Shiurim in 15 Communities Across North America Received Enthusiastically
Fifteen pesicha shiurim given by prominent Roshei Yeshiva, Rabbonim and Poskim in cities across North America took place beginning the day after Yom Kippur. The Daf Yomi program was designed to keep young men learning while they were back home during the break known as “Bein Hazmanim,” and the success of the program, which served thousands of students, showed that the students were enthusiastic about an opportunity to engage in structured limud program during bein hazemanim.
Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah of Far Rockaway, who gave the pesicha shiur for the Five Towns and Far Rockaway at the Agudas Yisrael of West Lawrence said: “I was very impressed that on the first day of bein hazemanim 67 yeshivaleit came to hear a shiur on Hilchos Yeshivas Sukkah. It is a testimony to the sheifus haTorah of today’s yeshiva bachurim! It was also very impressive how Dirshu anticipated every detail to make sure everything clicked 100%…”
In Passaic, nearly 200 people packed Congregation Bais Torah U’Tefillah to hear a shiur from Rav Asher Dovid May, Rosh Kollel of the Yeshiva Gedolah of Passaic who delivered words of chizuk based on the words of our sages that, “A person should make his Sukkah his “kevah”, his main house and make his house, “aray” his temporary dwelling. The only other time we find Chazal using the words aray and kevah, are with regard to Torah learning and work, where Chazal tell us, “Make your Torah kevah and your work aray. The message is the same. Matters of Olam Hazeh must always be done in a fashion that is aray, secondary rather than being one’s main occupation. The Sukkah symbolizes this idea.”
In Lakewood, a large crowd came to Khal Shearis Adas Yisroel (Rav Forchheimer’s shul) to hear the pesicha shiur from the Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha, Rav Malkiel Kotler, who gave an in-depth, lomdishe shiur on the unique halachos of eating on the first night of Sukkos.
In Boro Park approximately 150 bachurim came to hear the shiur by Rav Yitzchok Zalman Gips, of Beis Medrash Birchas Avrohom and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Nehardaah. In the 5 Towns, Rav Yaakov Bender, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Darchei Torah, spoke about the obligation to sleep in the Sukkah and under what conditions one is absolved. He told fascinating stories from his youth growing up in Williamsburg when the Sukkas were built on street level for large apartment buildings. There was an informal, spirited atmosphere of give and take where bachurim posed questions throughout the shiur.
In Monsey, the shiur was given by RavYosef Veiner at his shul, Kehal Sha’ar HaShamayim; the shiur in Toronto was delivered by Rav Chaim Mendel Brodsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Shmayahu; and in Williamsburg, the Tzhelemer Dayan, Rav Aharon Zilberstein, shlita, gave the shiur at the Vienner Beis Medrash.
The prevailing sentiment in each of the locations was one of excitement and purpose. After the shiur at one of the sites one father was overheard saying, “I am going to get each one of my four boys involved in this program. It enriches their learning, enables them to become familiar with practical halacha and learning Mishnah Berurah. It gives structure to their learning during bein hazemanim and teaches them achrayus and accountability. That is the bracha of Dirshu. I am so happy my bachurim are being exposed to it!”
By Chaim Gold
