In addition to gaining sage advice from the Gedolim of Eretz Yisrael, the thousands of bachurim at the kinnus merited to hear words of chizuk and guidance from senior American roshei yeshiva as well. They heard from the zekan roshei yeshiva in America, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlita, who delivered an audio recording specifically for this event, and from HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, shlita, who gave over divrei chizuk via video.
It is not the first time that these senior gedolim have addressed Dirshu events that give chizuk to lomdei Torah. Rav Yitzchok was the special guest speaker at the Siyum HaShas in Binyanei Haumah in Eretz Yisrael a few years ago and has addressed several Dirshu Conventions in America. A few years ago, Rav Shmuel participated and addressed the Siyum HaShas of Chaburas Dirshu in Beis Medrash Govoha of Lakewood, where a number of his talmidim completed Shas. He also participated in a Dirshu Kinnus of Chizuk for Bnei Yeshivos in Bnei Brak in 2005, and the first Kinyan Halacha bechina held at Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon in Yerushalayim in 2006, where Rav Dovid Hofstedter introduced him to Rav Shmuel Wosner, zt”l, for the first time.
Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky who spoke in Ivrit so that all the bachurim should understand, began by saying that in order to be matzliach in yeshiva, a bachur must come with a true ratzon, a deep desire to succeed. Rav Shmuel then highlighted that another integral component that every bachur must realize, is to think about others. Hashem always conducts himself with us in a manner of middah k’negged middah. If we think about the needs of our friends, if we truly want them to succeed, then Hashem will see to it that we also will experience tremendous elevation in our ruchniyus.
Rav Shmuel concluded by giving his heartfelt bracha that all the bachurim should have tremendous siyatta d’Shmaya.
Rav Sorotzkin, in his powerful remarks, said that when the famed Kamenetzer Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Boruch Ber Leibowitz, would address bnei yeshiva, he would call them, “Mevakshei Hashem.” He would say that the greatest quality that a ben Torah can display is the fact that he is a mevakesh, a person who truly wants to grow and seek ways to improve.
By Mattisyahu Lazar
