Rav Chaim Kanievsky, The Skulener Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Hillel and Rav Yitzchok Ezrachi, among Gedolei Yisrael who grace Siyumim
It was a joyous simcha that spanned continents—Eretz Yisrael, South America and North America. A celebration of daily sustained limud haTorah by hundreds of thousands of people the world over.
Senior Gedolei Yisrael in all locales went out of their way to attend the Dirshu Siyumim on Daf Yomi Seder Nashim, displaying their esteem for the lomdei Daf Yomi and for Dirshu, the organization that is engaged in promoting and facilitating Daf Yomi learning at the highest levels.
The venerated Sar HaTorah, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita, who rarely attends events, not only came but sat and overtly displayed his profound admiration. Similarly, in America, the venerated Skulener Rebbe, shlita, the zekan ha’adomirim in America, who due to his advanced age and condition seldom leaves his home and beis medrash, troubled himself to come to the Ateres Chynka Hall in Boro Park where he recited the Kaddish after the siyum and enthusiastically danced, rejoicing with the many hundreds of lomdei Dirshu who completed Seder Nashim. The Sanz-Klausenberger Rebbe of America recited the Hadran and delivered a passionate drasha praising Dirshu for transforming Daf Yomi learning the world over.
In far-off Argentina, the well-known Sephardic Rosh Yeshiva and Mekubal, HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Hillel, shlita, and the Rosh Yeshiva of Mir Yerushalayim, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Ezrachi, shlita, addressed the over-1000 attendees representing the varied kehillos that comprise the entire cross-section of Argentinian Torah-observant Jewry.
Remarkably, Dirshu has presided over a revolutionary transformation, bringing newfound energy and thirst for limud Daf Yomi to locales around the world where it barely existed. It was clear throughout the month-long celebration of siyumim that Dirshu has touched a deep chord, enabling untold numbers of Jews to gain a deeper, more meaningful connection with Hashem and His Torah.
Whether in Argentina, South Africa, Australia or Eastern Europe, Dirshu is there for Daf Yomi learners day in and day out, 12 months a year, every year, facilitating an enhanced level of learning and providing tests and other incentives not just to ensure that a Daf Yomi learner learns the Daf, but will also know the Daf. Indeed, the prescient words of HaGaon HaRav Michel Zilber, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Zvhill, said at the massive Dirshu Israeli Siyum in Beitar, encapsulate Dirshu’s mission in its worldwide promotion of Daf Yomi. He said, “I am asking you, please don’t learn Daf Yomi like one learns Daf Yomi, learn Daf Yomi in order to learn it and know it!”
That is Dirshu’s mission and that was the reason for the outpouring of emotion and hakaras hatov for Dirshu in the worldwide siyumim on Seder Nashim.
By Chaim Gold
