The Jewish Link asked: What changes has the coronavirus prompted that you want to preserve?

Avi Mandelbaum responded:

During the previous Daf Yomi cycle I tried to pick up the Daf a few times. Unfortunately, due to my strange work schedule, the local shiurim didn’t fit. Besides, the speed in Hebrew would probably have been an issue. In the summer of 2019 I found a great shiur on YouTube in English from Ramat Beit Shemesh (Merkaz Daf Yomi, by Eli Stefanski). After a week or so, a work trip caused me to fall behind, but the experience was positive. With my wife’s support, I decided to use this Daf Yomi YouTube channel (the full 45-minute shiur) and start with the new cycle. In early January 2020 I did, watching the shiur on YouTube with my Gemara open.

Then, 10 days into Massechet Eiruvin, about 100 days into the 2711 day cycle, Israel went into a lockdown, and the hundred or so men who attended the shiur live in the MDY Biet Midrash could no longer go. To keep them interactive, the shiur went onto Zoom. I got a gift, the ability to join the shiur live, interact and participate.

Since then, I’ve reconnected with old friends, made new friends, and even helped others through the shiur. I’ve helped young high schoolers in the shiur with their chemistry homework, comforted people who lost family members and couldn’t have anyone come visit for shiva, help people get ready for Yom Tovim, specifically with shofar blowing, and so much more.

While I can’t wait for life to return to normal, I am happy for this blip in the road caused by COVID, as I would still be just a passive watcher of the shiur, instead of an active participant without it.

Avi Mandelbaum grew up in Teaneck, New Jersey, and moved to Highland Park with his wife, Michal, in 2003. They made aliyah to Moreshet in August of 2011, and are raising their family of five daughters in their home in the Galil. Avi currently runs the insurance department for a specialty pharmacy and teaches AP chemistry on the side as well.

Edited by Harry Glazer