Dirshu’s popular Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program has recently embarked on hilchos tefillin. The ripple effect worldwide is astounding. Not only are tens of thousands the world over already learning the laws of tefillin, but in addition, interest in Daf HaYomi B’Halacha is spreading to locales that those in the main Jewish centers would call exotic.

For example, in Panama City, Panama an entire group of people recently began to learn Daf HaYomi B’Halacha and take tests. The interest in Panama is part of a surge in Dirshu participants throughout the whole of South America. Indeed, the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha siyum before Pesach in Buenos Aires, Argentina was an extremely successful event.

From Panama to Budapest

Interestingly, the Panama community’s interest in Daf HaYomi B’Halacha was indirectly piqued through Mexico. In Mexico, the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program is run by Rabbi Moshe Peretz, an individual who is extremely enthusiastic about the program. It seems that his excitement is contagious and was thus transmitted to his brother who lives in Panama City. Rabbi Peretz’s brother shared the program with several counterparts in the city and that is how the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha chaburah of Panama City was born.

Just as touching is the report of a new group of Dirshu Mishnah Berurah learners in Budapest, Hungary. Budapest—the capital of Hungary, which the Nazis tried unsuccessfully to rid of its Jews—is undergoing a spiritual rejuvenation. Part of that rejuvenation is the recent interest shown by local community members in the Dirshu Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program.

If the above two locales are not “far out” enough, Dirshu’s coordinator for Australia, Rabbi Yumi Rosenbaum, recently reported on amazing participation in the program. The participation has reached the point that the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha of Australia has recently published its own halacha newsletter highlighting fascinating halachic queries that have arisen in the course of the month’s learning.

Currently, Dirshu features three Daf HaYomi B’Halacha shiurim in Australia, at the Adass Shul, at Kollel Beth HaTalmud and at Heichal HaTorah. There are also many individuals learning the material on their own.

Whether you are in the Tristate area or in other, more exotic locations such as Panama, Budapest or Australia, one thing remains constant: Limud haTorah the Dirshu way.