Daf HaYomi B’Halacha marches toward world siyum on second machzor.

The Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program, Dirshu’s daily Mishnah Berurah learning program, is already well into Chelek Vav, the last chelek of the Mishnah Berurah. That means that the siyum on the second machzor of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha is getting closer.

As in all Dirshu major siyumim, the siyum upon completion of the seven-year program to learn the entire Mishnah Berurah promises to be a special event. It is sure to be replete with chizuk haTorah and the divrei Elokim chayim delivered by the gedolei hador!

The Divine Smile

Sometimes one feels that Hashem, as it were, is showing us somewhat of a Divine smile. This year’s Daf HaYomi B’Halacha schedule is one of those times.

As is well known to Daf HaYomi B’Halacha learners, the Mishnah Berurah schedule goes in order of the Mishnah Berurah. Beginning with the first siman in Chelek Aleph, a new daf is learned every day until more than seven years later when the last siman in Chelek Vav is learned and the entire Mishnah Berurah is completed.

Sometimes this schedule lends itself to learning hilchos Pesach around Rosh Hashanah, which may seem a bit awkward. This year, however, as Daf HaYomi B’Halacha marches toward the massive siyumim that will be held in major Jewish centers around the world, learners will have the opportunity to learn the important halachos of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkos within months and days of those Yomim Tovim.

“If there was ever a time to join the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program, now is the time,” said Dirshu hanhala member Rabbi Avigdor Bernstein. The halachos of Rosh Hashanah are scheduled to begin this coming 30 Nissan/April 12, 2021, the halachos of Yom Kippur on 20 Sivan/May 30, and finally the halachos of Sukkos will begin on 3 Av/July 12 and will extend right up until Sukkos. Thus, if someone joins the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program after Pesach, in those months preceding the three yomim tovim of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkos, he will be able to gain a comprehensive knowledge of all the halachos relevant to the three upcoming Yomim Tovim. This includes the halachos of blowing shofar, the halachos of Yom Kippur—fasting, eating and asking mechilah—followed by the comprehensive halachos of Sukkos, building a sukkah, how to choose the daled minim and the list goes on.”

Daily Halacha, A Daily Lifesaver

Indeed, when the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program was established, the gedolei Yisrael gave their unreserved bracha to the project. They clearly felt that daily learning of halacha would be a lifesaver for klal Yisrael by enabling a Yid to live with Hashem every day, every Shabbos and every Yom Tov. When a person learns halacha regularly, he is cognizant of the many questions that come up every day. This is the best fulfilment of the first words in Shulchan Aruch that say, “Shevisi Hashem l’negdi samid, I have placed Hashem before me always.” Learning daily Mishnah Berurah enables a person to place Hashem before his eyes at all times.

“In addition,” Rabbi Bernstein continues, “starting toward the end of Chelek Vav and learning the practical halachos of the Yomim Tovim will introduce the learner to Daf HaYomi B’Halacha so that when the third machzor begins he will be fully mobilized and motivated to embark on the ambitious task of learning the entire chelek of Orach Chaim!”

Dirshu was encouraged by the late poskei hador of the previous generation, HaGaon HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zt”l, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Wosner, zt”l, and HaGaon HaRav Nissim Karelitz, zt”l, to establish the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program.

More recently, the nesius of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha has been led by gedolei Yisrael from Eretz Yisrael, HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein, shlita, rosh yeshiva of the Ponevezh Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Boruch Dov Povarsky, shlita, rosh yeshiva of the Ponevezh Yeshiva, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe of Bnei Brak, Rav Yisroel Hager, shlita, the Boyaner Rebbe, shlita, the Seret-Vizhnitzer Rebbe, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, rosh yeshiva of the Chevron Yeshiva, the Modzitzer Rebbe, shlita and the Alexander Rebbe, shlita.

The American nesius of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha is comprised of gedolei roshei yeshivos and admorim including luminaries such as the roshei yeshiva of Lakewood, HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Malkiel Kolter, shlita, and HaGaon HaRav Yeruchim Olshin, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Yosef Harrai Raful, shlita, rosh yeshiva, Yeshiva Ateret Torah, Hagaon HaRav Shlomo Miller, shlita, Rosh Kollel Toronto, HaGaon HaRav Matisyohu Salomon, shlita, mashgiach Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood, HaGaon HaRav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, shlita, rosh yeshiva of South Fallsburg, and HaGaon HaRav Asher Anshel Katz, shlita, the Viener Rav.

Dirshu Bemoans Loss of Nesius Member HaGaon HaRav Yechezkel Roth, zt”l

The recent, sudden passing of the senior leading posek, HaGaon HaRav Yechezkel Roth, the Karlsburger Rav, zt”l, who was a distinguished member of the nesius and a great supporter and admirer of Dirshu’s Halacha programs, Daf HaYomi B’Halacha and Kinyan Halacha, was greatly mourned by Dirshu. At a meeting a couple of years ago, Rav Roth said, “Kol hashoneh halacha b’chol yom muvtach shehu ben Olam Haba. A person fulfills the mitzvah of Torah learning when he learns Torah regardless of what area he is learning; however, when one has a choice of learning halacha, it takes precedence.”

‘The Sefer Hamafteach Has Solidified the Dirshu Halacha Revolution’

Over the past ten years, the ability to learn comprehensive halacha l’maaseh has been tremendously enhanced by the publishing of the Dirshu edition of the Mishnah Berurah containing many thousands of piskei halacha culled from the rulings of the gedolei haposkim who have rendered halachic decisions on modern-day scenarios that have arisen since the publication of the Mishnah Berurah. For example, when one learns the halachos of Shabbos, of shihiya and chazarah, he can also learn about hot plates, Crock-Pots and thermostats in modern-day stoves and ovens.

In a recent conversation that senior hanhala members of Dirshu had with senior posek HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Eliezer Stern, shlita, Gaavad of Shaarei Horaah and Rav of Western Bnei Brak, Rav Stern commented, “When I give a shiur in Mishnah Berurah, the biurim and musafim have a transformative effect on the shiur. Everyone wants to hear what the biurim u’musafim say and all of the modern-day scenarios to which we can apply the age-old halachos.”

Recently, Dirshu has made the ability to access the voluminous material in the six volumes far easier with the publishing of the Dirshu mafteach on the Mishnah Berurah. In minutes, one can easily look up any question in the new, one-volume sefer that contains over 6,000 primary references and over 70,000 secondary references. In addition, Dirshu has included an English section for those who may not be familiar with some of the current-day Hebrew terminology.

Rav Stern was also tremendously enthusiastic about the mafteach, saying that it would solidify the revolution in halacha that Dirshu has made.

With Dirshu Daf HaYomi B’Halacha continuing its march through Chelek Vav on the way to the World Siyum on the second machzor of the Mishnah Berurah, now is the best time to join and learn all the halachos of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkos in advance of the Yomim Tovim.

To join, please contact Dirshu at 1-888-5Dirshu or email [email protected].

By Chaim Gold