“Maalin bakodesh” were the words of the Skverer Rebbe, shlita, when he was informed about the new Amud HaYomi program that promises to have a transformative impact on Klal Yisrael. “Torah ohr, Torah is fire, it is like a flame,” the Rebbe continued, “it spreads and spreads. What you are doing is spreading Torah in an unprecedented way.” The Rebbe’s warm words to the visiting Dirshu delegation were immediately backed up with action as three new Amud HaYomi shiurim were announced in Shikun Skver, one in the early morning, one in the late afternoon when people return from work and a third at night after Maariv.

HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, shlita, rosh yeshiva of the Mesivta of Lakewood, greeted the news with great simcha. He said, “HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zt”l, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Be’er Yaakov, would often bemoan the fact that avreichim do not have a wide ranging bekius in shas. He would advise avreichim to take time during bein hasedarim or night seder to learn an amud yomi. My father, Rav Boruch Sorotzkin zt”l, also had an amud yomi seder every afternoon. I think it is a wonderful idea and will meet a need for those who find that an amud yomi works better for them. It is a wonderful idea whose time has come!”

The new Amud HaYomi program that will begin its first machzor this coming Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, on October 16, will gift Klal Yisrael with a unique opportunity to learn an amud every single day, seven days a week. This will enable those who do not learn the Daf Yomi to participate in a limud that will enable them to complete shas in 15 years while learning at a slower pace and with more depth. For those currently learning the Daf Yomi, it will serve as an amazing chazarah tool to review what they have learned during the last three years since the beginning of the current machzor of Daf Yomi. Lomdei Amud HaYomi will also have the opportunity to take tests on what they have learned and receive stipends for excellent results.

The inspiring, grand launch of the program will take place at the same historic hall, the Sofiensale Hall in Vienna, where the original Daf Yomi was launched 100 years ago by Rav Meir Shapiro at the first Knessiah Gedolah. It is scheduled to take place on Motzei Shabbos parshas Bereishis in conjunction with a siyum marking the completion of half of shas in the current Daf Yomi machzor.

Leading Gedolei Yisrael To Grace Event

The melavah malka will be graced by leading Gedolei Yisrael from all over the world including HaGaon HaRav Hillel David, shlita, yoshev rosh of the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva of Torah Umesorah, a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and rav of Kehillas Yeshiva Shaarei Torah; HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, rosh yeshivas Chevron and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Eretz Yisrael; HaGaon HaRav Shimon Galei, shlita; HaGaon HaRav Messoud Ben Shimon, shlita, Sephardic rav of Bnei Brak and rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr Elitzur; HaGaon HaRav Avrohom Salim, shlita, rosh yeshivas Meor Torah and member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah; HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Eisenberger, shlita, rosh yeshivas Telshe; HaGaon HaRav Binyomin Finkel, shlita, rosh yeshivas Mir; and HaGaon HaRav Nissan Kaplan, shlita, rosh yeshivas Daas Aharon, amongst others.

Multiple Shiurim, Multiple Sources of Joy!

Skver is just one of over 100 of new shiurim that have already been announced with hundreds more in formation.

“There is a tremendous amount of excitement among the public and also among the many talmidei chachamim who have committed to delivering a daily shiur. Multiple shiurim will be starting in Lakewood, Boro Park, Monsey, Williamsburg and Flatbush. In addition, new shiurim will be opening in Toronto, Philadelphia, Miami Beach, Jackson, Toms River, Staten Island, Chicago and Los Angeles,” said Rabbi Moshe Fisher, Dirshu’s North American co-director.

Among the many maggidei shiur are HaRav Yitzchok Zalman Gips, shlita, rav of Khal Birkas Avrohom of Boro Park; HaRav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, nasi of Dirshu in Toronto; HaRav Shmiel Duvid Friedman, author of the Sdei Tzofim; HaRav Ephraim Greenbaum, shlita, R”M in New Square; HaRav Herzka Greenfeld, shlita, of Staten Island. There will also be options to listen to shiurim on the phone or view shiurim online. There will be options to hear shiurim in English, Yiddish and Hebrew. In addition, there will be hundreds of new shiurim being given across the length and breadth of Eretz Yisrael. There will be many new shiurim opening in Europe and worldwide.

A comprehensive and marvelous kuntress called Iyun Ha’Amud, compiled by great talmidei chachomim, will be published and disseminated among the lomdim of Amud HaYomi throughout the world. The kuntress, which includes the pages of the Gemara, explanations and supplements, marei mekomos and practical applications of the halacha, is intended to assist the lomdim of Amud HaYomi with their learning and it will be part of the curriculum for the advanced tracks.

“The fact that I can embark on a plan to learn the entire shas, at a pace and with the comprehensiveness and ability to find time for chazarah is extremely exciting!” exclaimed Rabbi Moshe B. from Lakewood.

Empowering Individuals To Learn “L’fi Tivo”

The idea to establish a worldwide Amud HaYomi program was discussed by Rav Dovid Hofstedter, nasi of Dirshu with HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein, zt”l. Rav Hofstedter expressed apprehension that an Amud HaYomi program might discourage those who are capable of learning the Daf Yomi from learning more. Rav Gershon, however, waved away his concern saying, “Every neshama finds its place in learning. Ish l’fi tivo, each person will choose a limud that fits his own nature.”

Indeed, HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, shlita, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Tiferes Yerachmiel in Lakewood, echoed those thoughts. When he heard about the new Amud HaYomi program he displayed great simcha. His primary joy was aroused by the realization that this program would increase Torah learning and the numbers of lomdei Torah.

The Amud HaYomi program will undoubtedly fill a great void and enable so many more people to learn Torah l’fi tivam, in accordance with their nature.

“Yungeleit in the Workforce Learning Eight Hours a Sunday!”

Similarly, last week, when a delegation from Dirshu came to tell the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, shlita, about the establishment of the Amud HaYomi, his face lit up. He too was excited that so much more Torah will be learned and he related how his father, the previous Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, demanded that his chasidim come to him every month with a completed card showing how many hours they learned every day. The Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Monsey, who has maintained that custom, exclaimed, “There are yungeleit in the workforce who come to me, and I see that they have learned eight hours on a Sunday. Eight hours! Why? Because they were preparing for a Dirshu test! The ol Torah, the yoke of Torah, the fact that there will be multiple testing options increases the dedication and hours of learning thereby empowering each lomeid to have a true chibur, connection to the Torah.”

The historic launch of the Amud HaYomi is almost upon us. Now is the time to make a kabbalah to join. You won’t regret it!

For more information or to establish or access a shiur in your community please contact Dirshu at [email protected] or 732-987-3948 x 106.