Mesikus HaTorah! How does one taste the sweetness of Torah learning? How can parents and educators inculcate children and teens with true enjoyment from learning Torah? How can we transmit the ideal that preforming mitzvos is pleasurable, fills one’s life with meaning and joy?
That is the planned theme of Acheinu’s annual Kiruv Conference scheduled for Tuesday, Rosh Chodesh Nissan/April 1 at the Ramada Hotel in Yerushalayim. The massive conference will mark the 20th Anniversary since the establishment of Acheinu by Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi of Dirshu, the worldwide Torah movement that has transformed Klal Yisrael.
The Conference will be graced with the presence of numerous Gedolei Yisrael. During the keynote session, the venerated Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, will address and field questions on the most knotty, complex topics. Major addresses will also be delivered by the well-know mashpia, HaGaon HaRav Tzvi Meir Zilberberg, shlita and Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi of Dirshu.
From Kiruv Rechokim to Kiruv Kerovim and So Much More
According to Rav Nati Weingarten, one of Acheinu’s prominent activists, “This year’s kiruv conference will be different than in past years because it will feature three distinctive components all devoted to the general theme of cultivating mesikus haTorah, while simultaneously discussing and proposing solutions to numerous issues affecting all those engaged in kiruv, both kiruv rechokim and kiruv kerovim.”
There will be 26 concurrent roundtables discussions designed to explore solutions to numerous areas of kiruv with kiruv kerovim. Each roundtable will be headed by a prominent Rav, Rosh Yeshiva or Mashgiach whose area of expertise is the topic being discussed at that the roundtable.
HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, an American-born talmid of Rav Aharon Kotler, will focus on the best ways to inculcate mesikus haTorah, the sweetness of Torah, into our youth. “All people involved in chinuch today agree that if a child loves learning, takes pleasure in learning Torah, then 95% of all other difficulties fall away. That is why it is imperative that we better understand how to inculcate this idea in our charges,” said Rabbi Nati Weingarten.
The main session will also be addressed by Acheinu’s founder, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, who will give words of guidance along with a personal message in honor of Acheinu’s 20th Anniversary.
The third component of the Kiruv Conference will be the celebration of 20 years of nonstop activity by Acheinu in their quest to bring thousands of estranged neshomos close to Hashem and to ensure that those that are close stay connected to Hashem.
“The underlying idea behind this year’s Acheinu Kiruv Conference,” says Rabbi Weingarten, “is to bring many of the most distinguished mechanchim, Mashgichim and kiruv professionals together under one roof and, with the aggregate of their combined hundreds of years of expertise, give guidance on how to inculcate mesikus haTorah to young people of all types, those not yet frum, those from traditional homes and those from haredi homes who seem to be losing the spark. In addition, there are so many tips that will be relevant for bachurim from typical haredi families that are learning well. After all, with an additional spark of mesikus haTorah the bachur can be transformed from a good bachur into a great bachur who is alight with ahavas Hashem and ahavas Torah!”
By Chaim Gold
