Dirshu convention is called, the many hundreds of participants had the tremendous zechus to hear Divrei Torah and guidance from luminaries such as HaGaon HaRav Hillel David, shlita, Rav Kehillas Yeshivas Shaarei Torah, HaGaon HaRav Yeruchem Olshin, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Telshe and Mesivta of Lakewood; HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Yerachmiel; HaGaon,HaRav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz, shlita, the Skverer Dayan of Boro Park, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo; HaGaon HaRav Dovid  Goldberg, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Telshe, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, Nasi of Dirshu, among many other prominent Rabbanim and Roshei Yeshiva.

 Dirshu’s Kinnus Olam Hatorah is a unique convention. It is perhaps the only convention where the tzad hashaveh, the common denominator of every participant there is Torah; the Torah they learn and review every day and the tests that they take every month.

At a Dirshu convention, outer appearances and outer trappings mean very little. The sight that meets your eye is a Yid with a shtreimel in animated conversation with his Sephardic brother about a Tosafos in Masechta Pesachim in the Amud HaYomi, that he found difficult; one seat over is a Litvish Yid heatedly talking with a Bobover Chossid about an interesting Biur Halacha in Chelek Daled of Mishnah Berurah that they have both been learning in the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program.

Just a table over is a Skverer yungerman discussing a difficulty in the commentary of the Taz with a yeshivish yungerman that seems contradictory in the Kinyan Halacha program that they both learn.

But this tapestry of people isn’t limited to the men. On the women’s side of the mechitza, as the hallowed time of hadlokas ner Shabbos approaches, one cannot help but be moved by the scene of women of all types, women bedecked with white tichels atop of their sheitels next to women with sheitels and yet others with tichels all united as they cover their eyes to light the Shabbos candles while davening for the success of their husbands and children, in learning. The first word of conversation among the women is, “In which Dirshu program does your husband learn?” Their conversations then revolve around how fortunate they feel to be part of a program that transforms their home into a bastion of Torah!

This is the natural rhythm of a Shabbos Dirshu. It begins before licht bentschen and continues straight. At any time, in between the programming, whether it is at 1:00 in the morning or 6:00 a.m. mere hours after the beautiful oneg Shabbos ended, lomdei Dirshu were found learning, in the lobby, in the large beis medrash consecrated for limud haTorah! A resounding kol Torah reverberated throughout the hotel, throughout the Shabbos.

The Iyun Shiurim

Among the many highlights of every Dirshu Convention are the iyun shiurim delivered by Gedolei Torah. After the seudah on Friday night, Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal delivered a shiur about the prohibition of making images. On Shabbos morning before Shacharis, Dirshu’s Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter delivered an iyun shiur revolving around the arbah kossos on the night of the Seder.

Rav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, delivered an iyun shiur related to the chiyuv of hearing Parshas Zachor.

Watching Rav Ausband deliver the shiur while energetically and excitedly fending off many questions in a spirited give-and-take by the lomdei Dirshu who were interjecting questions from all over Shas or obscure Tosafos in attempts to question his thesis, was an unbelievable sight. It was a clear rischa d’Oraysah as could be seen from the intent expressions on the faces of both Rav Ausband and the lomdim who were questioning him. Their faces did not reflect a sense of being upset or fighting! Rather, they were glowing with an ethereal joy gained from gaining clarity in the heiligeh words of the Torah.

Grand Melave Malka: A Celebration of Torah

It is almost impossible to imagine how a Shabbos full of climaxes could possibly conclude with the greatest climax of all! And yet, that is just what the melave malka was, the climax of all climaxes!

During the melava malka, the assemblage was treated to a breathtaking array of daas Torah espoused by some of today’s senior Gedolei Yisrael. The chairman of the evening, Reb Naftoli Friedman, introduced HaGaon HaRav Hillel David, shlita, who devoted his remarks to the chinuch impact made on one’s children when a person is a member of Dirshu.

“We all know,” he said, “that limud haTorah is the key to success in virtually everything. If you want your children to learn Torah, one of the optimum ways to accomplish that is by yourself serving as a role model for constant immersion in learning when your child sees how important Torah is to you! When a child sees how important it is to you to get an answer to a difficult question on Torah, he will also absorb that love of Torah!”

Dirshu members were then treated to short remarks from Ambassador Mark Walker, President Trump’s personal envoy on combating antisemitism and religious intolerance throughout the world.

Rav Dovid Goldberg: The Dirshu Yungeleit Love Torah And Torah Loves Them Back!

Rav Dovid Goldberg’s remarks focused on the importance of chashivus haTorah. He quoted Rav Yisroel Eliyahu Weintraub in saying that greatness is not dependent on how much Torah one knows but on how much a person appreciates the Torah, how much he is machshiv the Torah, how much he makes Torah a priority of his life!

“The fourth day of Adar,” Rav Goldberg said, “was the yahrtzeit of Rav Eliezer Gordon, founder of the Telshe Yeshiva in Telshe, Lita. Rav Gordon personified ahavas haTorah and when the Brisker Rav, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik, was marrying off his son, he insisted that Rav Gordon serve as the mesader kiddushin. At that time, the Brisker Rav said that there may be others who are greater, who have more Torah knowledge than Rabbi Gordon but when it comes to ahavas haTorah, he is the greatest in the generation! It is said that when Rav Gordon would hear a new dvar Torah, he was like a shikker! If the door was locked, he would literally climb through the window of the basement in order to hear another chiddush! That was his love of Torah!” Rav Goldberg exclaimed.

Rav Goldberg continued by expressing his deep sense of admiration for the lomdei Dirshu. “Wherever I went throughout Shabbos, I saw bli ayin hara, 1,500 people sitting and learning! Wherever I went I saw mesikus haTorah! What I saw over the course of this Shabbos is that the Torah is a living organism! It pays back those who love it! When a person learns with mesiras nefesh there is no limit to what he can accomplish! The Dirshu yungeleit love Torah and Torah loves them back! There is no doubt in my mind,” Rav Goldberg concluded, “that Hashem will repay the Nasi, Rav David Hofstedter, for the tremendous zechus that he has in facilitating so much Torah learning!”

Rav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz: Those Who Learn In Dirshu’s Programs Are The Happiest People

The Skverer Dayan, Rav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz,was introduced as a person who is part of the DNA of Dirshu.

In his remarks, Rav Steinmetz related a story about a wealthy man who came to Rav Aharon Kotler and asked him, “What is the difference between my Olam Habaah and your Olam Habaah? I get Olam Habaah because I support learning and the Rosh Yeshiva gets Olam Habaah because he learns Torah. So, what is the difference between us?”

Rav Aharon answered, “Perhaps there’s no difference between our Olam Habaah but there is a tremendous difference in our Olam Hazeh! I am the one who has the greatest Olam Hazeh! There is no greater pleasure in Olam Hazeh than being in Torah learning!”

“Those who learn in Dirshu’s programs,” Rav Steinmetz exclaimed, “are the happiest people in this world! Let’s not even talk about the Next World!”

“I must confess, I have never seen anything like it! I woke up on Shabbos morning at about 5:00a.m. I went downstairs and couldn’t believe my eyes! There were people learning all around the lobby and in the large room designated for learning. Where do you have a Shabbos convention where the program ended the night before at close to 1:00a.m. and then, by 5:00a.m. countless yungeleit were already up and learning with a k’nock?!

The warm words of Rabbi Steinmetz were followed by the entire assemblage bursting into spirited song together with the orchestra led by Reb Hershy Weinberger and Avrumi Berko Productions. Palpable joy pulsated through the room as the nearly 2,000 people danced together celebrating their deep, abiding connection with accountable Torah learning.

Rav Dovid Hofstedter: “Only Mesiras Nefesh!”

A hush settled over the room as the Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstedter got up to address the assemblage. He looked around and emotionally referred to every member of the assemblage collectively as Mishpachas Dirshu, one big family of people dedicated with heart and soul to learning, to knowing Torah and to being connected with Torah.

“We are now at the beginning of the month of Adar just a few days before Purim. The well-known commentary of the Levush explains the difference between Purim and Chanukah. Why did our tzaddikim institute the mitzvah of mishteh and simcha on Purim whereas on Chanuka they commanded us to recite Hallel and give hodaah to Hashem without any mitzvah of mishteh and simcha?

“The answer given by the Levush is that on Purim, the decree was against the guf, the physical, the material. Therefore, the way to show thanks to Hashem is by indulging the guf. On Chanuka, however, the Yevanim wanted us to forget the Torah! That is a spiritual decree, and the resultant Yom Tov has to be spiritual as well.

“Rav Elchonon Wasserman, in his sefer Kovetz Maamarim, explains the fundamental difference between the conduct of the Yidden during the times of the decree of the Yevanim and at the time of Purim.

“At the time of Chanuka, the Yidden were moser nefesh to go to war even though they were a tiny minority in comparison to the massive Greek Army.  During the story of Purim, however, the reaction was different. On Purim, they engaged in tefillah. Esther told Mordechai to gather all the Yidden and fast for her, to daven.

“Why was there a different response on Purim than on Chanuka?

“Rav Elchonon explains that there are two types of gezeiros placed by Hashem upon the Yidden during difficult times. When it is a gezeirah on the guf, the answer is that we have to engage in teshuvah. When, however, there is a gezeirah on kiyum hamitzvos, that is a gezeirah that comes from Satan, and the only way to overcome such a gezeirah is through mesiras nefesh.

“From here we see that the primary response to a decree regarding ruchniyus is mesiras nefesh.

“Amalek was only able to have power over Klal Yisrael when they slacked offin their limud haTorah. The only way that the Bnei Yisrael were able to overcome Amalek was through the mesiras nefesh of Moshe Rabbeinu!”

With great sadness in his voice, Rav Hofstedter continued, “I don’t have to tell you that Amalek is attacking! Who would believe that in such a short time after the Holocaust, after the churban of Europe, when there are still among us a few of those precious shearis hapleitah with numbers on their arms, that in the highest echelons of society, in academia, there are those who shamelessly deny the existence of the Holocaust?! This is maaseh Amalek! The chutzpah, the sheker! Who would believe that a mere eighty years after the Holocaust, Jews across the world would feel unsafe? Who would believe that the world can protect the rights of muschasim of all types, they can even protect the rights of animals but they can’t protect the rights of Torah Yidden?!

“Shemiras hamitzvos is under attack in many places! We are under attack from without and within! In Eretz Yisrael, our precious Yeshiva bachurim are being thrown into jail! Rav Ausband, who is here with us tonight, told me about a talmid of his yeshiva who was imprisoned. This Talmid is a baal teshuvah from our own Yeshivas Acheinu! He learned in our yeshiva, became an outstanding student and from there he went on to Yeshiva Ateres Shlomo, one of best yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael!

“This masmid was thrown into jail for four weeks and what did he do for the entire four weeks in jail? He learned with tremendous hasmada!”

In a voice full of pain, Rav Hofstedter exclaimed, “Sadly, Amalek is still among us! This generation’s weapon of mass destruction is social media. Tragically, on social media they cast aspersions on our wonderful yeshivos. I even found myself in the crosshairs! I was told that I am threatening the security of the State of Israel because I am taking boys who would be good soldiers and turning them into chareidim!

“The Olam HaTorah is under attack! Our response must be, ‘Lech kenos es kol haYehudim. Tzumu ailei sheloshim yom! Only mesiras nefesh will save us!”

“This Shabbos is called ‘Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah’. Only when we, the Olam HaTorah, come together and make all kinds of new initiatives to ensure the blossoming of Torah will we be able to overcome the Amalek of our times!

Only with mesiras nefesh! Only with going that extra mile for learning, adding that extra hour or two in our day to make sure that Torah is our life, ki heim chayeinu! We must avail ourselves of every opportunity to learn Torah, to seek Hashem day and night. Dirshu Hashem v’uzo, bakshu fanav tamid! We have to seek out Hashem tamid, at all times of the day and night. ‘Ma ahavti sorasecha kol hayom hi sichasi.’

“Just as Moshe Rabbeinu told Yehoshua, ‘bechar lanu anashim, v’tzei l’milchama – pick for yourself people and go to war,’ so too must we! This is not about ‘doing the daf’. It is not about ‘kol haTorah kulo in twenty minutes’! It is ki heim chayeinu! It is about availing ourselves of every opportunity that we have to learn Torah.

Let us leave here with a commitment. We will fight this battle b’lev venefesh, with mesiras nefesh until Hashem will look down on His children and say, ‘Enough! It is time to go home!’ He will finally say, ‘Kinderlach, kum shoin aheim. Bimheira biyameinu!”

Rav Yeruchem Olshin: Mishpachas Dirshu Goes Above And Beyond

When Rav Yeruchem Olshin, Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood, rose to speak, he looked around benevolently at the assemblage, his expression one of deep love and admiration. He began by saying, “When Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz, Rosh Yeshiva of Kamenetz, would get up to address his yeshiva, he didn’t address them as talmidei or bnei hayeshiva. Rather, he addressed them as mevakshei Hashem. And I,” Rav Yeruchem continued, “I want to say a few words to the chashuve mivakshei Hashem of Mishpachas Dirshu.”

“In this week’s parsha,”Rav Olshin said, “there are different words used to describe the way that the Bnei Yisrael gave to the Mishkan. There are the words yidvenu libo and the words neso libo. What is the difference between these two expressions of nedivus and nesinus? The Ohr Hachaim explains that a nedava is a donation from a person who was not forced to give, someone who gave out of the benevolence of his heart. When it says the words neso libo, those words are preceded by the word ish. When a person is referred to as ish, it always connotes chashivus. Therefore, the concept of nesinus means that somebody gives above and beyond his ability and capability. Neso libo is thus an expression of a much greater level of giving and volunteering than nedivas libo.

“The Chovos Halevavos,” Rav Olshin explained, “says that this is the difference between a Yid who is doing just what he is able to do and a Yid who is going above and beyond his ability to push himself. A Yid mustgo above and beyond, must push himself. When he does, he is endowed with the ability and the intellect to do above and beyond what he originally thought he could do.”

With great passion Rav Olshin concluded, “I want to say something about my dear friend, Rav Dovid Hofstedter and the entire kehillah hakedoshah of Dirshu. They go above and beyond anything that could be considered the norm! I just heard that Dirshu will be hosting a major event in Panama later this week. Who would even believe that someone here is worried about the Jewish community in Panama? Who would even believe that someone wants to be mezakeh others with more Torah learning?! Rav Dovid wants Yidden in every corner of the world to learn! This is not just yecholto. This is Hashem endowing him with kochos that are above and beyond yecholto. Because he went the extra mile, Hashem is taking him further and further to greater and greater heights!

“Similarly, those participating in Dirshu’s programs come home after a difficult day in yeshiva or at work and that they still have to chazer and chazer over and over again. They have to master large amounts of Torah, understand it and be able to be tested on it. They are only able to do that because they go above and beyond their abilities. They are therefore endowed from Above with kochos and abilities that they may not have had until now.

“The Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Aharon Kotler brings in his sefer that the greatest tragedy for Klal Yisrael is shikchas haTorah, forgetting the Torah. Torah is the lifeblood of Klal Yisrael and the Torah warns us with various warningsthat we should not forget the Torah: ‘Hishamer lecha’, ‘ushemor nafshecha’, and ‘pen tishkach’. Rav Aharon is telling us that the greatest hatzalah for Klal Yisrael is chizuk haTorah. When thousands of members of mishpachas Dirshu come to learn with tremendous amal and yegiah followed by chazarah again and again, gaining clarity in their learning that is the greatest service and the greatest good anyone can do for Klal Yisrael. Indeed, this is the depth of the words of the Tana Devei Eliyahu that says Moshiach will come in the zechus haTorah.”

Shabbos At The Dirshu Convention

As the kedusha of Shabbos slowly descended upon the Armon Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut, throngs of talmidei chachomim, made their way to the large-heated tent especially erected so that davening could be done in a hallowed atmosphere conducive to tefillah.

Following Mincha, a fascinating question and answer session was held with Rav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz, the Skverer Dayan of Boro Park.

Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin: The Importance Ohl Torah, Singular Focus

After a beautifully moving Kabbolas Shabbos led by the well-known chazzan, Reb Isaac Honig, and the Shira Choir, Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin was introduced with divrei pesicha by Rav Eliezer Ralbag shlita.

Rav Sorotzkin emphasized that the only way a person can be truly successful in learning Torah is if he accepts upon himself the ohl haTorah, the yoke of Torah. He then explained why it is called an ‘ohl haTorah’. When a horse or donkey wears a yoke, it is unable to look to the right or to the left. It can only go straight.  So too, a person who accepts upon himself the ohl haTorah cannot look around at the world, he has to be singularly focused on aliyah baTorah.”

Rav Sorotzkin continued by explaining that there are many yetzer haras to distract us from our mission to be completely immersed in Torah learning. “Today,” he said, “the cell phone is considered relatively benign in comparison with the dangers of the Internet, but it is really not benign at all. I remember when we were younger, we would finish a learning seder and while we were exiting the beis medrash, we would spar in Torah, hashing and rehashing the sugya that we had just learned. Today, the first thing you see a person do, even a masmid, when he leaves the beis medrash is pull out his cell phone! After all it is “kosher flip phone.”

“Many people today claim that you can’t demand total immersion from today’s generation. I propose that the greatest proof that you can demand total immersion from today’s generation is the iPhone! We see how today’s generation is completely absorbed with their phones! Their phone goes with them wherever they are, day and night, early morning, late at night, 24/7. I would say,” Rav Yitzchok thundered, “that kal vachomer one should completely become absorbed in Torah, all day 24/7!”

The Kedushas Shabbos was palpable. Dirshu, ever sensitive to the varied minhagim of its participants, provided three separate dining rooms for the Shabbos seudos, one for couples where each couple had their own individual table, another that one for men only and third that was only for women. Each of the dining rooms was royally and elegantly set as befitting kavod haTorah to the nth degree.

In each dining room, the seudos were treated to Divrei Torah delivered by dynamic rabbonim from all over the world and from all walks of life. The speakers at night included Rav Eitan Feiner, Rav of the White Shul of Far Rockaway, Rav Nosson Binyomin Eckstein, the Belzer Dayan of London, England, Rav Yitzchok Zalman Gips, Rav of Khal Birchas Avrohom and Rosh Yeshivas Mevakshei Tov, Rav Dovid Merling, Rav of Khal Zichron Yaakov of Lakewood.

At the Shabbos day seudos addresses were given by Rav Schmuel Choueka, Rav of Khal Ohel Simha of Deal, New Jersey, and Rav Mordechai Ginsberg, R”M, Yeshiva Chomas HaTorah. In the afternoon the Daf HaYomi shiur was given by Dirshu maggid shiur, Rav Shmuel Dovid Friedman, the Amud HaYomi shiur was given by Rav Eliezer Ralbag, Rav of the Lakewood Courtyard Shul, and the Daf Hayomi Behalacha shiur was given by Rav Chaim Weg, Rav of the Sunset Grove shul of Lakewood.

Shalosh Seudos: A Microcosm of Olam Habah

One of the most inspirational moments of the convention was the shalosh seudos where the men joined together to be treated to unbelievable words of chizuk and hisorerus. Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal recalled how Rav Elchonon Wasserman was once asked during times of great economic hardship, “We all know that in difficult economic times every government makes sure that the army and its soldiers have enough food to eat. Hashem’s army are the bnei yeshiva. Why then do yeshiva students have to suffer so much hardship?!”

Rav Elchonon answered that sometimes even the zechus of Torah is not enough and we need an extra zechus. What extra zechus can help? The zechus of learning Torah m’toch hadechak. Torah learned under hardship and duress is far more potent and can save Klal Yisroel.

Rav Schustal exclaimed, “Dirshu learners learn under tremendous dechak. It may not be economic hardship, but it is the duress of constantly learning and chazering. The fact that lomdei Dirshu learn Torah m’toch hadechak is a tremendous zechus for all Yidden wherever they may be!”

Rav Yehoshua Abba Busel: Hundreds Upon Hundreds of Yidden Thirsting for… Another Blatt Gemara!

Rav Yehoshua Abba Busel, Rav of the High Street Shul in Lakewood and a R”M at Beth Medrash Govoha shared a story about several seminary girls who got lost in Midbar Yehuda many years ago. When they were found, they were severely dehydrated and had to be hospitalized. Rav Mordechai Gifter and Rav Leizer Plachinsky went to visit the girls in the hospital. During their visit, Rav Plachinsky began to sing words from sefer Tehillim. He explained that David Hamelech had also been in Midbar Yehuda and had also become thirsty. But he was “tzomah lecha nafshi!” He was thirsty for Hashem!

“Lomdei Dirshu,” Rav Busel thundered, “are alsothirsty! What I saw over Shabbos was hundreds upon hundreds of Yidden thirsty for yet another blatt of Gemara!”

The “Disadvantages” of Being Part of Dirshu

Rav Yitzchok Zalman Gips then took the entire assemblage completely by surprise.

“Usually, when people are at a convention, they hear all the maalos of being part of the organization. Well,” Rav Gips announced, “I want to discuss the chisronos of being part of Dirshu! People tell me that even if they do well on a test, they eventually forget what they learned. Perhaps then it is not worth it? Others say, ‘Maybe I should be investing more time in iyun?’ Still others have said that sometimes after having to take monthly tests for so many months a person might feel burned out?”

Rav Gips went on to explain why all those seeming deficiencies, should not be deterrents to continued learning in Dirshu programs.

“When it comes to forgetting the Gemara, certainly, we must review and review but forgetting is part of the process. The Gemora teaches us that it is inevitable that we forget, that should never be a reason to stop learning! Hashem wants us to learn. Of course, learning iyun is very important and a person must have an iyun seder but that should not preclude him from also making sure to cover ground in an accountable way!

“Regarding burnout, everybody gets burnt out at one time or another and the solution is to freshen yourself up and attack the new blatt Gemara with new intensity and new freshness. Then the burnout will go away!”

 Rav Zev Smith: “Ein Bereirah!”

Rav Zev Smith, spoke about the miraculous rebirth of Torah in the aftermath of the Holocaust.

“How did those great Roshei Yeshiva succeed in inspiring a whole generation and creating the miraculous ribui of Torah that we see today? How? The answer is that they knew, ‘ein bereirah!’ They knew that there was no choice. The world could not exist without Torah! They understood that when a person knows that there is absolutely no choice he can do anything!”

“That,” Rav Smith passionately proclaimed, “is the secret of the success of Dirshu learners. They know that ein bereirah! They know that no matter what they must finish the material, they must chazer the material until they know it klor! That is how they are able to take test after test. The secret to the success of every lomeid Dirshu is ein bereirah!”

Elevated Dancing Of Hakaras Hatov

The conclusion of the Melava Malka, the culmination of the Shabbos, cannot possibly be described in an article. One can give over the main message of each drasha in an article, but one simply cannot, with dry ink and paper, describe the dancing after the Melava Malka. The thousands who danced with such elevation, such dveikus, that lasted into the wee hours of the morning; the way they came to dance with Rav Dovid Hofstedter, the simcha that emanated from them and the contagious enthusiasm that permeated the hall was indescribable. It was a dancing of simcha, of dveikus and of deep hakaras hatov to Dirshu and for what it has done to their lives.

It is no secret that antisemitism has reared its ugly head throughout the world. It is not an exaggeration to say that the overt antisemitism being witnessed worldwide has not been seen since the 1930’s.

As a son and son-in-law of Holocaust survivors, Rav Dovid Hofstedter views this epidemic of antisemitism with great concern.

Over the past months Rav Hofstedter has become acquainted with Ambassador Mark Walker, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom who served as a U.S. Representative for North Carolina's 6th district from 2015 to 2021.

The Ambassador’s mission entrusted to him by President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio is to combat rising global antisemitism and protect faith groups from persecution. The Ambassador developed a close relationship with Rav Hofstedter and is clearly dedicated to fighting antisemitism throughout the world.

On Motzoei Shabbos, Ambassador Walker visited the Dirshu Convention where he had a personal meeting with Rabbi Hofstedter, delivered a short address to the thousands in attendance and participated in a panel discussion about antisemitism. Below are some highlights from his visit.

When Ambassador Walker was introduced by MC, Reb Naftali Friedman, he was given a standing ovation. He told the assembled that he was President Trump’s principal advisor for global religious freedom and it was a great honor for him to push back against antisemitic behavior and religious intolerance throughout the world. He then expressed how he feels it a great privilege to call himself a friend of Dirshu’s Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter.

He stressed how impressed he was when he observed the Slabodka Yeshiva in action during a recent visit to Bnei Brak and was gifted the opportunity to meet the venerated Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita.

“Since my initial meeting with Rabbi Hofstedter, I feel we have developed a strong connection and bond. I believe we are going to be lifelong friends.”

Ambassador Walker concluded, “Let me simply give you a few parting words: Stand strong! Stand strong in maintaining your convictions and your principles. I grew up in a very conservative household. My father was strong enough that he did not want the world to influence us. He took away our television to make sure that the immoral conduct sometimes portrayed there would not influence us. Make sure to continue raising strong families who are proud of their convictions so they can go out and be upstanding, moral, productive citizens.”

Panel Discussion On Antisemitism

Before the Melave Malka, Ambassador Walker participated in a panel discussion regarding antisemitism. For brevity purposes we will only cover two of the questions that he was asked.

In Belgium there was recently a dispute between the Belgian government and the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium who called out the government for trying to outlaw circumcision. The Ambassador was called in and disciplined by the Belgian government. What are your thoughts about government-sanctioned antisemitism in European countries?

My role at the behest of President Trump and Secretary Rubio is that I am the personal emissary for global religious freedom. It is my job to monitor religious minorities under attack, and as we saw recently, that this was a direct attack against the Jewish faith. After all, historically according to the Bible, on the 8^th day, young males would be circumcised. It would be my job to go in and meet with the leaders [who make that an object of discrimination], push back and say, ‘No! That is religious discrimination.’ We stand with the Jewish people whether it’s in Antwerp or anywhere else.

In America, antisemitism has never been higher. Over the last decade, far-left antisemitism has had the greatest resurgence. More recently, there has been a resurgence of right-wing antisemitism in what we can call “the Tucker Carlson wing of MAGA.” On the one hand, we understand that politically President Trump needs the electoral force of that wing of MAGA. On the other hand, as the President’s ambassador, how can he condone the overt antisemitism infecting a large wing of his supporters?

That is a long, very important question. First of all, today on social media I gave my unequivocal support for Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, for the strength he displayed in the Tucker Carlson interview. I am honored to call him my friend and we stand by him.

Regarding antisemitism, even when I was a congressman sitting on the Homeland Security subcommittee, we already saw a bell curve of antisemitic behavior in our country. Now we are going almost vertical. So yes, we need to address it. We have many people around the world monitoring religious discrimination, but we need to do the same in our country. We cannot afford to be bashful about calling it out whether it is in the entertainment industry, on our university campuses or coming from religious groups. We must be strong voices against it!

One of the most gratifying aspects of a Dirshu Convention is the opportunity it offers to avail oneself of the tremendous gift that Hashem has given us, being able to hear guidance from Gedolei Yisrael. For the first time, Dirshu featured a panel of three Rabbanim, answering questions sent in by lomdei Dirshu. It was a sight to watch the packed assemblage thirstily absorbing words of advice and chizuk given by the Rabbanim.

The panel members were Rav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, Rav Eytan Feiner, and Rav Shlomo Cynamon. (Space constraints have forced us to summarize the answers.)

Lomdei Dirshu learn with a strong emphasis on covering ground, learning with accountability and mastering considerable amounts of Gemara. At the same time, their sons are in yeshiva, often learning at a slow pace, under great Roshei Yeshiva, who say shiurim with tremendous iyun. When their sons come home, they seek to talk in learning with their fathers. However, their fathers learn differently and may not believe that the way their sons learn is optimum. This can, challilah, lead to a situation where the son does not completely respect his father’s approach to learning and vice versa. How does one balance these two approaches so they do not contradict each other?

Rav Ausband: It goes without saying that both approaches to learning are very important. A person must learn with great iyun, but must also cover ground and complete masechtas. Now, the father has two choices: Either send his sons to a yeshiva that encourages the same approach as he has, or send to a yeshiva that has shiurim and learns with great iyun - but then he must fully support the yeshiva’s approach. If you send your son to a yeshiva, he must feel that you hold of the yeshiva. Now, whether or not the son will respect his father if his father cannot say over a Rav Chaim with a chakira? That is indeed a good question.

Rav Feiner: In truth, this question is similar to one brought in the Gemara. The Gemara asks what is better a Sinai or an okker harim? Is it better to have knowledge all over Shas or able to incisively uproot mountains with your logic?

Yes, undoubtedly, one needs to learn how to learn in yeshiva and that requires iyun. Nevertheless, that doesn’t absolve a person from the obligation to broaden his knowledge of Shas.

Rabbi Cynamon: We live in a cynical time where people find it easy to criticize. Every father must be extremely vigilant that not one word of criticism or lack of satisfaction should leave his mouth regarding a mossad where any of his children learn. A child must be certain that his parents have tremendous respect for the yeshiva and for the child’s rebbi. You may have legitimate criticism regarding the way the yeshiva is learning, the pace may be too slow, etc. Nevertheless, if your son detects even a small seed of disrespect for his rebbi or his yeshiva he will not be able to grow properly there. Therefore, it is imperative that parents fully support the yeshiva where their son learns.

If someone is already learning Daf HaYomi and Amud HaYomi and has some extra time in his day, what should he do? Should he perhaps add learning Tosafos to his schedule? Should he perhaps review a few more times? Or should he take on another Dirshu program?

Rav Ausband: The general rule is that a person who has many different sedarim a day will not acquire Torah properly. When there are too many, you end up with very little of anything. The Brisker Rav would say that he doesn’t know how somebody could even learn three different things a day, perhaps two, but three is already too much! It is probably better not to take on a new seder but rather to learn with more depth that which you are already learning.

That said, the first thing a person must do is make sure to have a seder in Mishnah Berurah. It is an absolute obligation to learn daily halachos so he should know how to conduct himself.

Rabbi Cynamon: If a person values Hashem’s Torah and has a few extra minutes he should think about what he just learned. Look into a Rashi a bit more, learn another Tosafos, review what you just learned so you can gain clarity. Part of kavod haTorah is when it is important enough to you to spend a few extra minutes thinking deeply and reviewing what you learned! This is a much more productive use of one’s time than haphazardly adding another seder to one’s day.

Rabbi Feiner: Firstly, let me reiterate what the Rosh Yeshiva said, that a daily seder halacha, to learn halachos that one encounters every day is imperative. In addition, I would add that a daily mussar seder is imperative. The baalei mussar teach that a person should find half an hour each day to learn mussar.

Rav Gedaliah Nadal once said, ‘I have met many great men, but I never met a gadol who became a gadol just from learning. The way one becomes a gadol is through constant chazarah, constant review.’

Today, most homes need two incomes. Whether the husband is learning in kollel or even when he is working, it is often impossible to get by with one income. The question is: should the wife take care of all practical financial decisions to enable the husband to learn more? Is that the tzurah of a Jewish home or is it perhaps a deficiency when the husband is not in charge of the finances?

Rav Ausband: What can be wrong? Even the Gemara says that the woman is in charge of worldly matters and the man should be in charge of spiritual matters. I don’t see anything wrong with that arrangement.

Rabbi Feiner: This question I think may depend on the individual dynamic between husband and wife. There is no one-size-fits-all answer for such a question and each couple should consult with their individual Rav on this matter. As a general rule, however, what Rav Ausband said is correct.