What is it that unifies thousands of bachurim in over 20 Mesivta camps?  What is it that gives so many boys a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, teaching them to maximize their time and increase their Torah knowledge in such a delightful way?

It is none other than the Daf HaYomi B’Halachah L’Bachurim, the brainchild of Rav Dovid Hofstetder Shlita, Nasi of Dirshu, and run by its Directors, Rabbi Yitzchok Spigelman and Rabbi Moshe Fisher.

Rabbi Fisher explains that this special bein hazemanim program geared for bachurim is a spin-off of Dirshu’s yearlong Daf HaYomi B’Halachah program for adults. The adult program learns a daf a day in Dirshu’s special edition of Mishnah Berurah, as the program name implies. The daf consists of one amud of Mishnah Berurah and a facing amud of contemporary poskim. The summer program for bachurim – geared for talmidim on summer break - covers less than that. Dirshu prints a special edition of the halachos being learned, with each day’s limud clearly marked. Aside from the daily quota of Mechaber and Mishnah Berurah, the sefer includes a summary of each day’s halachos, prepared by a noted talmid chacham.

Each summer since 2014, the program aims to cover a section of halachah that come up regularly throughout a bachur’s life, yet he may not otherwise take the time to learn. This year, the program focused on Hilchos Kiddush. The Dirshu team makes the limud easier to understand and apply to daily life by printing a sefer so beautifully divided into daily sections with a summary.  Dirshu also arranges for most camps to have a maggid shiur teaching the halachos each day, giving the bachurim the opportunity to learn it properly from an adam chashuv.  

For most bachurim, the limud is an investment of no more than 25-30 minutes daily.  However, the ramifications are immense. Against the backdrop of the scenic mountains, the bachurim acquire new yedios hatorah. They learn how they can accomplish something big by simply putting in just a bit of time each day. They feel good about themselves, and this propels them to even greater heights. Many voluntarily invest extra time to chazer and take a test.

To encourage the bachurim to sign on, Dirshu offers enticing incentives. The boys receive shemiras hasedarim cards, and if they keep to the Seder, they can win weekly raffles and rewards. Any boy who scores over 80% on the optional farher at the end of the program receives an additional cash prize.

While all this certainly encourages many bachurim to join, the true delight is in the sense of accomplishment. It is exhilarating to get a great mark on a farher, showing that one’s effort paid off. It is also a great feeling for a bachur to know that he is part of something big. Chazal teach that Eino domah miutin ha’osin es hamitzvah l’mrubin ha’osin – there is no comparison between when several people do a mitzvah and when many people do a mitzvah. The power of a tzibbur is inestimable. It benefits each member of that tzibbur and it benefits the entire Klal Yisroel. That is huge.

Last week, the bachurim at some participating camps had the zchus to receive a personal visit from Rav Hofstetder. Though the international trip is not easy for the Nasi of Dirshu whose every moment is precious, he happily admits that it was well worth it.  

In his derashah to the bachurim, Rav Hofstetder told them how impressed he was with their enthusiasm for extra learning, and their derech eretz. He also shared that growing up as a young boy many years ago, the landscape was far different. Frum camps were few and far between, and the level of learning was generally nothing like in the numerous learning camps we have today. “Without doubt, Hashem derives tremendous nachas from you precious bachurim.”

Reflecting on the visit, Rav Dovid says, “It was such a nachas to see so many precious bachurim voluntarily join the Dirshu Daf HaYomi B’Halachah program. It shows how each one of these bachurim wants to shteig and be koneh yedios haTorah on his own volition.

“So many bachurim approached to say thank-you. It was heartwarming to see the sterling middos tovos and derech eretz so evident amongst the bachurim. Hundreds of boys sitting and listening attentively as I spoke. Hundreds of boys davening and learning with such seriousness. The hasmadah and the wholesomeness of so many young bnei Torah - even during their summer break - is an incredible sight, and an enormous berachah from Hashem.”

This beautiful Bachurim’s Daf HaYomi B’Halachah summer program is a microcosm of the many yearlong Dirshu programs. Rav Dovid explains, “The overarching goal of Dirshu is based on one common denominator, and that is to help each person maximize his potential. Hashem gifts each human with so much ability, unique brain power, time, and resources. Our goal is to encourage each one of us to use these presents from Hashem for His service, in the very best way possible. We understand it is a challenge, so we offer incentives. However, if you will ask any veteran Dirshu member, he will readily tell you that the incentives are not the drive. The true drive is the huge sipuk, the sense of accomplishment, that one feels about himself; about his yedias and havanas haTorah previously thought unattainable. There is also accountability through graded bechinos, which help each participant know where he is holding.

“The bachurim’s program is not designed to attract bachurim to other Dirshu programs. But it surely gives over the Dirshu message. While having a great time during summer break, you can accomplish more than you imagined. All it takes is a bit of time. And with that small investment, a bachur learns a new set of halachos, an area he doesn’t generally focus on during the year. He also gains a sense of achrayus by keeping to a commitment and by taking a test on all he is learnt in the program over bein Hazemanim. All in all, that’s a win.”

In conclusion, let us take a look at this week’s parsha. The pasuk says, Shmor v’shamata es kol hadevarim haeleh asher anochi metzavcha – Guard and listen to all these matters that I commanded you. Rashi explains, “Guard means to learn [the relevant halachos]… for if you learn, it is possible to… fulfill [the mitzvos]. However, one who does not participate in the learning cannot possibly participate in the doing.”

The pasuk clearly indicates the importance of learning the halachos that are relevant to our daily lives, and Dirshu’s Daf HaYomi B’Halachah fulfills this dictum in such a profound way.

The huge hatzlachah of this year’s program surpassed that of previous years, and will b’ezras Hashem be surpassed next year, when even more camps sign on.