Leading gedolei Yisroel to address siyum that is open to the public.

A Dirshu convention is unique. It is perhaps the only convention where the tzad hashaveh, the common denominator, of every participant is Torah: the Torah that 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. A Yid with a shtreimel can be seen in animated conversation with his Sephardic brother about a Tosafos in Masechta Moed Katan that he found difficult. A Litvish Yid and a Bobover chasid can be seen discussing an interesting biur halacha in Chelek Aleph of Mishnah Berurah that they both have been learning in the Daf haYomi B’Halacha program.

A Gerer yungerman can be seen 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.

It isn’t limited to men either. On the women’s side of the mechitza, as the hallowed time of hadlakas ner Shabbos approaches, one cannot help but be moved by the scene of women of all types, women bedecked with white tichels on top of their sheitels next to women with sheitels and yet others with tichels, all united as they light the Shabbos candles, and the first word of conversation is, “In which program does your husband learn?” They talk about how fortunate they feel to be part of a program that transforms their home into a bastion of Torah and how they happily juggle the early-morning hours of getting their kids off to school without their husbands who are deeply immersed in learning their respective Dirshu programs, or how they manage bedtime at night as their talmidei chachamim are reviewing another blatt Gemara and another Rashi or Tosafos! This is the natural rhythm of a Dirshu convention. This year’s convention, scheduled for this week on Shabbos Parshas Pekudei, promises to be no different.

Highlight to Be Melava Malka Siyum on Seder Moed

At this year’s convention, however, there will be an additional component of profound simchas haTorah with a grand melava malka siyum on Seder Moed being held on Motzei Shabbos at the main ballroom of the Armon Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut.

On Motzei Shabbos in Stamford, not only will the hundreds of convention goers attend the siyum, but Dirshu has opened the siyum to the general public, inviting all those to whom Torah and kavod haTorah is important to participate. There will be bussing from major centers and all that is needed is a call or email to Dirshu’s offices to RSVP.

The siyum on Seder Moed, to be addressed by leading American gedolim from across the spectrum, will be a fitting culmination to the month of siyumim that Dirshu has celebrated in Eretz Yisrael, England, Vilna, Antwerp, South Africa and Australia during the last weeks.

It will open with a drasha by HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Zalman Gips, shlita, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Mevakshei Torah, rav of Khal Birchas Avrohom of Boro Park and a Daf HaYomi B’Halacha maggid shiur. One of the keynote addresses of the evening will be given by HaGaon Rav Aharon Dovid Goldberg, shlita, rosh yeshiva of the Telshe Yeshiva of Cleveland.

The special guest from Eretz Yisrael will be HaGaon HaRav Nissan Kaplan, shlita, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Daas Aharon of Yerushalayim and previously a longtime maggid shiur at Yeshivas Mir of Yerushalayim where he has had an indelible impact on scores of talmidim.

Another major address will be given by Dirshu’s nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita. The final major address will be given by the Viener Rav, HaGaon HaRav Asher Anshel Katz, shlita.

Of course, as befitting a siyum of this magnitude, there will be a full fleishig seudah accompanied by heartfelt music played with Yiddishe taam that will engender feelings of simcha, chizuk, inspiration and appreciation of the great milestone that the lomdei Dirshu have achieved.

Brand-New Dirshu Initiative To Be Announced

Another very exciting development at the siyum melava malka will be the announcement by Rav Hofstedter of yet another Dirshu initiative that will enrich lomdei Torah with even more ruchniyus. Traditionally, major Dirshu milestone events have featured the announcements of new programs. The Daf HaYomi B’Halacha was announced at a major Dirshu Siyum Hashas and more recently, the Dirshu Kinyan Chochma program was announced at a Dirshu convention and siyum here in America. On Motzei Shabbos another exciting new initiative will be announced with the expected launch after this coming Pesach. Stay tuned.

Special Women’s Melava Malka Highlighting Their Role in Creating a ‘Dirshu Home’

Dirshu, however, does not suffice with a siyum for men, recognizing only the accomplishments of the lomdim. Rather, hanhalas Dirshu understands that more often than not, the ability of a man to be transformed into a talmid chacham who utilizes every spare minute for learning and reviewing another blatt Gemara or another se’if in the Shulchan Aruch or Mishnah Berurah is also due to the efforts of his ezer kenegdo, the heroic Dirshu wives who, through their mesiras nefesh enable their husbands to remain deeply immersed in Torah.

That is why Dirshu will be making a separate melave malka for Nishei Dirshu on Motzei Shabbos. The melava malka will take place at the nearby Stamford Marriott Hotel. The main ballroom at the Marriott will feature a unique women’s program. The women will be addressed by the well-known maggid shiur Rav Fishel Schacher, shlita. They will also have the opportunity to watch a riveting video of the Dirshu siyumim and women’s events that recently took place in Eretz Yisrael. There will be special musical and dance performances by the renowned inspirational artists Mrs. Malky Giniger and Mrs. Chayala Neuhaus as well as a live hook-up to the major events of the men’s siyum and the address by the nasi of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstedter.

The siyum promises to be a culmination of a Shabbos that will be mei’ein Olam Haba, where lomdei Dirshu will be treated to a virtual smorgasbord of chizuk, shiurei Torah in lomdus, halacha and the parshah. If the past is any indication of the future, they will just be clamoring for more.

Some of the speakers during Shabbos will include the rosh yeshiva of Staten Island, HaGaon HaRav Reuven Feinstein, shlita, Rav Nissan Kaplan and HaGaon HaRav Dovid Schustal, shlita, rosh yeshivas Beth Medrash Govoha, who will deliver an address and a lomdishe shiur. Other speakers will include HaGaon HaRav Zev Smith, shlita, Daf HaYomi B’Halacha maggid shiur and popular maggid shiur at Irgun Shiurei Torah, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Breslauer, shlita, rosh kollel of the kollel of the Yeshiva of South Fallsburg, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Weinberger, R”M at Mesivta Shalom Shachne and rav of the Agudas Yisroel of Flatbush, and the venerated senior posek, HaGaon HaRav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz, shlita, Skverer dayan of Boro Park.

The Dirshu Convention culminating in the grand melava malka siyum graced by leading gedolei Yisrael promises to be a tremendous demonstration of kavod haTorah and chizuk that will energize lomdei Torah and honor the lomdei Torah who make learning and yedias haTorah the centerpiece of their lives.

Don’t miss the grand siyum!

To RSVP for the siyum please call 855-SIYUM-22 or email: [email protected].