“You will see, the olam will sit and learn [Chelek Daled of Mishnah Berurah]. They will be matzliach!” Those were the words of HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, rosh yeshiva of the Slabodka Yeshiva, responding to the news of the siyum of Chelek Gimmel of Mishnah Berurah in Dirshu’s Daf HaYomi B’Halacha Program and the commencement of Chelek Daled. Rav Moshe Hillel was responding to the feeling of some that it is difficult to learn Chelek Daled because it contains the complex halachos of Eruvin. Rav Hirsch acknowledged the difficulty while simultaneously conveying the concept that he was very confident that lomdei Dirshu would persevere, just as they have been tested on the first three volumes of Mishnah Berurah.

World Siyum Details at Grand Melava Malka

The recent meeting with Rav Hirsch, while he was in America, was one of numerous meetings with gedolei Yisrael in honor of the upcoming siyum on Chelek Gimmel at the Grand Melava Malka to be held during the Dirshu International Convention this coming Shabbos Parshas Bo at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut.

At the melava malka, the exciting plans for Dirshu’s World Siyum will be unveiled. The assemblage will hear detailed plans of large gatherings promoting kavod haTorah and recognizing the accomplishments of lomdei Dirshu.

The siyumim will begin with massive siyumim in Eretz Yisrael, followed by England, France and South Africa, and culminating in a enormous siyum at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, in mid-February 2020.

Senior members of the Dirshu hanhala led by Dirshu’s nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, visited with numerous gedolim both in the United States and Eretz Yisrael, where the gedolim gave them chizuk in advance of the upcoming siyum on Chelek Gimmel and also gave their brachos for the plans for the World Siyumim to be held next year.

Among the gedolim visited in America were HaGaon HaRav Matisyahu Salomon, shlita, mashgiach Beth Medrash Govoha Lakewood, the Rachmastrivka Rebbe, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita (who was in America for a visit), HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Tiferes Yerachmiel, the Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, shlita, and the Vienner Rav, Rav Asher Anshel Katz, shlita.

Meetings with leading senior gedolim in Eretz Yisrael representing the entire cross-section of charedi Jewry, Litvish, Chassidish and Sefardic, culminated in a deeply moving maamad held at the home of the Sar HaTorah, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita.

At the meeting with Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Hofstedter explained how many of the lomdei Dirshu will be making a siyum for being tested on the entire Shas. Some have even taken cumulative tests on all of Shas and are true Shas Yidden. “Many of them did not even realize that they had the kochos to learn and be tested on Shas, but the challenge and perseverance of learning with a goal and accountability brought out latent abilities in them that they had not even realized they possessed!”

Rav Moshe Hillel, who was visibly moved, exclaimed, “Nifla meod! Nifla meod!” He then gave his heartfelt bracha that all of the siyumim should be a source of increasing k’vod shomayim without any michshalim. “The main thing,” he stressed, “is to increase k’vod shomayim.”

The venerated mashgiach of Lakewood, Rav Matisyahu Salomon, despite his weakness and compromised health, felt compelled to make time to meet with Dirshu’s hanhala to give his bracha in advance of the siyum and in advance of large World Siyumim to be held next year.

The Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Boro Park, one of the elder Rebbes of our generation, said about the Dirshu learners: “They have acquired a rechush gadol, great [spiritual] wealth!” The Rebbe added that by increasing Torah learning and promoting constant learning, chazara and goal setting, Dirshu serves as a manifestation of the words that we say in davening every day, ‘Yagdil Torah v’yaadir – the Torah is made great and glorious.’

One of the inspiring meetings was held with Rav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Tiferes Yerachmiel. Rav Schustal encapsulated one of the most remarkable aspects of being part of Dirshu with a thought from Rav Yerucham Levovitz, mashgiach of the Mir. He said, “When each lomeid is learning on his own with great toil, he may think that he is learning on his own or with his chavrusa or in a shiur; in truth, however, he is a shutaf, a partner with all of the many thousands of lomdim in Dirshu the world over.

“It is like a person seeing or meeting a brother whom he has never seen before. Just because he has not seen him, does not make him less of a brother. There is a closeness of relationship by virtue that they are all engaged in a joint mitzvah.”

Rav Schustal will be attending the Dirshu Convention this coming Shabbos Parshas Bo and will be delivering a shiur to the entire assemblage. Mareh mekomos will be given in advance of the shiur so that the lomdei Torah will be able to properly prepare.

The Sanz Klausenberger Rebbe, shlita, has been an enthusiastic supporter of lomdei Dirshu for decades. When the hanhala of Dirshu came to visit the Rebbe at his home in Boro Park, the Rebbe was effusive in his excitement about the upcoming siyumim. The fact that Dirshu was enriching klal Yisrael with true Shas Yidden was a particular source of pleasure and excitement to the Rebbe. The Rebbe explained how it had always been the fervent desire of his father, the previous Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe, to enrich klal Yisrael with young talmidei chachamim who were such bekiim in Shas that they were able to be tested on all of Shas. Dirshu is accomplishing this.

The Vienner Rav, Rav Asher Anshel Katz, shlita, greeted the hanhala of Dirshu by expressing his personal hakaras hatov. “My own children and grandchildren learn and take the tests in the Dirshu programs. They have derived tremendous benefit in their learning and aliyah in Torah as a result.”

After hearing of the plans for the numerous siyumim to be held at the Dirshu World Siyum next year, the rav was very pleased and said, “The truth is, Dirshu deserves credit not just for Dirshu but for the many similar programs that have sprung up in its wake. All of them have their roots in Dirshu.”

As the lomdei Dirshu anticipate the International Convention to be held on Shabbos Parshas Bo, and the siyum to be held at the grand melava malka seudah, there is much interest among the general public regarding the historic nature of the worldwide siyumim to be held next year culminating in the massive demonstration of kavod haTorah in America with the siyum at the Prudential Center in Newark.

The melava malka is open to the public and buses will be provided from major frum centers, and the entire assemblage at the grand melava malka will hear a detailed outline of the exciting events that will be graced by leading gedolim from across the world.

By Chaim Gold