The Dirshu Convention began on Thursday afternoon with a unique seudah catered to Dirshu maggidei shiurim. More than 150 maggidei shiurim gathered at the tastefully prepared seudah as befitting kavod haTorah.
At the event, there was a fascinating panel with three maggidei shiurim being asked numerous questions that come up in the course of delivering a shiur. The panelists were Rav Uri Greenspan, a maggid shiur in Philadelphia, Rav Ephraim Greenbaum, a maggid shiur in Shikun Skver and Rav Yechezkel Zeffren, a maggid shiur in Lakewood. The chairman of the event, Rav Chaim Meir Taback, is a maggid shiur in Monsey.
Important tips and topics were discussed, such as how to properly prepare for the shiur, how to answer the questions of individuals without losing the audience, and how to balance personal obligations such as simchos and family with the relentless, daily obligation to give the shiur.
Rav Greenbaum related a story about Rav Yosef Tzvi Dushinksy who would give two daily, one-hour shiurim to two different groups on the same Gemara. Once, when he was a half hour into giving the second shiur, he stopped and closed the Gemara. He told the participants, “Rabbosai, I was very busy today and did not have the time to prepare for this shiur.” He then explained, “I have learned this masechta 60 times already. This morning, I also delivered the shiur on the exact same Gemara to another group. Nevertheless, unless I specifically prepare for the shiur that I am giving I will not deliver a shiur and I was only able to prepare until here.”
“That,” Rav Greenbaum concluded, “is how important it is to properly prepare for a shiur!”
Rav Yosef Paneth, Rav of Khal Meor Tefillah in Boro Park and an Amud HaYomi maggid shiur, delivered a strong, moving address. He brought out the greatness of a maggid shiur by sharing a story about Rav Elchonon Wasserman. “Rav Elchonon once told the Chofetz Chaim that he wanted to stop delivering one of his shiurim. In response, the Chofetz Chaim asked him, ‘Who makes more money, a man who makes handmade, custom shoes, or a factory that mass produces them?’ The Chofetz Chaim answered that even though the individual, custom-made shoe may be better and cost more, the company makes far more money because they produce shoes on an industrial scale. ‘Similarly,’ the Chofetz Chaim extrapolated, ‘a maggid shiur is a factory! When he learns, he doesn’t just learn for himself! Rather, he affects everyone who listens to the shiur. Not only does he affect them, but he impacts their wives, children and future generations! When you say a shiur, you are talking to tens and even hundreds of people and generations! The greatest tzedakah and zechus is to give a shiur and spread Torah to thousands!’”
