T h e J e w i s h H o m e n O c t o b e r 2 4 , 2013
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Dirshu Shabbos to Feature Guidance from Gedolei Yisrael on Eretz Yisrael Situation By Chaim Gold “It is such good news to hear that hundreds of great talmidei chachamim who have toiled in Torah and acquired a clear, in-depth knowledge of Shas, poskim, horaah and halacha [are coming together for a Dirshu Shabbos Chizuk L’lomdei Torah]…This news is especially gratifying today when so many have designs against those who learn Torah, shaming and ridiculing them in a clear, diabolical attempt to lessen the paramount importance of Torah learning…” These were the powerful words of HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Chevron Yeshiva, in a comprehensive, detailed letter sent especially to participants of the upcoming Dirshu Shabbos Chizuk L’lomdei Torah to be held on Shabbos Parshas Vayeitzei at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Somerset, NJ. In addition to the letter from Harav Dovid Cohen, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Scheiner, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky, shlita, the Modzhitzer Rebbe, shlita, and HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Finkel, shlita, also sent powerful letters that will be read publicly at the event. The venerated senior Rosh Yeshiva of Brisk, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Soloveichik, shlita, similarly imparted words of chizuk and comprehensive guidance for the American Torah community. The Dirshu Shabbos Chizuk L’lomdei Torah will be attended by Gedolei Yisrael from both America and abroad with a special guest senior Gadol b’Yisrael who will be coming from Eretz Yisrael specifically to participate and address the assemblage. One Shabbos, Months of Inspiration! The Shabbos Chizuk L’lomdei Torah is already sold out! Just two weeks after Dirshu announced the upcoming Shabbos and the DoubleTree Hotel in Somerset, NJ – a new, much larger venue than last year’s Shabbos Chizuk L’lomdei Torah – has already been completely sold out. There is something so unique and special about a Dirshu Shabbos. When one spends Shabbos with masters of Shas and Shulchan Aruch, when one spends Shabbos with fellow Jews who are so devoted to limud haTorah that they insist, of their own volition, on being tested monthly on their learning, one has the privilege of participating in a truly memorable taanug ruchani, spiritual delight. There are very few things that can
compare to spending a Shabbos whose spiritual impact lasts for months thereafter. This palpable chizuk is not only felt by Dirshu members but by their wives as well. Through the Dirshu Shabbos, the wives of Dirshu members gain a newfound appreciation and love for Torah coupled with an even better understanding of their unique roles as the ultimate facilitators of their husbands’ aliyah in Torah and by extension, the elevation of the whole family to a higher spiritual plane. In fact, the buzz from last year’s Dirshu Shabbos Chizuk L’lomdei Torah was so positive that Dirshu received numerous requests even from non-Dirshu members to participate in this year’s Shabbos. Dirshu gladly acquiesced to as many requests as possible from those who desired to be part of a truly memorable Torah Shabbos.
literally amazing work. You are building Torah in the world. What could be better than that?!” Rav Dovid Soloveichik then continued, “The most important thing to do is toil in Torah; to sit in front of a Gemara and learn one line after the other; to work on gaining clarity in the pshat, really understanding the true pshat. That was the approach of all the Rishonim…This is the highest level of Torah learning. This is true ameilus in Torah.” Rav Dovid also called on the American community to strengthen itself in learning Halacha. He said, “Every day, in the tefillah of Ahava Rabbah, we beg Hashem to ‘Install in our hearts to understand and elucidate… to perform and fulfill….” In their letters to the participants in the Dirshu Shabbos, other gedolim similarly stressed the imperative to bring daily
Chizuk and Practical Advice on How to Help Spiritually Neutralize the Terrible Gezeiros The Shabbos Chizuk L’lomdei Torah is a joyous event where the accomplishments of Dirshu’s talmidei chachamim from across North America are hailed and celebrated. This year’s Shabbos, however, will also address the difficult and precarious situation in which acheinu bnei Eretz Yisrael find themselves as a result of present Israeli government’s assault on the Torah way of life lived by charedim l’dvar Hashem. In their messages to lomdei Dirshu of America, many of the gedolei Yisrael who wrote letters in advance of the Shabbos all referenced the gezeiros in Eretz Yisrael and suggested undertakings that the lomdei Torah of America can do on the spiritual plane to help neutralize those difficult decrees. When Rav Dovid Soloveichik was asked what the American Torah community can do to help, he prefaced his words by telling the senior members of Dirshu’s hanhala led by its Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, “You are doing amazing things,
practical halacha learning into one’s life, and how it is virtually impossible for a Jew to fulfill his halachic obligations without learning halacha each day. “It was So Amazing, So Delicious, We Wanted to Make Kiddush on it!” According to Rabbi Aharon Gobioff, director of Dirshu’s operations in America, “The Gedolei Eretz Yisrael will be communicating an urgent message to the American Torah community with regard to the difficult situation in Eretz Yisrael. It is something that every serious ben Torah is anticipating and ready to implement.” At last year’s Shabbos Chizuk L’lomdei Torah the guests were very moved by the special Torah atmosphere. Rabbi Avigdor Berenstein, a senior member of Dirshu’s hanhala from Eretz Yisrael remarked, “I can never forget how, on Shabbos morning after Mussaf, HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of the Ponovezh Yeshiva, gave a shiur on the intricate details of the sugya of kinyanei kiddushin. Throughout the shiur, he interwove a new yesod on kin-
Hagaon Harav Dovid Soloveichik, shlita, giving hadracha to Rav Dovid Hofstedter for the upcoming Kinnos
yanei eirusin and nisuin that inspired his listeners to begin an excited debate in the way of milchamtah shel Torah. “His masterful shiur was sweetened by the back and forth of such gedolim as Rav Yeruchim Olshin, shlita, Rav Reuven Feinstein, shlita, the Skverer Dayan, shlita, and Rav Yitzchak Sorotzkin, shlita. “In his extraordinary way of drawing his listeners into the mesikus haTorah, Rav Berel explained a chiddush. It was a true chaburah, with the Gedolim as full participants! Rav Reuven quoted at length from the psak of his father, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, regarding the monetary worth of a kesubah; the Skverer Dayan had plenty to add and Rav Berel tied it all together with true gadlus. “It wasn’t just a shiur,” one listener exclaimed, “the Rosh Yeshivah gave it over with such geshmak, you could eat it up … It was so amazing, so delicious, we wanted to make Kiddush on it!” An Opportunity to Strengthen Each Other and Reinforce Our Commitment to Torah This year, Dirshu will be offering the opportunity for those who do not have the zechus to participate to hear the parts of the program that transpire after Shabbos on telephone hook-ups in local media. Stay tuned for further updates. Perhaps the words from the letter by the Mirrer Rosh Yeshiva, the Gaon and Tzaddik, Harav Aryeh Finkel, shlita, best encapsulate the message, “Especially now, when it is an eis tzarah, when haters make it difficult for those who learn Torah… it is the obligation of every one of us to strengthen each other by reinforcing our commitment to Torah learning and davening… this will bring honor and praise to the people of Hashem everywhere! May we soon witness the revelation of Hashem’s malchus for all to see with the coming of Mashiach bimheira b’yameinu!”