January 10, 2019 718.692.1144 | thefjj.com 44 Simchas HaTorah – at the Hachnosas Sefer Torah An Interview with Rav Nissan Kaplan Nachman Seltzer yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel! Why do Davening lasted for three hours I met Rav Nissan Kaplan when I have to open yet another one?!” on Erev Rosh Hashana. There was I first began learning at the Mir “There is a tremendous amount no breakfast that day because the Yeshiva in Yerushalayim almost of Torah being learned in Eretz Rema writes that it’s a mitzvah to twenty years ago. I joined his shi- Yisroel right now,” they said. “The fast until chatzos. Looking around ur and spent many Shabbos seu- hasmada is unbelievable. But many me, I felt that if I struck a match dos around the Kaplan family’s of the top bochurim – the metzuy- in the Bais Medresh, it would catch Shabbos table. Since those early anim who are learning day and on fire from the incredible energy days when the shiur was located in night – are missing the “Rebbe” emanating from every boy. the dining room of the Mir Yeshiva element in their lives – the Rebbe I asked the yeshiva staff to pre- and through my many subsequent who can teach and guide them to pare over a hundred bags in my years at the Mir, our families have greater heights in lomdus and hava- office - a bag for every boy. There become extremely close and we na on one hand, while giving them were two bottles of soda in ev- share a very warm relationship. I warmth and love on the other. ery bag, a fresh honey cake from was given the unique opportunity And while there are rebbeim who Avichayil bakery, a large bag of to witness my Rebbe’s incredible give love and warmth to bochurim Bisli and a large bag of Bamba. success around the globe from up who are off the derech or weaker in After davening, I approached one from the average approach. But close. With so many changes in learning, it is very difficult to find of the bochurim and told him (with what can I say…. My phone doesn’t Rav Nissan’s life, it made sense for a first class yeshiva that offers that a very serious face) that I wanted stop ringing with people trying to the two of us to sit down together type of warmth to their bochurim. to see every single bochur in my of- get their kids into the yeshiva. They and discuss Daas Aharon - his new And that is exactly what is lacking. fice, one by one. want their children to shteig and to yeshiva, his goals for the future In the end – after months of not The bochurim had no idea what grow in Torah and to have a Rebbe and how he is capable of serving giving in, I had to admit that they to expect. who knows what it means to have both as a Rosh Yeshiva and a rav to were right. They entered my office, bochur a warm kesher with his talmidim! his kehilla in Ramat Eshkol/Givat I want to give you an example after bochur. I handed each one a They are calling me because when Hamivtar at the same time. of what I mean when I talk about bag, telling them it was a gift from people ask our talmidim – “What’s I’ll begin with a question that combining top level learning and the Rebbetzin for Rosh Hashana. I so special about the yeshiva,” they has been on many people’s minds Avodas Hashem with authentic can’t begin to describe the smiles I answer, “We learn Torah from around the world. You, Rav Nissan warmth. saw on every face! Fifteen minutes morning till night B’simcha.” Kaplan, were known to have been Yeshivas Daas Aharon was es- later my wife called me. And a lot of that simcha stems incredibly successful at the Mir. tablished last summer zman with a “The phone hasn’t stopped ring- from having a Rebbe who loves With thousands of talmidim group of bochurim who were hand ing,” she said. people, loves his talmidim, gives around the globe who have re- selected from some of the best ye- “Why, who’s calling,” I asked her. them warmth and encouragement mained in touch with their rebbe shivos in Eretz Yisroel. This Elul, “The parents of every talmid. - and knows them well. These boys and with a shiur comprised of we welcomed our first shiur aleph. The boys called their parents – yes, are happy because they realize how hundreds of bochurim - why leave I can’t begin to describe what was boys who hadn’t called home all lucky they are to be where they are.” to open a new yeshiva? For your happening in the yeshiva during Elul got on the phone and called Interesting point – In the mid- talmidim, hearing the news of the that time. Every bochur is a gem and home. They couldn’t stop them- dle of the interview Rav Nissan’s new yeshiva was without question I looked around the Bais Medresh selves from calling their mothers phone rang. The caller was on the shocking and unexpected. What and felt the fire of Torah burning and fathers to report, “That the municipal council of a city with a was the purpose and the goal for inside me like I hadn’t felt in many Rebbetzin gave them a giant bag of sizable religious community. The such a thing? years. There were over a hundred Bamba for Rosh Hashana!” reason he was calling was to ask Rav Nissan: The idea for the bochurim learning in the yeshiva That was the introduction to Rav Nissan if he would be willing to new yeshiva came primarily from alongside a kollel of thirty yunge- our Rosh Hashana. The highest consider moving his yeshiva to that my father shlita. He discussed the leit. The kol Torah was fantastic! level of kedusha – accompanied by city – which would provide the ye- concept he had in mind with a The boys were learning with a smile stretching from ear to ear. shiva with a piece of land on which number of gedolim in Eretz Yisroel intensity deep into the night. They That’s our yeshiva. A very high to build a building along with nu- who agreed with him. He then were showing up on time to every level of learning. Intensely focused merous other incentives to move. asked me to accompany him to seder. Like I said, there was a veri- bochurim. And lots of love and “I’m getting offers like this all meet with them. At the meetings, table fire in the air. I joined them warmth. the time,” he told me. I was told that they wanted me to in the Bais Medresh and spent Some of these bochurim know Apparently, people around Eretz open a new yeshiva. time talking in learning with every half of Shas. And they feel warm Yisroel understand that this yeshi- I told them that I wasn’t inter- bochur – every day! And because and loved because the Rosh Yeshiva va, with its unique derech, is going ested in opening a new yeshiva and they were on such a high level of and the Rebbetzin gave them a bag to have a major effect on the coun- was more than happy to remain at learning, I was having to spend a of Bamba. Between me and you, I try and they want to get in on the the Mir. I was very comfortable at lot more time preparing for shi- have a feeling that next year all the ground floor. the Mir and I had no reason to even ur than I’d done in a while… All yeshivos will do the same thing….” “So your father’s idea turned think about leaving a place where I things considered, the milchamta How long did the gedolim and out very well,” I said to Rav Nissan, had grown so much and which had shel Torah cannot be accurately your father Rav Naftoli think it “like his ideas tend to do….” treated me with such warmth. described. would take for such a new and Rav Nissan nodded. But no matter how I argued, And then we hit the days of ground-breaking type of approach “But here’s my next question. they remained steadfast in their Selichos. to catch on in the Lithuanian style While it’s wonderful that the ye- agreement that I had to leave and We instituted a mussar seder of the Israeli yeshivos? shiva is so matzliach and that start my own yeshiva. after Shacharis and an additional Rav Nissan: They thought it Israeli bochurim are finally “Why is this so important,” I mussar seder before supper. Every would take years. The methodolo- asked them. “There are so many bochur was there. gy of the yeshiva was very different CONTINUED ON PAGE 112 JANUARY 10, 2019 718.692.1144 | the j.com 112 An Interview with Rav Nissan Kaplan CONTINUED FROM PAGE 44 ere are so many young fami- Being that it was never rented out who will change Klal Yisroel with getting a taste of what it means to lies in this neighborhood and I feel I didn’t think that the owner would their warmth and their ability to be a talmid of Rav Nissan, what that they need a rebbe/rav who will agree to rent it to me, but I went to treat every member of the Jewish about all the American bochurim be there for them with warmth and see him despite my misgivings and people with love and respect. is who no longer have the opportu- care. I feel that this is a crucial com- he was extremely happy to rent it will change the atmosphere in so nity to develop a relationship with ponent towards building a genuine to the yeshiva. at was how our many families as well – the kids will you?” neighborhood of real Bnei Torah. brand new yeshiva, was able to start receive a di erent chinuch. It will Rav Nissan: “I want to share a Tonight I will be going to the shul its journey in a brand new palace have far reaching consequences on secret with you. Once Daas Aharon at 11:00 to give an hour long shiur of a building. And it reminded me multiple levels. If in twenty years has been around for a few years to the chevra in Mesilas Yesharim. of how the Mir arrived in Shanghai we have achieved that goal, all the and has been solidly established, I And many yungeleit will be there. and found an empty shul that was running around from Har Nof to hope to open a similar yeshiva for And there will be good food to just perfect for them – showing Ramat Eshkol will have been more American bochurim in Eretz Yisroel. eat. High level Torah and genuine them that Hashem prepared exactly than worth it. I want to help create A place where quality American bo- warmth at the same time. what they needed way in advance, what I call the “normal” Ben Torah churim can come to learn and grow ere’s no question that I have which was the case with us - with and Talmid chochum. eir shalom under the tutelage of a Rebbe who accepted a di cult role for myself. “our” yeshiva building going up bayis will be di erent – everything knows them personally and cares At the same time I feel that this is many years before we needed it and will be di erent. I want to change deeply about their welfare. I’m not my shlichus. just waiting until we were ready for the atmosphere in a big segment there yet, but this is my goal. I plan Last Shabbos, I took a taxi to it! of Klal Yisroel – so that people’s on having two separate yeshivos. my shul before Shabbos, davened What’s your vision for twenty simchas hachaim shouldn’t be com- Meanwhile I give a Chumash shiur with them, gave a drasha to the years from now? promised because they’re a talmid on Friday morning in English and shul (there were over two hundred Rav Nissan: “I myself would chochum, and their Torah shouldn’t American bochurim come to hear it people) and waited a er davening want the yeshiva to develop into be compromised because of their from all over Yerushalayim. ere’s to speak with anyone who wanted something along the lines of simchas hachaim. no question that I will continue to talk to me. I then walked back Ponovitch in terms of style of learn- And I want this opportunity to to strengthen my kesher with the to Har Nof – it took me an hour, ing and sharpness of the bochurim. extend an invitation to everyone American oilam – it’s just a ques- had the seudah with my family and Like Ponovitch – but with a lot of from America who will be here on tion of timing. ere’s also a need spent the remainder of Shabbos warmth. My dream? at hundreds the date of the Hachnosas Sefer for warmth for the American bo- with the yeshiva. e week before of talmidei chachomim should Torah. I want to see you all at the churim, but for the Israeli boys the that, I learned with the bochurim at emerge from this yeshiva. Talmidei yeshiva – I want to dance with all need is much greater.” the yeshiva until one in the morn- chachomim of the highest caliber of you! I have another question. During ing, then walked to the shul at seven your many years in the Mir when to be there in time for davening. So you were “just” a Rebbe without while it is de nitely a challenge, it is Don’t Read History, Experience It! the burden of fundraising on your something which I feel is important shoulders, I can understand how a enough to sacri ce for. person might nd time to be the What’s next? Walk the fabled streets of rav of a shul and community as Rav Nissan: “Well we are cele- the Lower East Side well. But being a Rosh Yeshiva is a brating a Hachnosas Sefer Torah at full time job. So how is it possible the yeshiva in three weeks. at’s Tours every SUNDAY to do both? next. But as much as I am constant- at 2:15 Rav Nissan: “I won’t deny that ly thinking about the future, I also it’s a struggle. But I became a rav can’t stop thinking about the past. for the same reason that I listened Because every time I look at our to my father and opened the ye- beautiful yeshiva building, I can’t shiva. e shul is located in Ramat help but thank Hashem all over Eshkol/Givat Hamivtar – a neigh- again! In a sense the fact that we are borhood that is home to hundreds here, reminds me of what happened of American couples. We are build- to the Mir Yeshiva when they es- See the place where Hagoan Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l davened and learned ing a huge shul with numerous batei caped to Shanghai. midrashim, (there will be three hun- When I decided to open the ye- Visit an active historic “Tenemant Shul” built in 1927 dred seats in the main Bais Medresh shiva, I spent a lot of time and en- See the Rabeinu Yakov Yosef (RJJ) building built in 1913 alone) which will be’ezras Hashem ergy looking for a building to rent. I serve as the main shul in the area. It didn’t have any major plans or hasa- Enjoy “Pickles” out of the barrel will include a beautiful simcha hall gos. It was a brand new yeshiva and so that the shul will be able to sup- I was looking for a simple space. port itself and provide a place for However every place that I looked • Reservations required the many shiurim which presently into, fell through at the last minute. • $27 for adults are being delivered in private homes At the last second (it was really • $19 for 12 and under for lack of an alternative. e foun- coming down to the wire) someone • Subway and Municipal parking dation of the building is already told me about a magni cent “pal- poured and the shell will be up in a ace” in Har Nof that had been con- few months. It’s a very exciting time structed almost twenty years earlier Call today: 718-339-2302, for the entire community. but was never used or rented out. or visit Timelinetouring.com