Hundreds of thousands throughout the world to unite in learning and tefillah on behalf of klal Yisrael.
The Chofetz Chaim’s yahrzeit is an eis ratzon. There is perhaps no one in recent generations who did so much to help and enrich klal Yisrael—both in sur mei’rah and asei tov. Whether it is the sefer “Chofetz Chaim” that brought to the forefront of klal Yisrael’s agenda the importance of being careful with one’s speech, or “Ahavas Chesed” that codified all the halachos of chesed or, of course, the Chofetz Chaim’s magnum opus sefer “Mishnah Berurah” that continues to be the foundational daily halacha sefer in klal Yisrael, we are still today being spiritually enriched by the Chofetz Chaim. Certainly, the Chofetz Chaim, through his sefer “Likutei Halachos” on hilchos korbanos in the Beis HaMikdash also brought the concept of tzipisa l’yeshua, longing for the yeshua to the forefront of public consciousness. Thus, there is no doubt that the day of his yahrtzeit is a tremendous eis ratzon, an opportune time for tefillah and for invoking rachmei shomayim on behalf of all Jews.
Indeed, if there was ever a time that klal Yisrael needed to unite in a massive outpouring of tefillah and achdus; if there was ever a time when tens of thousands of tinokos shel beis rabban needed to come together to invoke rachmei shomayim, that time is now!
That is why Dirshu’s eighth annual International Yom Limud and Tefillah, to be held on 24 Elul/September 20, the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrzeit, can’t come sooner.
This year’s Yom Limud and Tefillah will showcase a special videocast with divrei chizuk by leading Gedolei Yisrael including, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Shternbuch, shlita, Raavad of the Eidah Hachareidis; HaGaon HaRav Shimon Galei, shlita, well-known mashpia and Rosh Kollel; HaGaon HaRav Reuven Elbaz, shlita, Rosh Yeshivat Ohr Hachaim; and HaGaon HaRav Nissan Kaplan, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Daas Aharon. The event, which will be launched on Motzei Shabbos Parshas Ki Savo, September 17, will also feature inspiring words by Dirshu’s Nasi Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita. The videocast will be chaired by Rav Zev Smith, shlita.
One of the highlights of the videocast promises to be the never-before-seen historical footage of Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, the unforgettable rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ponovezh L’Tzeirim, addressing a group of Acheinu students during the month of Elul. Acheinu is the kiruv arm of Dirshu and the boys had come to Rav Michel for chizuk in advance of Rosh Hashanah. The video cast will be available to hear on a dedicated audio-line and a USB will also be available for viewing by contacting Dirshu’s offices. It will also be available on a number of other platforms.
Undoubtedly, the video and divrei chizuk from the Gedolim in honor of the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrzeit and in advance of the upcoming Yomim Noraim will serve as an ideal way to prepare and derive chizuk for the Yom Hadin.
The Yom Limud and Tefillah was established by Dirshu eight years ago specifically to bring klal Yisrael together on the auspicious occasion of the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrzeit right before Rosh Hashanah in unified tefilla on behalf of klal Yisrael and to encourage the continued learning of the Chofetz Chaim’s sefarim that have such power to invoke rachmei shomayim.
Organizers of the Yom Limud and Tefillah clearly tapped into the innate feeling of every Jewish neshama in these extraordinary times when Klal Yisrael is facing unprecedented challenges. This concentrated effort in tefilla and achdus was designed to arouse heavenly mercy in the zechus of the heiligeh Chofetz Chaim who was so moser nefesh to promote these ideals amongst Klal Yisrael.
On the Yom Limud and Tefillah, Jews throughout the world will gather to recite specific perakim of Tehillim and learn segments from the sefarim written by the Chofetz Chaim, the Mishnah Berurah and the sefer Shemiras Halason.
The Tehillim being recited will be perakim kof and kuf-lamed, followed by the tefilla of Acheinu Beis Yisrael. The limud of the sifrei Chofetz Chaim will be from Dirshu’s Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program that is currently learning the laws of Birchas Hashachar. It will comprise the first se’if in siman 52. The mussar limud from the sefarim of the Chofetz Chaim will be from the sixth perek of the sefer Shmiras Halashon.
School Programs Learning From the Way of Chofetz Chaim the World Over
Simultaneously, a unique program will take place in more than 300 cities across the world with many hundreds of yeshivos, chadorim and Bais Yaakovs participating.
The remarkable, school-age program designed by Dirshu is sure to have a tremendous impact on tens of thousands of children both in major Jewish centers and in places far from Yiddishkeit hubs. Created with the singular goal of connecting children to the teachings and life of the Chofetz Chaim, the program offers some hilchos Rosh Hashanah together with hashkafa and mussar as taught by the Chofetz Chaim and compiled into an age-appropriate, user-friendly, easy-to-understand booklet replete with magnificent illustrations, rare stories of the Chofetz Chaim and a brief history of the Chofetz Chaim’s yeshiva.
Dirshu has made these extremely compelling, artfully designed booklets in both English and Yiddish for three different age groups: grades one through three, four to five, and six to eight.
The captivating stories and graphics are sure to motivate the children in each age group to read and be inspired. In addition, the combination of riveting graphics and clarity of the lessons has been hailed by leading menahelim and mechanchim as a tremendously successful way of bringing alive the lessons of the Chofetz Chaim.
In their effort to reach tinokos shel beis rabban from across the spectrum, Dirshu has designed a vivid Yiddish version of the booklet for Chassidishe chadorim with tailormade illustrations.
Along with the booklet, all children will be gifted with a professionally produced CD replete with remarkable lessons and stories about the Chofetz Chaim. The English-speaking students will receive a CD by Rabbi Yoel Ferber while the Yiddish speakers will be entertained by Rav Leibish Lish.
Throughout the diverse communities across the United States and Canada, a wide range of more than 150 boys’ and girls’ schools, chadorim and Bais Yaakovs that truly represent the entire panoply of Orthodox Jewry, has signed up for the Yom Limud and Tefillah school programs. They include schools from communities such as Monsey, Lakewood, Brooklyn, Manhattan in New York; Passaic, Toronto, Canada; Houston, Texas; Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Waterbury, Connecticut; Phoenix, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Boston, Massechusetts; Los Angeles, California; and Providence, Rhode Island as well as countless chassidishe schools in Brooklyn, Lakewood and Monsey.
This is aside from schools, chadorim and Bais Yaakovs throughout Eretz Yisrael and Europe who will also participate in the Yom Limud and Tefillah. According to Rabbi Gershon Kroizer of Dirshu, “Hundreds of schools in Eretz Yisrael, North America and Europe encompassing hundreds of thousands of children will participate in the Yom Limud and Tefillah utilizing the unique content provided to commemorate the auspicious day. The impact on young boys and girls learning about the Chofetz Chaim will be both huge and unparalleled.”
With Rosh Hashanah nearly upon us, we realize what a monumental Yom Hadin we are facing. The world is an extremely unstable place. Klal Yisrael needs you to daven together with hundreds of thousands throughout the world on Dirshu’s Yom Limud and Tefillah, and you need the words of the gedolim broadcast on the videocast for guidance and chizuk in advance of the New Year.
Don’t miss it!
By Chaim Gold
