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------· ------FEBRUARY 2005

6 I INTRODUCTION

1! IMPACT BEYOND standably cause for unbridled joy. Scheinberg N"~. This is followed by ! ' EXPECTATIONS But in addition to the actual comple­ a description of the launching of Oaf tion of the Talmud itself, this mile­ Yomi by the Lubliner , Reb Meir he eleventh cycle of the learn­ stone gives us cause to contemplate Shapiro ?"Yr, as well as an account of ing of Shas according to the the crucial role that plays another of his precedent-making TDaf Yomi schedule will soon in Klal Yisroel, as is apparent from undertakings, the founding of Yeshivas culminate, b'ezras Hashem. numerous Torah sources. One of Chachmei Lublin. We then present an throughout the globe have been learn­ these is in Sefer Yehoshua, where (in insider's report on how the transla­ ing a specific page of each day Perek 5) we find Bnei Yisroel prepar­ tions and elucidations of the ArtScroll concurrently for the past seven and ing for the conquest of Eretz Yisroel. Shas are prepared. half years, with the formidable goal of At that time, Yehoshua encountered a In addition, this issue includes completing the entire Talmud this year, malach (angel) with a drawn sword. ideas for reinforcing one's learning, as shortly before . At that time, a Yehoshua understood from this that well as a number of first person colossal, joyous celebration in honor he was being held accountable for reports on how individuals and their of the siyum is scheduled to take place two possible lapses - for neglecting families grew with their participation in two major locations in the New York to offer the , due to his in Daf Yomi. area, with the participation of tens of being occupied with the imminent thousands others worldwide, thanks to battle at Yericho, and the people's modern technology. not engaging in Torah learning that ... DURING THIS ERA It is probably safe to say that the night. Because the malach used the geographic scope of this program has expression, "Now, I have come," Gedolei Yisroel have often com­ far surpassed the expectations of its Yehoshua understood that neglect of mented that our generation is experi­ founder, Rabbi Meir Shapiro, •:,..~r, Torah was considered the more seri­ encing the era of Ikvesa d'Meshicha when he introduced the concept of Daf ous of the two, for "now" - at the (the footsteps of Moshiach). In order to Yomi over eighty years ago. It is impos­ time of that late-night encounter - no be spared the harsh effects of chevlei sible to assess the tremendous impact sacrifice is offered; by contrast, Torah Moshiach (lit. birthpains of Moshiach), this project has had, and is continuing must be studied by day and by night. which foretold for this era, the to have, on Klal Yisroel. At any given In response, Yehoshua initiated a ses­ Gemara ( 98b) provides a moment, there are hundreds - perhaps sion of intensive Torah learning. The formula - "Ya'asok b'Torah u'begemil­ thousands - of individuals learning the Be'er Moshe explains that this inci­ las chassadim - One should occupy daily daf, a member in Kiryat dent illustrates that despite justified himself with Torah study and acts of Sefer, a businessman in Buenos Aires, reasons for busying oneself with kindness." The Chafetz Chaim pointed a Rav in Antwerp, a Rosh in other concerns, one must nonethe­ out that the expression "ya'asok" indi­ Manchester, a pharmacist in Kiev, an less make time for Torah study, by cates occupying oneself with the dili­ engineer in , an account­ night as by day. gence associated with how one ant in Melbourne, a manufacturer in One important result of the upcom­ conducts a business venture; such Hong Kong. This system fosters not ing siyum of Daf Yomi is that it will must be the spirit with which commit­ only growth in Torah, but also a sense generate new, widespread interest, not ments of Torah and chessed are to be of unity among Jews from diverse only inspiring others to participate in undertaken in such turbulent times. backgrounds, in a wide variety of loca­ the new study cycle of Shas, but, in This surely applies to our times, as tions and settings. general, numerous people will be stim­ well, if not more so. ulated to increase their Torah study Daf Yomi is a major example of the commitments, and perhaps establish proliferation of worldwide institutions TORAH STUDY IS new ones - whether in Gemara, and programs that provide opportuni­ PARAMOUNT halacha, Tarzach, mussar or any other ties to learn Torah. Hopefully, these area of Torah. valiant efforts will help rectify the A monumental achievement in flaws that led to our present state of Torah study of such proportions as a exile, and temper the manifestations of worldwide Siyum HaShas is under- IN THESE PAGES ... chevlei Moshiach, which abound in our times. May the articles in this issue THE ABOVE INTRODUCTION IS BASED ON AN ESSAY, "PREPARING FOR THE SIYUM In the pages that follow, we will inspire our involvement in opportuni· HASHAS." BY YOSEF GESSER OF MEXICO present some of the background to this ties for growth in limud haTorah, and CITY, WHERE HE LEARNS PART·T!ME IN A event, beginning with a collection of may Hakadosh Baruch Hu view us KOL.LEI•. A PUBLISHED WRITER, HE IS A insights on Torah Sheba'al Peh culled charitably, shield and sustain us, and FREQUENT COl'iTRfBlJTOR TO THE JO. L _ . from the shmuessen of Rabbi Pinchas send us the Geula She'leima speedily.IT!] F E 8 R U A R Y 2 0 0 5 I WHEN KEVOD HA TORAH whatever the trial. As difficult as the claim and teach the greatness of PREVAILS tests and trials may be, nothing diverts Hashem Yisbarach. A , him from the path of Torah. Such without any derashos, speeches, fan­ amchal (Rabbi Moshe Chaim greatness comes only after gaining fare or ceremony - by his mere pres­ Luzatto, 1700-1741) in the control over one's middos, emotions ence - announces that there is a R eleventh chapter of his classic and physical desires. Creator and that it is our privilege to sefer Mesillas Yesharim, writes about The more Torah we learn, the more spend our lives serving Him. This is the true honor and respect that Torah we are obligated to reach perfection in why Hakadosh Baruch Hu created the demands of those who learn it: all aspects of our lives. Even after we universe. Kevod HaTorah prevails when have learned all of Shas - even if we A talmid chacham is a living exam­ the person who has learned become expert in it - knowledge is ple of the passuk (Mishlei 3,6) "Jn all extensively will likewise exten­ not enough. We are not just obligated your ways you should acknowledge sively align and rectify his char­ to learn Torah, but also to fulfill it and Him .... " This is one of the most basic acter traits. Any lack of this by thereby embody its great teachings in and fundamental obligations of the one who has learned an all of our thoughts, speech and deeds. Jewish life. The Essence and Import ol Torah Sheba'al Peh COMPILED FROM THE SICHOS (LECTURES) OF HAGA ON RABBI CHAIM PINCHAS SCHEINBERG, ><"""""1, ROSH HAYESHIVA OF YESHIVA TORAH ORE, YERUSHALAYIM, TRANSLATED AND PREPARED FOR PUBLICATION BY RABBI SHLOMO FURST

appreciable amount will cause a This ultimately culminates in When Rabbi Baruch Ber Leibowitz disgrace to the learning itself, what the Rambam writes in Hilchos 7"llt, the renowned of and this, Heaven forbid, is a dis­ Deios (5:1): Kaminetz, visited New York, he stayed grace to Hashem's blessed Name, Just as a chacham is recogniza· with my father-in-, Reb Yaakov Who has given us His Holy Torah hie through his wisdom and his Yosef Herman ?·~r. One evening, my and has commanded us to delve attitudes, and through them he is father-in-law called to his daughter, my into it, and through it, reach onr distinguished from the rest of the Rebbetzin "Mn, "Basha! Come and see perfection. people, so is he required to be rec­ how a talmid chacham sleeps." A Clearly, expertise and knowledge of ognizable through his deeds, his talmid chacham is a living Shulchan Torah alone are not enough to make a eating and drinking, ... his speech Aruch. Everything about a talmid person great. How many times does it and manner of walking, his dress chacham - every aspect of his behav­ happen that a person, after a notable and his way of doing business. All ior - teaches us what to do: how to eat, accomplishment or, after reaching a of these actions must be extra how to sleep, how to speak, how to position of prestige, falls prey to arro­ pleasing and perfected. dress, and how to act with people. The gance and pride? Rather, the true test The more we learn. the more essence of the talmid chacham - what of a person's greatness is his ability to Hakadosh Baruch Hu requires that we makes him unique - is that he is in this remain steadfast and true to the Torah constantly strive for newer and higher world to teach us all these things, and that he has learned, whatever the test, levels of perfection. Attaining such ele­ many more, by his personal example. vated perfection requires an unwaver· Accordingly, talmidei chachamim RABBI FURST, WHO IS MASHGIACH ing, unshakable sense of purpose and must be recognizable, living manifesta­ RUCHANJ IN KOLLEL RUACH CHAIM, IS responsibility that governs everything a tions of Torah, its reasoning, its wis­ AUTHOR OF NESJVOS CHAIM - THE TORAH I talmid chacham does. dom and its application. They form the WAY OF LIFE SERIES (THUS FAR ON BEREISHIS AND SHEMOS) BASED ON THE A talmid chacham is a shining basis of Jewish life, as Rabbeinu Yona MOTZAEI SHABBOS LECTURES OF RABBI example of something unique and very openly declares in his sefer Shaarei CHAIM PINCHAS SCHEIN BERG. HE IS A FRE· important. The objective and the obli­ Teshuva (3:148): QUENT CONTRIBUTOR TO THESE PAGES. gation of a talmid chacham is to pro- It is known that religious devo-

8 THE JEWISH OBSERVER

tion endures only because of those A rebbi teaches his talmid how to who learn Torah and who engage think. This requires a special relation­ in its study day and night.. .. They ship between the rebbi and the talmid, uphold Torah in Kial Yisroel so it and shimush plays an essential role in should not be forgotten by their forging this bond. children.... Rabbi Yochanan (Moeid Kattan I7a, Chagiga lSb) teaches us that when choosing a to learn Torah from, THE ORAL LAW: FILLING IN the decisive factor is that the rebbe be THE SPACE "similar to an angel of Hashem .... " How is a rebbe of flesh and blood anal­ Hakadosh Baruch Hu made an ogous to a completely non-physical, unbreakable promise to Yisroel spiritual entity? The halacha in that Torah Sheba'al Peh shall not (Drach Chaim, 95:1) be forgotten from their mouths nor helps us understand. There, we are from the mouths of their chil­ instructed to "resemble the angels" dren.... ( Tanchuma, when we stand in prayer before Parashas Noach 3) Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Thus, our feet Ramchal begins his essay, "Torah must be together to appear as if we Sheba'al Peh and Shas," by explaining: far beyond a mere collection of infor­ have one foot. Hashem Yisbarach did not want mation, likewise, knowledge of facts Each angel has a specific task and to write the Torah so clearly that it alone does not make a person a talmid therefore a unique name, for, as would not need explanation. chacham. Therefore, even today when (Bereishis 18,2) explains, angels cannot Rather just the opposite, [Hashem we have Shas codified, shimush is still accomplish more than one mission at a intentionally] wrote many things indispensable for success in properly time. Likewise, for the same reason, we in it that are extremely obscure, understanding Torah. must stand with our feet together in a making it impossible for any The preface to the Sefer Levush fixed position during our prayers as a human in the world to establish Mordechai elaborates upon the vital reminder that we, too, during the truthful meaning except [for importance of shimush: Shemoneh Esrei have but one goal - the fact] that the explanation has The most important mastery of speaking with Hakadosh Baruch Hu. been conveyed by tradition origi­ Torah is not expertise in factual So, too, if a rebbe has but one goal - nating from Hashem Yisbarach information. Rather, understand­ teaching the great lessons of the Torah Himself... [Furthermore] all that is ing reasons and comprehension Hakedosha to his talmidim - this is a concealed in the Written Torah has been orally passed on to Moshe Rabbeinu, and from him extends the mesora to chachamim, genera­ A TALMID CHACHAM, WITHOUT ANY tion after generation. And this DERASHOS, SPEECHES, FANFARE OR CEREMONY mesora contains the explanation of - BY HIS MERE PRESENCE - ANNOUNCES THAT the truthful meaning of what is THERE IS A CREATOR AND THAT IT IS OUR written.... PRIVILEGE TO SPEND OUR LIVES SERVING HIM. Rashi (Beraclws 47b) explains that shimush (apprenticing) of talmidei chachamim during the time of Chazal meant participation in learning of things are the most crucial rebbe that is truly worthy of teaching Gemara, for "Gemara is dependent on attainments. As it is said in the talmidim, primarily because shimush comprehension, for they [talmidei Gemara (Berachos 6b), "The is such an essential element in the rela­ chachamim] gave explanation to the ' reward for halachic debate is tionship between a rebbe and his words of the . They would comprehension," for if one is talmid. gather together and be occupied in versed in a halacha and, yet, does this." After dialogue and dispute, the not know its explanation and the issues pertinent to understanding the reasoning behind it, it is not pos­ FROM SERVING TO LEARNING . I Mishnah were clarified and resolved. sible to say that that he is lacking This led to the arrangement of Shas as part of the thing; rather, he is In the preface to his sefer Shaarei we have it today. Just as the Talmud is missing all of it. ... Yoshe1~ Rabbi '7"Yt

9 FEBRUARY

describes the Gemara in Babba Kamma follows: a point that requires to him like a disciple to a rav. (20b) concerning the issue of a person scrutiny and exertion - the main Rav Chisda, with the seeming­ receiving benefits from someone else's success of it will be if the disciple ly insignificant act of folding properties without causing any loss to believes in the greatness of his Rammi bar Chamma's scarf, indi­ them. teacher. Therefore, if it will not be cated that he both recognized the Rav Chisda asked Rammi bar immediately clear, the student greatness of Rammi bar Chamma, Chamma if the owner, under such will attribute it to a fault in him­ and that he was also desirous of conditions, has a valid right to self. He will then increase his accepting his teachings and wis­ claim payment for the use of his efforts and exert himself, and in dom. Rammi bar Chamma set the properties. Before Rammi bar the end, it will be understood. If tone of the relationship, a rav to Chamma answered the question, the words of the teacher seem his ta/mid, in order that growth he asked Rav Chisda to serve him. insignificant. however. it wi11 not in Torah could best develop Rav Chisda took Rammi bar be worthwhile for him to exert between them. Chamma's scarf and folded it. This himself and delve into them. In order for us to learn, we must [the purpose of Rammi bar Therefore, if the words are not have confidence in those who teach us. Chamma's request of Rav Chisda] immediately accepted, they will The more the talmid understands his was because at first glance the be ignored and erased from his rebbi's greatness and his stature in answer would appear astounding. heart. Consequently, Rammi bar Torah, the more influence the rebbi Rabbi Shimon Shkop cites the Chamma knew the complexity of will have on his talmid. Then, even explanation of the interaction what he wanted to teach, [there­ when difficult issues arise, the rebbi's between Rammi bar Chamma and fore] he did not wish to teach him words will be valued, and after suffi­ Rav Chisda that he heard from until it was clear to him that Rav cient effort, they will be realized to be Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Kalman Chisda desired to learn from him, truthful. Abel ?··:;r of Telz. His preface con­ relating to him as a talmid to a If, however, the talmid feels the tinues: rav. Therefore, he did not teach rebbe is not sufficiently worthy or Rav Abel 7"~1 explained this as him the matter until he attended accomplished, then the talmid lacks confidence. Consequently, the rebbe's words will not hit the mark, for the talmid lacks motivation to discover the true meaning of the rebbi"s words. Any initial doubts and questions will never be resolved. Unheeded, the rebbi"s message remains ignored. Once the talmid succeeds, he will desire more and more Torah. Rav Chaim Volozhiner, in Ruach Chaim, his commentary on Pirkei Avos (6), describes that Torah itself will spring forth through more Torah. Torah is in essence light, and once we discover its rays of truth, we are able to see more light, since our desire for Torah will Call me today for the attention you deserve. grow ever stronger. (718) 268-1700 Reb Chaim likens the situation to a person who entered just one roorn Martin Levy amongst the many vaults of a king's 103-20 METROPOLITAN AVENUE treasure-stores. The vault glistens from FOREST HILLS all the riches. From this room, he can [email protected] see a door to an inner vault. Allstate. A desire swells to gain entry, You're in good hands. Call for a free quote. and from this chamber, more inner rooms are seen. Drawing closer to the chamber of the king Insurance subject to availability and qualifications. Allstate Insurance Company and Allstate Property and Casualty itself, each room houses mo;e pre- : Insurance Company, Northbrook, Illinois Allstate Insurance Company. ~)2004 cious and exquisite fortunes :Jthat

._10 ."·----·--- ______------·-·------THE JEWISH 0BSERVt:R I are incomparable to the riches of the first room. Had he never entered the first room, he would never have known anything about FRUM PSYCHOTHERAPIST all the succeeding inner cham­ bers. Likewise with Torah, through the illumination that is i ELI SCHDSTAK1 C.S.W. originally achieved, one perceives Specializing in Children and Adolescents that there is a much greater light I to be seen than this, and so on. 9'17-930-5793 Through this, the desire grows to , NEW YORK LIMITED EVENING HOURS comprehend and achieve more and more until all the secrets of I the world are known. Hakadosh Banich Hu hid away the light that was created on the first day I for those who toil in Torah Sheba'al Peh day and night, for the universe I exists in their merit . . . (Midrash Tanchuma, Parashas Noach 3).

I THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF I ARTICULATING ONE'S

I. _LE::;~;,~~-~,: ;:,~; ~;;,~~ ~;,~ I Chaim, elaborates on the essence of i Torah. The passuk in Yirmiahu (23,29) compares Torah to fire, "Behold. My I word is like fire.. . " Based on this pas- i suk, Ramchal writes, Torah is a unique, actual light I, - given to Klal Yisroel to be illu- i minated by it. It is not like the wisdom of the world or secular ,l knowledge, which are only com- . prehensions according to that

1 which the intelligence can grasp 1 through its efforts. However, Torah I is holy - it has a sublime reality 1 of the loftiest heights. When a per- 1 son [who is] below will be engrossed in it - a light will illu- 1 1 minate his spirit.... [The Torah is much more than I wisdom and knowledge. Ramchal ' 7":iit continues explaining how Torah is light. It is] actual light and I not just wisdom, and it is not a allegorical comparison to the illu- mination of light, but rather actual './ . light, for its reality is from Above, I and when it enters into the L~hama, there is an entry of Ught FEBRUARY 2 0 0 5

like the penetration of a snnray Torah. The Torah is not a collection of Chafetz Chaim ?"lit has been quoted as into a dwelling. And also, besides words. Although disguised in what saying, "When the matter is in the this, (and the comparison is most appears to be plain words, a brilliant mind - everything is true." In the precise), upon inspection of an radiance resides within the Torah's mind's eye, everything seems clear. ember that is not burning - the words and this brilliance remains hid· Similarly, Reb Chaim Volozhiner ?"lit flame within being covered and den, revealed only at the end of whole­ said, "The tongue senses the flaw in a closed up - it can be seen that hearted limud. thought just as the fingernail senses a when it is blown upon, the fire will Just as the ember requires a breath nick in the blade of a sharpened knife." spread and blaze. It radiates pro­ of air to ignite the smoldering flame Once a thought is expressed, its truth is fusely and grows. In this flame are within it, so do our thoughts require open to scrutiny. This is why learning seen many colors that were not verbalization to come alive. Once with a is so essential for sue+ originally seen in the ember. The invested with life, our thoughts can cess in Torah study. Having a partner ember emits everything. Likewise, reveal vast stores of true Torah wisdom to share one's thoughts with is not just with the Torah that we have before - all from one word of Torah! This beneficial for the learning, it is crucial. us, all its words and letters are like why it is so important, even when we When we learn with so1neone else, embers... When one makes an learn privately, to pronounce the words each one expresses his opinion. effort to be engrossed in it, a great we learn. If we learn together with a However, dialogue is more than an flame will be kindled from each partner and discuss our ideas, the opportunity to speak one's mind. The letter - profuse, with many colors. effect multiplies many times over. important factor here is that there is a These are the concepts that are natural resistance to the opinion resting secretly within that letter. expressed - to my idea, my assump­ The quantity of knowledge that is THE IRREPLACEABLE tion. Not all minds think alike and not contained in a word of Torah is enor+ "CHA VRUSA" FACTOR all perceptions are alike. Therefore, mous, and through our efforts, we can opinions are bound to differ. Facing a tap the infinite wisdom that is con­ Learning requires articulation and challenge to the way I think, the way I tained within each letter and word of speech; thought is not sufficient. The perceive - this generates greater clari+ ty of thought and expression, since it forces me to rethink, clarify and defend my opinions. The debate that follows will clarify the truth of the matter. This is what Chazal (Taanis 7a) mean when they teach us that, "The lesser Torah scholars sharpen the greater ones. Rabbi Chanina said, 'I have learned a great deal from my teachers. And from my colleagues, even more than from my teachers. And from my talmidim, more than from all of them."' Younger talmidim, precisely because of their lack of expe­ rience and knowledge, are able to spur even giants of Torah to far greater insights, understandings and accom­ plishments in Torah than what the gaints would have been able to accom­ plish on their own. When we study on our own, there is a strong tendency to believe that we correctly grasp the material. We assume that the mind is fully active and believe that what we have learned is correct. The only way to uncover the truth and reach the depths of a subject is through the help of others, by learn­ ing with partners and in groups.

12 THE INHERENT Thus, when we learn together, espe­ rebuild Yerushalayim and the Beis ENHANCEMENT OF cially Gemara, and verbally express the Hamikdash, to cleanse the world from l.F.ARNING WITH A GROUP limnd, our efforts have immeasurahle all falsehood, and to ;illow us to serve ' effects and eternal consequences. Him in Yerushalayim once again. We Another great benefit results from Biur Halacha continues, explaining continue and ask that Hashem's reign learning in groups. The Chafetz Chaim that we do not say and glory be manifest, quickly in our 7":in writes in Biur Halacha (Drach deRabbanan after learning pesukim. days. Torah Sheba'al Peh enables us to Chaim 155:1) "True, when one learns We only recite Kaddish deRabbanan ask for these things, and it certainly by himself, he also fulfills the positive after learning Torah Sheba'al Peh. In can make them all happen. command of . Ideally, the Kaddish deRabbanan, in addition The prophet Yeshaya (59:21) pro- however, it is a to try as much as possible to learn in a group, for LEARNING REQUIRES ARTICULATION AND through this, the honor of Heaven is SPEECH; THOUGHT IS NOT SUFFICIENT. REB increased .... " The individuals who are CHAIM VOLOZHINER 7"YT SAID, "THE TONGUE learning together in a group are not simply contributing to the sum total of SENSES THE FLAW IN A THOUGHT JUST AS THE their numbers. Spiritually, their assem­ FINGERNAIL SENSES A NICK IN THE BLADE blage as a group accomplishes infinite­ OF A SHARPENED KNIFE." ly more than their numerical sum. There is Shechina present, and there­ to requests for the physical and spiritu­ claims in the Name of Hashem fore there is Kiddush Hashem. This can al welfare of Klal Yisroel, we also Yisbarach: " ... My words that I have bring the ge'ula. include special reference to the put in your mouth shall not leave your The Chafetz Chaim, in his sefer Rabbanan, for their talmidim, and the mouth, nor from the mouths of your Sheim Olam (Chapter 21), based on the talmidim of their talmidim, and for children, nor from the mouths of your 1/J.nna DeVei Eliyahu Zuta 14, writes in anyone who is engaged in limud children's children .... " Rashi explains his footnote, haTomh, wherever they may be. that this promise is a Divine assurance ... Hakadosh Baruch Hu consid­ A siyum of Torah Sheba' al Peh gives that even in galus, Torah shall never be ers learning in groups to be such a us a unique public opportunity to forgotten. We are all witness to the great and dear thing, that because express our emuna in Hashem miraculous fulfillment of this promise. of it (alone) He favors Klal Yisroel. Yisbarach. When a siymn occurs after Moreover, just as we see with our eyes [Furthermore) the end of the geula learning a tractate of Torah Sheba'al how the miracle of Hashem's promise will not come except in the merit Peh, we add a preface of many more grows, likewise, may we all see quick­ of limud Torah bechabura, that extra special requests to the Kaddish ly, in our lifetime, the fulfillment of each [member] calls out to this deRabbanan. We openly beseech our Yeshaya's adjacent prophecy (Yeshaya one, and that one learns with this Creator to perfect this world, revive the 59,20), "A redeemer will come to one.... dead and bring them to eternal life, to Tzion .... " Not 1·ust a chc.c1~~' a trad 1t1on...... ·.··.. ... ·.•.··.···.·...... ··· .•.··.·.· ... ·.•..·.· . .. ·.·.·•...... ·········: \ ·.· ··········.. : ..· .·•.···· ········· ·····.····+·· ·...\···...... ttaolam, the most trusted name in Cholov Yisroel Kosher Cheese. A reputation earned through 25 years of scrupulous devotion to quality and kashruth. With 12 delicious varieties. Haolam, a tradition you'll eajoy keeping.

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~ ~ lll32 ···--- ·-- ·---·----·-·-·--- . ------13 GROWING WITH OAF YOMI, ONE DAY AT A TIME

DANNY GROSS

The Reflections, Thoughts and Ramblings ot AVerv Tired Person

FORGET THE ALTERNATIVES Don't misunderstand - l would be CHANGING THE WORLD - (and have been) happy living in quiet AND You an1 yawning at noon on an anonymity, gently touching those unusually quiet Thursday as I around n1e fron1 relative obscurity What you might not know and I set pixels to a liquid crystal dis­ behind the scenes. l could be content appreciate is ho\v much it can change play screen by tapping on plastic learning with my children and my your own world as well. I have suggest­ keys. I have already given and going to shiurirn. I ed to (and oftentimes even begged) twice today and a1n on again one don't [think l] need the thrill and countless, very able people in the giv­ more tin1e this evening. I am tired, challenge and joy of an audience, and ing side of Daf Yomi, and am shocked and the dapirn in Kerisos are long. l would readily (though not happily) at how few have done so. You will be I'm not fooled - I know the long give it up to one more willing and surprised and thrilled when you discov­ ones are long, and the short ones able (and there are many, many of er how good you can be, and how even longer. The Daf Yomi pace is you out there) for the benefit of the much better a person you can become. relentless, and the challenges and shiur. l know l don't have the arro­ You see, there are many of you out de1nands of our generation, our con1- gance to believe that there is no blatt there who will read the by-line and munities, and our families that pull, in Shas that intimidates me. (They all know with certainty that it is not, and, yank, threaten and so1netirnes seem­ do!) However, l can't think of any­ indeed, cannot be the same Danny ingly strangle must be dealt with no thing else that l have ever done or Gross you knew back when - and less in my home than yours. Three will ever do that has the power and you'd be right. I still remember my a.m. and I have become good ability to change the world at large businessn1an grandfather's response friends, and we together regular­ and our Jewish world in particular as almost thirty years ago after I proudly ly. So - Why? The short answer is- it much as being involved in Daf Yomi. told him l was taping Rav Chazan's shi- see1ns that I can, and if I can, I must. l will leave politics to the politicians 11rim for his Rebbe's son. "Taping shi­ The longer and more complicated and analysis to the pundits. I know uri1n? I want you to be giving shiuriml" ansvver is - as long as I can, and peo­ with clarity that I am doing n1ore I never laughed as heartily, while ple con1e, I can't not! than all the so-called power mongers thinking how absolutely far-fetched to change the balance in the world and outrageous the suggestion was. DANNY GROSS IS A SELF-EMPLOYED BUSI­ NESSMAN \VHO LIVES IN , NEW and defend against terrorism, etc. But And yet here l am! As simply, and as YORK, HE GIVES SHIURIM AT RABBI you are JO readers; you already humbly as I can say this, I arn in awe

0 NOACH (SAAC 0ELE~AUM S K'HAL believe in, knovv and possibly even of that person who gives those shi­ NACl-ILAS YITZCHOK ANO RABBI YAAKOV understand the enorn1ous - and to urim. I know that person; I knov..r him BERGMAN'S BEIS MEDH.ASH OF KEW me, unfathomable - power of talmud well, and l too know it's not me - and and harbatzas haTorah. yet it is. l think that is the most hum-

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bling realization of all. We truly do ficult shiur, that talmid chacham from not doze off, and I have witnessed busy not know what and how much we are Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin who knew people sit through the same shiur twice capable of. I am not a talmid you as a little boy shares with you his and sometimes even three times a day chacham; my tefisa (grasp) is slow, own chiddushim and he'aros (creative (it isn't always because I didn't get it the language is still Aramaic, and I insights) that originated in the town right the first time). And ultimately, you would appreciate some punctuation, where it all began. And, of course, there cannot know the pure feeling of lilmod thank you. Yet I still swim comfort· will be enough times when you are just u'lelameid and being one with the Torah ably, confidently, even creatively, and plain overwhelmed, but you will appre­ as when you are saying a shiur. Your occasionally eloquently in the seas of ciate and be inspired by the dedication, mind is in Torah, and only Torah, for Kadashim and . desire and commitment of those who that hour. You are not, and cannot, be I know first-hand the siyatta come to hear you. I have seen people distracted (you will look really silly deShemaya that comes when a question get up to stand during the late night learning and thinking baseball is asked and no answer comes to mind, shiur so that they can listen better and - take my word for it!). yet one miraculously forms on my lips. (Of course, I also know what it feels like to admit that I prepared the wrong daf today, but that's for another time.) You can never have the same clarity hearing the daf as you can saying the daf (though I am convinced many who have heard me have gone through Shns at least twelve times and that day's daf even more). You will not realize the boundless satisfaction of knowing you have explained the daf well until you hear the k11shyos and terutzim of the Gemarn. and Achamnim fly­ ing from the mouths of your listeners as you clue them in and lead them through. Of course, you also might feel responsible for the restful countenances • The menu for the seuda is that slumber over their after a • The Vort celebration is to be limited to 3 courses followed by a long day (I give the latest da( in town, discontinued. The L'chaim (held at regular dessert. but why are they also nodding off in the the time that the engagement is • No Viennese table and no bar. morning?), but you will derive great announced) should also not turn chizuk knowing that that fellow who into a Vort. THE MUSIC should be home in bed came to learn THE WEDDING •A band may consist of a maximum (and listen to you, no less) instead. When an older regular confesses to you • For typical families, only 400 invit­ of 5 musicians (one of the musicians that he has never had a daily learning ed guests may be seated at the chas­ may act as a vocalist) or four musi­ routine in his life, but one of the reasons suna seuda. (The Guidelines make cians and one additional vocalist. he now does is because he overheard provision for exceptional circum­ • A one-man band is recom­ your shiur one night, you might be ren· stances - see full text.) mended. dered speechless, but you will be able to • The kabbolas panim smorgasbord look up and know that you helped stir FLOWERS & CHUPA DECOR should be limited to basic cakes, something that has caused a real com­ • The total cost of these items for motion in shamayim. On the other fruit platters, a modest buffet, and hand, there might be times when you the caterer's standard chicken or the entire wedding should not are just plain and simply rendered meat hot dishes. exceed $1,800. speechless. (Quoting Berachos 4a - FOR THE FULL VERSION OF THE SIMCHA GUIDELINES "Lameid leshoncha lomar 'eini ~mdei'a' - Teach your tongue to say 'I don't WITH ITS RABBINICAL SIGNATORIES AND THE know,"') might help you preserve some ACCOMPANYING KOL KOREH, please email

1 shred of dignity.) You might be over· [email protected] or call 212-612-2300 Lm:~~·~~::::~,f F~ FEBRUARY 2 0 0 5

I "( AM NO LONGER People look at you differently. My wife opponunity. It is not to be taken lightly, I WHO I WAS" recognizes people that have come to my nor is it to be taken for granted. shiur from the "Gut Shabbos" they give By now, l am sure you will want to My home is different. My available on the street. I have no choice but to be give it a try. You should! Test the waters. hours are fewer, and 1ny wife's hours are better than who l am because I represent Stan as a sub (every shiur needs pinch­ more. I am busy, and I am tired, but I also something larger. I am no longer who I hitters). Organize a shiur and rotate the know there is no more effective means was. I can't be. I have relationships with maggid shiur slot among friends. Your life for transmitting the mesora, and turning people that are based purely on Torah. will be different, and it will be better. As that morasha (legacy) into a yerwsha People ask me questions, and sometimes to the how - Churchill had it right when (inheritance], as a mother telling her son l even have answers. l help people, and he offered blood, toil, sweat and tears. It or daughter: "Daddy is giving - or prepar­ people trust me. They are offering me is work. It takes time. The pace is brutal. ing for - a shiur right now." I know some­ their most valuable possession - their But, as a second (cycle] man times my children want me around a bit time. And for some people, it is the only once told me, the fear of embarrassment more, but who can say, as Clwzal tell us, learning they will do, and you are their is a great motivator, and it does get easi­ how many yisurim we are spared man. There is a very real responsibility er the second and third time around. because of the learning we do when we that comes with standing in front of a Morning hours are usually rnore produc­ are too tired to do anything else. learning group, but there is also great tive than late night hours. I am in genuine av. .re of those that learn the daf and go to shiurim every day. Strange as it sounds, if I weren't giving a shiur, l don't think l could go to one. It is not for everyone, but if you haven't gone to a daf yomi shiur, try it, or learn it with a chavrusa, or on your own, if you must. There are inore than enough tools out FREE there. You will feel a sense of belonging, and you will experience connections on COMPUTER COURSE n1any levels. Don't give up, and next tilne, you'll earn your ticket to the Garden. At FOR WOMEN one point, it was my life's ainbition to fin­ Low income, widowed, divorced or separated • ish Shas. l have since upgraded (I now tell 6 Weeks of Instruction - Day Classes ·'./_: people it is my ambition to know Shas). For More Information or To Register, Who would have thought? CALL (718) 338·9200

BECAUSE I CAN, I CAN'T NOT

The Ribbono she/ Olam can be made happy many different ways, and it is MOTHERS AND FATHERS ALIGNED SAVING KIDS our purpose to make Him happy. Support for Parents of Children-In-Conflict Involvement in Daf Yomi is one of those ways. It is not more complicated CONFIDENTIAL HOTLINE than that. Daf Yomi makes Torah a Parent Support Groups focal point of your day, and, thus, your Yeshiva Liaison day is different; your week is different; E-Mail Support Group your family is different, and your life is Sibling Support Groups different; indeed, the world is different; STARR Female Sibling Program you and all around you become more Private Consultation and better. And so again, simply, to the Referrals question, Why - I can, and because l can, I can't not. And, when all is said Prevention and Awareness and done, I am a loyal friend, and, Parent Mentoring Group what would three a.m. and l do, if not Lending Library for Daf Yomi! l think you know. I know I do! ll!1 ------r== THE LEGACY OF RABBI MEIR SHAPIRO, )''~t I RABBI SHIMON FINKELMAN

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I The Dal Yomi and Its Founder

gudath was founded in would last one week. can be seen from a letter which he 1912 at a meeting of Torah The secular press ridiculed the received from the Chofetz Chaim: A leaders in Kattowitz, a meet­ forthcoming assembly and predicted To the great gaon who is ing in which twenty-five-year-old Rabbi that it would end in total failure. They famed for his genius in Torah, Meir Shapiro, Rav of Galina, , were wrong. From around the world, who is a true yarei Elokim, Rabbi participated. A proclamation was issued some 600 delegates came to participate Meir Shapiro... at that time calling for the first Knessia in the conference, in addition to thou­ I received the pure letter from Gedolah (Great Assembly) of the new sands more who crammed the assem­ his honor with his comments on movement, to be held the following bly hall to see and listen to the greatest my Sefer Lik11ttei Halachos, for summer. But the outbreak of the First sages of the generation. which I thank him. I was over­ World War forced the assembly's indef­ From Radin, an aged and frail joyed to see that great men like inite postponement. Chafetz Chaim came. From , Poland. himself look into my sefer, which It was not until 5683 (1923) that came Rabbi , will be a zechn.s for me. post-war Jewry had stabilized to the the Imrei Emes. From Vilna came the The Chafetz Chaim concluded that I point where the first Knessia Gedolah poseik hador and leader of Lithuanian letter with a blessing that Reb Meir could finally be held. It was to open in Jewry, Rabbi Chaim Ozer Grodzensky. should continue to serve Klal Yisroel, I on 3 Ellul of that year, and They were joined by many other great "for who else will help them if not the personalities, including the Chortkover great leaders of our time?" I RABBI FINKELMAN, A llF:BIJI'. IN Yr'. DARCHEI TORAH, FAr~ ROCKAWAY, NY. IS A Rebbe, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Breuer, As President of Agudath Israel in I l'REQlJENT C ONTRIB UTOR TO THE S E Rabbi , Rabbi Poland, the largest Agudah group in the PAGES. MOST RECENTLY, "MRS. fll U MA , and many others. world at that time, Reb Meir was hon­ I LEAH MANDEi. <'l"J)" {DEC. '04). HE IS THE Probably the youngest among the ored with delivering his own address at AUTHOR 0 1' sr,:VERAL IHOGRAl'HlF.S PlJB­ great Torah leaders who graced that the Knessia's opening session. Amid LIS H~;p DY ARTSCROl.L MESORAfl Knessiah was Rabbi Meir Shapiro, who thunderous applause, he said: Pu1n.JCATfO:"IS. THE ABOVE .'\HTICLE IS was then Rav of , President of Here, where the spiritual giants I EXCERPTED FROM A BIOGRAPHY OF RABBI I MEIR SHAPIRO IN TflE FORTHCOMING Agudath Israel of Poland and a mem­ of the nation sit as its leaders, and I f'1vE CREA I. f.rvF:s - Vo1.. II To BE PUB· ber of the (Polish Parliament). His seek ways to restore our glory to stature among the gedolim at that time what it was, truth celebrates its L ""'A"'SCRou.M"o"_M_. -- 17 FEBRUARY 2 0 0 5

victory. We expect the Knessia a number of important decisions, At that public session, on 9 Elul, Gedolah to be a KiJJ.dush Hashem, including that the fledgling Reb Meir was called upon to read the to revive the Torah once again in school system should be viewed as one full text of the committee's twenty­ the heart of every Jew. Blessed is of the movement's projects. eight decisions, which would now be he who sanctifies Hashem's Name It was at that session that Reb Meir voted upon. At the conclusion of this in public. first put forth his Daf Yomi proposal. reading, he announced a proclamation The response from the distinguished of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, calling committee members varied; some were on everyone to strengthen their obser­ THE ANNOUNCEMENT enthusiastic, others were lukewarm, at vance of Torah and their children's best. It was agreed that at the conclud­ Torah education. Reb Meir sat on the Knessia's ing public session of the Knessia, Reb The atmosphere was uplifting but Committee for Education and Meir could suggest his idea, not in the not emotional. Strengthening of Faith, which met in name of the committee, but as his own Suddenly, the voice of Rabbi Meir private session. The committee reached proposal. Shapiro began to tremble. The assem­ blage had thought that he had conclud­ ed his announcements, but apparently, he wished to say something more, something that seemed to tug at his own emotions. And now, with the permission of those assembled, I would like to put forth my personal proposal: that begin­ ning with the forthcoming Rosh Hashana (5684), everyone should study a daf of Gemara each day, beginning with the first daf in Shas .... • With great emotion and in his initimable, eloquent way, he described how the study of Dal Yomi would unify Torah Jewry in a most special and unique way: Imagine to yourselves how marvelous It hurts it will be. A Jew is on a ship, and under his arm he carries a Maseches Berachos. He is to sail on a two-week journey from r to the United States. Each Eretz Yisroel day he opens the Gemara and studies o. the daf of that day, and when he arrives in New York, he discovers, to his great delight, that many other Jews are study­ It feels better just to talk about it. That's ing the very same daf as he! Joyfully, he why we're here. Our staff is made up of sits down with them and enters a lively caring and sensitive individuals. Together, Talmudic debate.... Through this, we can help you explore your options. We can refer you to recognized professionals Hashem· s Name is glorified .. for counseling, legal advice or help in And similarly, suppose someone finding a safe environment. We can also migrates from the United States to put you in touch with some very special . But in order for us to reach out to Brazil, or far-off Japan. Having arrived you, you must first reach out to us. and settled, he will make his way to the Confidential Hotline beis medrash - and what will he find? 1.888.883.2323 A group of Jews learning the very same (Toll Free) daf that he is studying! Can there be a 718.337.3700 better way of bringing Jewish hearts (NYC Area) Do it for yourself. together in unity? Do it for your children. Shalom Task Force is a 501 (c)(3) diantable organ1zat1on Reb Meir added another point: And besides, until now there THE JEWISH OBSERVER

have been various masechtos that Berachos.... Even people who will begin that masechta. have been "orphaned," that the until now felt that their jobs did Multitudes of G-d-fearing Jews vast majority of people do not not allow time for Torah study, have joined the gaonim and tzad­ shiurim learn. Now... the Daf Yomi will 1 have joined daily to dikim of the generation in accept­ change that. ... study the daf.... The degree to ing, with great love, the study of All assembled rose to their feet amid which the study of Daf Yomi has Daf Yomi. It is to be hoped that the thunderous applause. It was many spread is evident from the fact study of Daf Yomi will, with time, minutes before quiet was restored, as that one cannot find a single spread more and more... the delegates expressed their excite­ volume of Maseches Berachos in After Rosh Hashana, Reb Meir ment over this wonderful proposal, one any sefarim store! In fact, they received a letter from his only sister, which the Chofetz Chaim later said, have even begun buying up vol­ who lived in a far-off village in the "would hasten the coming of umes of Maseches Shabbos out region of , in northern Moshiach." Some sixty years later, the of concern that none will be Rumania, and knew nothing at all of Bluzhever Rebbe recalled that scene as: available when the Daf Yomi his activities. She wrote: "in:1m ;r.nm rvr.i" ("a semblance of the Giving of the Torah at Sinai"). It was later announced that the SMILOW FAMILY Knessia had officially adopted this pro­ Presents posal as its own, and it called upon Jewish communities everywhere to undertake the study of Daf Yomi. In years to come, when speaking of the success of Daf Yomi, Reb Meir would say humbly, "Blessed is the generation where the great listen to the simple." With the Knessia's conclusion, the delegates returned to their native lands and news of the Daf Yomi proclamation spread. Virtually everywhere, it was greeted with excitement and enthusiasm.

ROSH HASHANA .,\\arnott. On the evening of Rosh Hashana Fl. Lquderdale - Corot Spri11qs Hotel that year, at the conclusion of Maariv, Golf Club and Convention Center the Gerrer Rebbe, undisputed leader of Polish Jewry, turned to his Chassidim and said, "l am now going to learn the • ('-.bu Kosh Yi'10d, N<~>.(.;.\ittit • J_ocatl!Jjust ·10min, from Miami Reat:h Daf Yomi." Immediately, every volume • Be;wtiful Yorn Tu• ;itmo>phcre • Sportimnwt from worltl­ tisch, his divrei Torah related to the •!>GA 18-hnk, p•r 7? gnlfrn11r<< famous Jcwi~h ~·nt(rt;Jincrs • He-Jte Berachos, which I studied today .... " • Inspiring shiurim & hMes Throughout the Torah world, Jews • Pmfossional tfay farnp & \\1by sitri11g were learning Daf Yomi, individually • Fi\'C SL1T dining including and in groups. As one religious news­ s~t~ paper reported: • Under t!1e 1trkte1t Robbinic

On the night of Rosh this dream means .... Upon hearing this, the man opened Hashanah, I saw you in Heaven, One year, Reb Meir spent son1e time his briefcase and withdrew a Maseches dear brother, surrounded by a at a resort where he could benefit from Nedarim, which was then being multitude of angels with striking the therapeutic mineral baths. When learned in the Daf Yomi cycle. He figures, all radiant like the light his distinguished talmid, Rabbi grasped Reb Meir's hand warmly and of the firmament; and you, my Yehoshua Bau1nol, 1 came to visit, the said, "I am a university professor, and brother, were standing in their two went for a stroll along the beauti- despite my successful career, I always felt an emptiness, that my life was devoid of meaning. When I read about the Oaf Yomi and the enthusias1n sur­ WHILE THE PASSING OF "REB DAF YOMI" (AS THE rounding it, I decided to undertake it CHOFETZ CHAIM REFERRED TO RABBI MEIR myself. Rabbi, it has given me that SHAPIRO) CREATED AN IRREPLACEABLE VOID which I have been seeking! Finally, my soul knows some satisfaction .... " IN MANY AREAS, THE DAF YOMI PROJECT ONLY Reb Meir gave the man his heartfelt GREW WITH TIME. AT THAT SECOND SIYUM, blessing that the light of Torah study A CROWD OF 20,000 CONVERGED ON LUBLIN. should draw his soul ever closer to its true calling in life.

midst, your face shining like the ful country roads. They passed a man THE FIRST SIYUM sun in its full strength. And they of modern dress who was taken by Reb were all smiling to you, as they Meir's saintly appearance. "Who is that The first cycle of Daf Yomi, which thanked you and rejoiced with man?" he whispered to Rabbi Baumol. began on Rosh Hashana, concluded you very, very much .... Please, "Rabbi Shapiro from Lublin," came on the Rosh Hashana for trees, the fif­ dear brother, let me know what the reply teenth of Shevat 5691 (1931). In , the famed nwggid, Rabbi Ben Zion Yadler, opened the proceed­ ings, and the Hadran ( completion Ofi.e[ Cli.iUlren 's Jfome ana

20 ~------~~--~~~~·~~~~~T;;;;;;H~F.~·~.l~F.~·~W~l~S~H~~O;,;;;;;;;R~S~·~F~R;;;,;;;;V;,;;;;;;F.;;;;:;;R --=--1

i yeshiva building carrying under his Ii Modzhitzer Rebbe led the assemblage contagious diseases, all public arm a volume of Maseches Nidda, the in the singing of zemiros until the early places of worship would be closed Ii last masechta in the Talmud. As he morning hours. until further notice, made his way through the huge crowd, i 1 By that time, the total number of After Succos, a new poster his face aglow with joy, he greeted j Daf Yomi participants had swelled to appeared, notifying us of the clos­ guests with a handshake and his over half a million. Tragically, the ing of all battei midrash, small 1 ' talmidim with a loving pat. After rest- 1· majority of these dedicated Jews per­ shuls and other small places of I ing for a few moments in his seat at the ,. ished in the Holocaust. Nevertheless, Torah study and tefilla. The doors eastern wall, he ascended the steps to the study of Daf Yomi under Nazi per­ of all such places were locked and ' stand before the aron kodesh. His smile secution remains an inspiration to this sealed.

I now gave way to a look oi intense 1' day. As one survivor, Yosef Fuchsman, But one group refused to give 1 emotion, the likes of which his , recalled from his days in the Vilna up on meeting to study Torah; it

1 talmidim had never seen. ghetto: was a Daf Yomi group. On the

I Reb Meir learned aloud the conduct- 1· In October 1942, the new seventh of , the ' ing lines of the masechta and then decrees were posted in three dif- I yahrtzeit of Rabbi Meir Shapiro, I I recited the Hadran prayers. He wept r· ferent languages: Polish, , these "Daf Yomi'niks" as they 1 tears of joy and gratitude to the One Lithuanian and German, signed by r· were called, made up their minds I ,.1 Above as he recited the Kaddish, and the German Commissar Wolfe. The that come what may, the daf , then delivered an intricate shiur which announcements stated that in would be studied in public. So in 1 I I connected the concluding lines of Shas · order to reduce epidemics and I "Yegiche's Kloiz" the group met, with its beginning. I I As Reb Meir stepped down from , I ! before the. aron k~d~sh, h.is talmidim i f-----began._.tQ_s1ng.. a..spwted_ruggua._.,,_one.._'J_ I , that he had composed in honor of the [ occasion - to the words, ?::> -Pv rrm . 1 ; t:rVil (We wi II return to you, all of . I Shas). Hands joined and concentric cir- .I des formed, as the entire assemblage ,1 I '[ sang and danced in a celebration that I lasted almost until morning. ' I I , BETH JACOB OF KIEV SEMINARY I I .D".RING .n~E ".~':~~~"~".". ... 1 MENAHEL: RABBI YOSEF LEIBLER By the time the second cycle of 1. I Daf Yomi was completed in 1938, OFFERS AN INTENSIVE ACADEMIC PROGRAM I IN THE HEART OF UKRAINE. AN EXCELLENT i Rabbi Meir Shapiro had ascended to 1 TEACHING STAFF HAS BEEN CHOSEN PLUS I ) the Next World. While the passing of ,, AN ENRICHED PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES . "Reb Oaf Yomi," as the Chafetz Chaim TWO MONTHS OF SEMINARY LEARNING I I referred to him, created an irreplace- 1· IN ERETZ YJSROEL. ' able void in many areas, the Daf Yomi project only grew with time. At DUE TO AN EXTREMELY SELECTIVE PROCESS I I that second siyiim, a crowd ot 20,000 OF REGISTRATION A FEW OPENINGS ARE STILL converged on Lublin; it was held in i AVAILABLE TO THOSE STUDENTS WHO QUALIFY. I BECOME A PART OF THE HIGH CALIBER I conjunction with the dedication of a ' I STUDENT BODY ALREADY REGISTERED! I new wing of Yeshivas Chachmei ' I I I Lublin. I For registration forms contact your ! The great gaon from , Rabbi ![ seminary advisor or contact: I ' Menachem Ziemba. addressed the Mrs. Y. Englard .1 event and the of Boyan. : 24 sth Street, apt. 4 I ·, Sochotchov, Tchebin, Sadigur and j 1 Lakewood, NJ 08701 Przemsyl participated, along with Tel. 732 730-0737 I Rabbi Alexander Zusha Friedman, I

C'°' of M:ya:~hel~on~:~ -... ------...... ··-·...... - ······ ----- FEBRUARY 2 0 0 5

learned the daf, and after Mincha, said Kaddish for the neshama of the gaon of Lublin, • Each Daf is read, Rabbi Meir Shapiro. translated, and explained Suddenly, a contingent of eight slowly and clearly in just militiamen broke in and starting 20 minutes swinging their clubs. Some of the Jews fled for their lives, but fif­ • $4 per tape (plus S&H) • Subscription rate: $3 per tape teen Slonimer Chassidim were (plus S&H) determined to stick it out and refused to leave the kloiz; they still had to review the day's daf! Blood flowed, clothes were ripped, and a few of the men were forcibly evicted. The dedication of these Jews to the study of Daf Yomi remains a living inspiration to us, the sur­ vivors. 2

A MOST FITTING DEDICATION

In advance of the seventh Siyum HaShas of Daf Yomi in 1975, it was in G'letz Cljis'loef /o'i il3ais Clfaakov announced that the Moetzes Gedolei Torah in America had declared that $Cigh Schoof cCJtudents from then on, the Siyum HaShas of Daf Yomi would be dedicated to the memo­ ry of the six million kedoshim (holy martyrs) who perished in the !f.une 28 - cflugust 3, 2005 Holocaust. 3 At the main siyum celebration in • Taste of Seminary Studies and Tiyulim for Girls entering America, held at New York"s Grades JO, ll and 12 Center, the Bluzhever • Hear Shiutjm from Rabbonim and Moros from the finest Rebbe, a Holocaust survivor and a seminaries. member of the Moetzes, said in his • Improve your learning skills, meet new friends, receive rnoving address: I can personally testify that personali?ed hadracha those who perished bore their suf­ • Exciting Tiyulim and Shabbatonim fering with love. For many, their • Located at the beautiful Darchei Binah Campus-Bayit Vegan greatest concern was not the tragedy of their own death, but who would say Kaddish after them, and who would learn a perek of Mishnayos in their mem­ ory. Truly, there is no greater

2 From a piece in J.O., Decernber 1982 For Brodture ~d Application Contact: 3 The i\1oetzes, at that tirne, was chaired by Rabbi and its me1nbers "~~~~ included: Rabbi Yaakov Kan1enetsky, 10i~~;;;i~·~J0·~~?.7~~~2~ ~(,Waol.co11t Rabbi , Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak Rudennan, Rabbi Yisrael Spira (Bluzhever Rebbe), and Rabbi Nochu1n Perlow (Novo1ninsker Rebbe).

22 THE JEW I SH OBSERVER

remembrance, no greater memori­ gettable event, which took place on gathering is more than a celebra­ al for them than the dedication to the first day of Selichos, 27 Ellul 5757 tion; it is a powerful demonstra­ their memory of the learning of (September 28, 1997). tion of the nitzchius, the eternity Daf Yomi. Rabbi , late President of Torah and of the Jewish people of Agudath Israel of America, spoke as the Torah Nation. movingly from Madison Square In his address from the Nassau EVER STRONGER Garden of what the Siyum represented: Coliseum, Rabbi It was the goal of the Nazis, made this observation: Each successive Siyum HaShas has Ob'V nb', not only to annihilate Rabbi Meir Shapiro - Lubliner inspired greater interest, greater par­ the Jews of Europe, but to Rav - you were right. AU that you ticipation and, most important, a sig­ destroy the Jews, the Talmud and envisioned for the Daf Yomi has nificant increase in the number of Daf the Talmud lehrer (the Gemara come true, and even more so. My Yomi students. teacher), because they under­ only question is: Could you have In New York, the eighth siyum was stood that this is the secret of dreamt that it would become as held in 1982 at Manhattan's Felt Jewish survival. After emerging successful as it has? Forum (5,000 participants); the ninth from the Valley of Tears [of the And from the Garden, the in 1990 at Madison Square Garden Second World War], many Novominsker Rebbe, Rabbi Yaakov (20,000 participants); and the tenth, entered a Valley of Fears, fears Perlow, said that above all, we must via sattelite hookup, at Madison that there was no future for think deeply how the Hashgachas Square Garden, Nassau Coliseum and Torah and Talmud in the world. Hashem (Divine Providence) had cities nationwide and around the Therefore tonight, when in brought us to this great day. How a world, as far away as Melbourne, America alone, 70,000 Bnei devastated people a half century ago Australia. More than seventy thou· Yisroel gather to celebrate the put itself together and, with the grace sand Jews participated in that unfor- daily study of Talmud.... This of Hashem, rebuilt its Torah empire. !I"J

I I I

I I I I _j1 THE LEGACY OF RABBI MEIR SHAPIRO, ~">! ----, ~==----1

YISROEL fRJEDMAN

Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin conceived in Glorv, Built With Maiestv A Chapter From the L!fe ef The Lubliner Rav, Rabbi Meir Shapiro 7" '.!it

on behalf of Yidden all over, his main will feel as if he is at home. No longer A VISION OF EXTRAORDINARY concern lay in the field of chinuch will he be looked down upon and be PROPORTIONS (Torah education). Wherever he went, derided for being a yeshiva bachur. he encouraged the opening and build­ The yeshiva will house the best and mong the many gedolim who ing of new Talmud and yeshiv­ the brightest minds of the Jewish peo­ illuminated the Torah World as. Indeed, Reb Meir is credited with ple. The yeshiva will become a center A in the generation before the opening the very first modern-day for Torah like Naharda'a and Second World War, the name of the yeshiva in Europe, which served and Pumbedisa in Bavel, a production line Lubliner Rav, Reb Meir Shapiro ';"~l, continues to serve as the prototype for for the great neshamos of Kial Yisroel. occupies a unique place of honor and all yeshivas thereafter. People will exclaim about every talmid I distinction. The list of Reb Meir's great Reb Meir felt that the time had come who learnt in the yeshiva, 'Ashrei qualities is almost endless. Much has to build a modern yeshiva with all the yoladeto' - happy is the one who gave already been written about this great facilities that were required so that birth to such a son!'" i rav and rash yeshiva, who was farned bachurim would be able to learn in the Rabbi Meir Shapiro was fully aware for his unbelievable geonus, his way that befits the holy Torah. '.'Jot of what such an undertaking entailed. tremendous ahavas Yisroel, his superb only would such a yeshiva improve the He knew that for many years he would oratory powers, and his undefeatable standard of their learning, it would also have no day or night - he would have I will and detennination. elevate the honor of the Torah and its to sacrifice his every second to rnake Although Reb Meir served as a rav scholars across Poland and beyond. such a dream becon1e a reality. But in I in a nun1ber of distinguished co1nmu­ To his listeners, Reb Meir explained: his great love of the Torah, Reb Meir nities, and was also a foretnost activist "I see in tny drean1s a yeshiva the likes was willing to rnake such a sacrifice.

RABBI FRIEDMAN SERVES AS RAV OF THE of which has never been, not in size CHORTKOVEI~ BEJS HAMEDRASH IN nor in splendor. No longer will MANCHl":STER, /HAGGllJ -'.iHll!H IN talmidim sleep in dark, damp cellars A MAJESTIC EDIFICE HAJ_.ACHA AT THE YESHIVA GEDOl.AH and look for iood like beggars. I will FOR TORAH EZRAS TORAH lN MANCHESTER, AND IS build for them a yeshiva like a palace! AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING HOOKS: In the yeshiva, every bachur will have The idea to build Yeshivas Go1.DEN l)YNASTY (GtRSA Pul~Ll!iHEJ~S), I a cornfortable bed vvith clean linen and Chachmei Lublin had its origins firmly I POU1UAIJS Of GUfA1Nl:'>S (fEll)HflM), AND 7Hf Rf:BJJI OJ Cl-IORIKOV room for all his needs. He will eat his rooted in Reb Meir's inner spiritual I lSCROl I). n1eal in a special dining room where he bond to his Rebbe and mentor, the

4 ------__J F THE JEWISH 03SERVER Chortkover Rebbe (1854- 1933) and the This is also the derech of our dormitory facilities to match. The majestic derech of Chortkov. In his yeshiva whose source is rooted in yeshiva also had a large library, which biography (Harav Hagadol) about this derech of majesty, and whose contained over 30,000 se(arim. The I Rabbi Meir Shapiro, his close talmid, purpose is to show the true splen­ modern dining room and adjacent Reb Yehoshua Baumel, wrote: dor of our holy Torah." kitchen were also a novelty; each table There was one path of was covered with a white tablecloth Chassidus to which Reh Meir felt and set with plates and cutlery. An drawn from his earliest years, the LAYING THE CORNERSTONE infirmary and dentistry were also on I way that was derived from the the premises for che bachurim's needs. Kabbalistic concept of "Hod On Lag Ba'omer 5684 (1924), Lublin The yeshiva even had its own laun­ Shebetifferes - Glory in Majesty." was flooded with tens of thousands of derette so the bach1zrim would not Reh Meir felt attached to the Yidden who came to take part in the have to waste time washing their great Rebbe of Chortkov, who fol­ hanachas evven hapina (laying the cor­ clothes. I lowed this path, and from when nerstone.) Prominent amongst the vast Reh Meir first met him, he recog­ crowds who had come from all over to nized that this is where he take part in the celebrations were many BLESSINGS FROM A I belonged. Under his Rebbe's influ­ and tzaddikim, headed by the PLATFORM OF DIVINE ence, Reh Meir's inner ideas and Rebbes of Chortkov and Ger. I SPLENDOR I visions of majesty began to take Once the celebrations had finished shape. and the crowds had gone back home, The 28th of Sivan 5690 (1930) was a From our earliest years, we had Reb Meir went back to work, making date that many Yidden throughout heard amazing stories about the his dream come true. Reb Meir took to Poland and beyond were impatiently Chortkover Rebbe's grandfather, the road, traveling the length and awaiting. On that day, the yeshiva I I the Rebbe of Rizhin. Amazing breadth of Poland. Wherever he went, would be officiaily opened, and Reb I j tales how he lived in a magnifi­ he delivered passionate speeches, beg- Meir would be crowned as its Rosh I cent palace, with a crown studded I I with precious stones on his head. I I This was the world that Reh Meir REB MEIR FELT THAT THE TIME HAD COME j grew up in and absorbed in TO BUILD A MODERN YESHIVA. NOT ONLY I j Chortkov, and when he related ' WOULD IT IMPROVE THE STANDARD OF THE ) these stories to us, he instilled in /

us an awe towards the Chassidic BACHURIM'S LEARNING, IT WOULD ALSO ,fl I dynasty of Rizhin. ELEVATE THE HONOR OF THE TORAH AND Jn Reb Meir's later years, the ITS SCHOLARS. I derech of Rizhin was evident in I him for all to see, glowing bright- I I ly inside him. These feelings gath- ging people to have pity on themselves 1 Yeshiva and as the Rav of Lublin. As I I ered force inside his mind and and their children, and to help him to J the date grew nearer, the suspense and r being, until they finally emerged raise the huge sums of money needed. I excitement built to a peak. Never

I in the form of Yeshivas Chachmei After almost two years of hard labor, ,1· before in the history of Poland had i,1 Lublin, a true Torah palace of Reb Meir succeeded in raising over such a massive public demonstration 1 I majesty. Reh Meir once took the thirty thousand dollars. Although it of kevod haTorah taken place. opportunity to spell out clearly the was a tremendous amount of money, it I From a platform, Reb Meir blessed I j link between the Chassidus of was less than a third of the required J the assembled in an emotional voice, I Rizhin and the yeshiva. "It is well sum. Reb Meir set off on a tour of 1 "Six years ago, I greeted you all on an I I known," he said, "that the derech Holland, Belgium, Germany, France J empty and desolate plot of land. Now, :1 of Chassidus is itself comprised and England, and then continued on to however, I bless you all from the Beis 1 from a number of different path- America, where he spent over a year, I Haslzem, from this magnificent build· I I ways. The path of Rizhin is that of traveling across the country. _1 ing, which stands completed in all its i splendor and majesty. Its goal is to In Teves 5689 (l 929), the building 1 splendor. Anyone who looked with a I I beautify the Torah and the of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin was final- / bit of his heart was able to see the ter- ] mitzvos. Just as a diamond needs ly finished, almost six years after the j rible situation that young bachurim I the correct setting to bring out its work first started. The building had a I find themselves in. The 'pas bamelach I ! qualities, so each mitzvah requires beis midrash with enough benches for I (a crust of bread with salt)' that the I 1 r 1 L" -ow:.spedal .pl:e ~n~se.tt~ng-· -five-hu~dred. ~:hunm- to. le•:·_:'d .. "lshnah p:escdb:~'va~a~tx~r:~ FEBRUARY !Z. 0 0 5

many who used to go hungry. The nothing has been done to elevate their When Reb Meir had finished speak­ young Torah scholar was abused and social and emotional standing, and this ing, the Chortkover and Gerrer Rebbes ridiculed. Even if there were those who is the novelty and the revolution of also delivered their blessings, after tried to help their physical situation, Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin." which came the great moment that everyone had been waiting for. Reb Meir took a out of his pocket and handed it to the Chortkover Rebbe. In front of one hundred thousands pairs of eyes, the Chortkover Rebbe For careful attention to your took the mezuzah and affixed it to the individual needs, call us today! front doorpost of the yeshiva. The yeshiva door were opened with a spe­ (845) 354-8445 cially made golden key, and a beaming Reb Meir called out, "Just as the gates of the Yeshiva were opened, may Hashem similarly open the gates of sal­ vation for the Yidden."

A SYLLABUS FOR GADLUS BATORAH

It did not take long for the yeshiva to earn a reputation for itself; many of the bachurim were accomplished talmidei chachamim before they had even joined the yeshiva. The task of Reb Menachem welcomes everyone who comes for meals. American the yeshiva was to teach them and to bochurim, and Yerushalmi men; poor children, and wealthy tourists, show them how to use their knowledge crowd around his table, forty-fifty or even a hundred at a time. to the fullest, to train them in how to properly analyze what they had learnt, and draw the correct conclusions. Maybe you or one of your children were a guest in his home, Reb Meir formed a program of or Maybe you took part in the (Vizhnitzer) he leads liniud that was divided into three sec~ every Friday night at the Kosel! tions. Each section \:Vould take two years to complete. The first two years The Rebbetzin who prepared meals for tens of thousands would be spent learning the of people was recently niftar and the tzaddik must somehow Gemaros of Berachos, Shabbos, repay the debts he incurred during the years she was Pesachirn and with the relevant halaclws in Shulchan Aruc/i. The inflicted with her fatal illness. He is collapsing from strain. bachurim would also have to know the various Midrashirn connected to the e Reh Menachem never says no to a guest. topics they were learning, plus the Please don't say no him. commentaries of the classic niefarshirn on the Torah. Besides all the above­ 9 Consider it your chance to repay the tzaddik n1entioned masechtos, the talmidim for his generosity. also had to learn masechtos Yuma, Tamid, and Middos with all the rele­ vant halaclws in the Rambam. During the second stage of the Please make your tax deductible donation payable to: GOMLEI CHESED yeshiva, the bachurim would learn for and mail to RABBI YITZCHOK BISTRITZKY semicha. They had to acquire a deep ! 4815 -15th AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11219 knowledge of all the necessary parts of Yoreh De' a, which were learnt together I with Chulm and Bechoros. In add1t10n, I

26 I THE JEWISH OBSERVER they also had to be fluent in Hilchos Reb Meir's involvement in the hadn't told me about." Challa, Hilchos Mikvaos, and the hala- progress of his talmidim was a 24- The Rav smiled at his words and chos pertaining to the kashrus of sifrei hour-a-day job. In a letter written in said, "To me, every talmid is like a son, Torah, and mezuzos. support of the yeshiva, the Boyaner A father doesn't wait to visit his child The final stage in the yeshiva was Rebbe, Reb Moshenu Friedman ';n until he is dangerously ill; he goes on intended for those who would take up wrote, "The rosh yeshiva, Reb Meir the first day .... " positions as rabbanim. During these Shapiro, doesn't limit himself just to last two years, the bachurim learnt giving a shiur to the talmidim. He Hilchos Gittin, Chalitza, and Takanas guides them and shows them how to A TASTE OF CHORTKOV Agunos, which was followed by parts improve their middos. He davens with · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · of Choshen Mishpat that discuss the them and eats with them, and he Every few months, Reb Meir would of financial dealings. The talmid knows how to instill into the heart of leave the yeshiva in order to spend a also had to review the whole of Seder every bachur that he must one day be Shabbos in the company of his Rebbe. and Nezikin with the commen- a gad.al beYisroel." Each time, Reb Meir would take along tary of the Rosh. At the end of the six- Indeed, RPb Meir acted not just as a with him a group of his talmidim so year course, the talmid was ready to rebbe to his talmidim but also as a they could taste for themselves the J assume a position as a rav or rosh father. If a bachur fell sick, Reb Meir meaning of a Shabbos in Chortkov. A / yeshiva. description of one such trip was high- ) Taking note of this ambitious seler lighted in the paper Dos Yiddishe I halimud (syllabus), it is clear why the Togblatt by one of the participants. yeshiva was reputed to be intended The Shabbos after Shavuos 5691 I only for illuyim (geniuses). Such a (1931) is engraved in my mind as i heavy and exhaustive program could one of the most memorable J only be tackled by the elite. Reb Meir's Shabbosos of my yeshiva life. The ; talmidim did not let him down, and Chortkover Rebbe had come from many of them completed the program his home in Vienna to his court in II without a problem. Chortkov, and our Rosh Yeshiva, I Reh Meir Shapiro, was taking fif- , teen talmidim along with him to ) I .1~.~ .L.E~.C.~~ ·O·F· :i:i~~~ ~~.N_ . see the Rebbe. ' I We left the yeshiva in high spir- 1 The bachurim from the yeshiva ) its and made our way to the train I became known as true geonim despite station. Very soon, the train was

I their youth. Many of them were fluent 1 on its way towards Chortkov. The I in all of Shas. When one of the Rav launched into a conversation 11

1 bachurim - Reb Yosef Baim - pub- about the topic of the day, namely lished a se/er of his own chiddusllim on divrei Turah and stories that cen- the Rambam, Reb Meir gave him a tered on the Rebbe of Chortkov. 11 · haskama (letter of approbation) in would go immediately to visit him. On His voice full of awe and respect, / which he wrote, "These lines serve to one occasion when Reb Meir went to the Rav related each story with / testify about the great rav and baki visit a sick bachur, the boy suddenly such reverence that it evoked in (expert), Reb Yosef Boim from Itbitza. became overcome with trembling and him new feelings of wonder and Since he arrived in the yeshiva, he has convulsions at the sight of the Rosh veneration towards his Rebbe. I attained a thorough knowledge of the Yeshiva. Reb Meir was rather taken Only now did we finally begin to I whole Talmud Bavli and Yerushalmi aback and, after he managed to calm understand the concept of "a true j and the many commentaries on them. the bachur, he asked him what caused chassid." i'I He is like a well overflowing with chid- the panic. So the journey continued whilst I I dushim, and in our generation is a rare "In my previous yeshiva," the boy we sat open-mouthed, hungrily f and precious wonder." explained, "it was unheard of for the devouring every word that left the J I Reb Yosef Boim was not the only rosh yeshiva to visit a sick talmid. i· Rav's mouth. From time to time, I one in his league. There were many Only if the talmid was desperately ill the Rav switched topics and )I I others like him, as well. They would no would the Rosh Yeshiva pay a visit. reverted back to the Gemara we ) doubt have been amongst the gedolim Seeing the Rosh Yeshiva, I suddenly 1 were learning. One pilpul followed I l of Kial Yisroel had the accursed became worried that I really have a J another, and then he suddenly / Lrnan~ol de,troyed them: __ --dangerou' iHnw whicl~ie doctm 1--changW lhe conv~alion ~ck lo i 27 FEBJ~UARY 2 0 0 5

Chortkov again, and then back to way. During the course of the be saved," a statement that was later the Gemara, and so on. night, many other Chassidirn borne out. Indeed, when he was asked Throughout the journey, the Rav came in to join the Rav and hear how he intended to pay back the loan kept us captivated and enthralled. his divrei Torah and stories. The when it was due, Reb Meir answered, One minute he was speaking as sounds of the zemiros and singing ominously quoting the Zahar the "humble chassid," the next carried on un Iii the early hours of Hakadosh: 12 'OUr.> ))"1!1, n'N1 "l1r.lr.>~ ))"1!1, minute as the "great Rosh the morning. n'N "Some pay with their money and Yeshiva." some pay with their bodies." We arrived in Chortkov And so it was. Tuesday, the 4th of refreshed and invigorated. After a COVERING THE Cheshvan, 5694 (1933), Reb Meir did short rest, we went to the Rebbe's YESHIVA'S DEBT not appear at Shacharis; he was in bed home to greet him. One cannot with a severe cold. The doctor who describe the great joy with which As the years went by, the difficulty was by his bedside said there was no the Rebbe and the Rav greeted of paying for the daily running of the cause for worry. The Rosh Yeshiva sim­ each other. The Rav introduced us yeshiva kept growing. Once again, Reb ply had a bout of flu. to the Rebbe with the words: "I Meir took to the road and traveled up The following day, Reb Meir's condi­ have brought the Rebbe a tithe and down Poland to raise funds for the tion worsened. A swelling had devel­ oped in his throat, making it difficult for him to breathe. Other doctors were summoned to his bedside, but they also said that there was no cause for worry, and in a few days he would be better. By Thursday, Reb Meir had no strength left to even talk. As the hours ticked by, he grew gradually weaker, but still the doctors remained unperturbed. Late Thursday night, he began to have breathing problems, and it became clear that Reb Meir's remain­ ing rninutes were limited. On a piece of (maaser)!" At that point 150 boys yeshiva. No one knew about the finan­ paper, he v..rrote an instruction to the learnt in the yeshiva. The Rebbe cial worries of the yeshiva. Reb Meir talmidim around his bed, "Eve1yone showed great interest in us and did not want the news to leak out. He should drink lechayim." In a flash, a inquired about conditions in the was afraid that it might affect the posi­ bottle and cups were produced, and yeshiva. Even the minutest details tive atmosphere prevailing amongst the the baclwrim drank lechayim. were of concern to him. bachurirn, which was crucial for their Reb Meir stretched out his hand and Friday night after davening, the learning. Only when the local council shook the hand of each and every Rebbe recited Kiddush in front of switched off the water to the yeshiva bachur. After they had all gone around, his Chassidim. The whole assem­ did the secret get out. Reb Meir made a sign that they should bly stood transfixed, watching the In the meanwhile, help came for the sing one of his songs to the words Rebbe's every move and action. yeshiva from a rather unexpected cor­ "n1m1vn?~~~1vowvo1?J'." In the middle We felt elevated, almost like in ner. The giant insurance company of the song, he beckoned to them to another world. This was especial­ Prudential opened a branch of their form a circle around his bed, and then, ly true of the Rav. Throughout the firm in Poland. In order to attract cus­ on a scrap of paper, he wrote his final tisch, he did not remove his gaze tomers, they approached well-known two words, "nnr:re>pi. Only with joy." from the Rebbe. His normally con­ public figures and offered them a life The bachurirn danced around his fident posture was replaced with insurance policy. Prudential pron1ised bed singing and crying, whilst in the one of humility, as he absorbed his Reb Meir that if he agreed to take out middle lay Reb Meir, his face shining Rebbe's every nuance. life insurance with them, they would like an angel. With his hand, he beck­ After the Rebbe had recited lend him the money to cover all the oned to them to go faster, to sing loud­ Kiddush and given a devar Torah, yeshiva's debts. Reb Meir agreed to the er, until suddenly, Reb Meir's holy the short tisch ended. The Rav, offer, and thus the yeshiva was saved nesha1na flew upwards to 1neet the accompanied by his talmidim, for the ti1ne being. On a few occasions, TGnnaini and Arnorairn who vvere wait­ 1 returned to his accommodation, Reb Meir said bitterly, "It seems that ing to greet hirn. Zechuso yagein I where a joyous seuda got under only through my death will the yeshiva aleinu!

8 l ------~ r=-----~----_-_-_____G_R_o_w.ING WITH OAF YOMI, ONE DAY AT A TIME

I BENNY COHEN I I I

How Oaf Yomi Changed Mv life l From Blisiful Ignorance - To My Own S!fum BLISSl'"UL IGNORANCE vant family who was becoming f'r11m. was not only helping my child, I I She made it clear that she wanted to opened up a whole new world for I Before l came to Israel as a young return "home" to Israel after we mar­ myself, as well. People in my neigh­ married man in the 1970s, l believed ried. So we packed our bags and head­ borhood began urging me to learn I that I was a true blue Jew, even though ed to the Holy Land, beginning a Gemara. Though learning Mishnayos I had no formal yeshiva or day school process of becoming more observant. certainly triggered something in me, I education. (We weren't the Aish HaTorah or Ohr believed that a blatt Gemara would I I was born and raised in Northern Somayach-type couple. We actually be way too complicated. I England, where my family was consid­ believed that we were already "reli­ Some time later, I did start learn- ered "traditional." We had beionged to gious.") ing Gemara twice a week in a yeshi­ I an Orthodox congregation, kept kosher We settled in one of Jerusalem's va in Rechavia, and th e I (as much as we knew how), put on Orthodox neighborhoods, and realized American-born Rosh Yeshiva there tefillin, and made Kiddush on Friday that things were a lot different from then pushed me to learn Cemara evenings. But we were not stringently England. In Israel, things tend to be every single day. Truthfully, I though t I I observant. My parents had sent me to more black and white. You either send he was mad. We "learned" Gemara I the local secular public school, and, your kids to a state religious school or together, digressing to inyanei dey­ until age 15, I attended Talmud Torah a yeshiva - or not. I was quite content oma or halachic issues of the day. I twice a week. Before I left the Talmud with my own level of Judaic knowl­ The amount we covered during the I Torah, I could read Hebrew fluently, so edge - until I sent my first-born son to week was not impressive, but it was I could actually daven in shul, and I a local religious school. He grew older, a solid beginning. I I knew what the Jewish festivals were asked me to help him learn Mishnah - The early 1990s was a period of about. But Rashi, Mishnah, or Gemara and drew a blank. change - the family business began I - whoever heard of them? expanding, and my children were 11' About a decade later, l met my getting married. Someone suggested future wife, a Sabra from a non-obser- INTRODUCTION TO MISHNAH that I learn Daf YO m i. f actually gave I it a whirl, but it didn't last because I I 1 "BENNY COHEN" JS A REAi.. rE; RSON WHO I started by purchasing volumes of could not understand what was I 1 WISUES TO KEEP HIS IDENTITY ANONY- ArtScroll English Mishnayos, and two going on. Then a business colleague . life-altering events occurred. You see, I from the USA, whose family beca:de '

29 L______...... -~---·------~ I FEBRUARY 2 0 0 5 I dear friends of ours, encouraged me used to going to simchos on her own, knit group that celebrates each siyum by his example. Whenever I saw this or expecting me to join her later in with a lavish setting in someone's man, he was always "preparing" the the evening, after the Daf Yomi class. home: wives are invited as well. day·s daf. He brought me a copy of My wife is a tzaddeikes, not only Baruch Hashem, my investment in the video from the last Siyum for allowing me to study the Gemara, learning has paid huge dividends. All HaShas, which took place at which has gone from twice a week to of my children and grandchildren are Madison Square Garden in every single day of the year, but by {rum, and all are learning in excellent Manhattan. Wow! I thought. What actively encouraging me to learn yeshivas in Eretz Yisroel. And my an incredible Kiddush Hashem! I also daily and properly. I now try - and parents, who also made their way to purchased some more ArtScroll actually find the time during the Israel, live in a wonderful {rum Anglo English-Hebrew Gemaras, and sam­ course of my busy workday - to pre­ community in Central Israel, adopt­ pled Torah Tapes. Finally, I decided pare myself for the nightly shiur. To ing and adapting to a true Torah to leap back into the Daf Yomi sched­ get something out of it, one must lifestyle. ule with a vengeance. Little did I invest some effort in preparation. You can probably understand know what I was taking on. Discipline is a key to finishing why I am looking forward to the Shas. One is constantly pushing one­ Siyum HaShas in March. Celebrating self to understand the substance of the previously unknown notion of EMBRACING THE DAF the Gemara. It's natural for one to get completing Shas is one thing, but - WITH A VENGEANCE a bit lazy along the way. When trav­ I've become so attached to my eling on business, I bring my Gemara and Daf Yomi, that I'm If you commit yourself to a Daf ArtScroll Gemara and a Walkman so I ready and raring to start learning Yomi program at night, you have to don"t miss a shiur. In addition, I seek Shas from the beginning all over completely readjust your social life. out a local Daf Yomi shiur. again. This time around, though, I Imagine. Every time you get an invi­ Whilst I may indeed be the oldest am better prepared, armed with a tation to a simcha, you have to con~ person in my local Daf Yomi shiur, I wealth of knowledge that will allow template: is the simcha before or consider myself to be the youngest in me to raise myself to an even higher after the Daf Yomi shiur? My wife got terms of knowledge. We are a close· standard. IE

TheShema Yisrael Torah Networkofverusha1ay1m Invites you to join the many doctors, lawyers, businessmen, accountants, professionals, rabbis, mashglchlm and rebbes from around the world who have successfully completed the Shulchan Aruch Learning Project. Through the means of the Shulchan Aruch a program has been designed for those who work full time and seek structure and accomplishment in their learning. The combination of explanation and organization as well as testing is allowing many from around the world regardless of their background to achieve milestones in their learning they never before thought possible, leading many to even achieve Semlcha. All Shiurim are given in English following the exact order of the SHULCHAN ARUCH. You will learn Mechaber, Rama, Taz, Schach, Magen Avraham, Gra, Mishna Berura and more. Available are separate programs In: lssur V'Heter, Shabbos, Eruvln, , Aveilus Choshen Mlshpat, Aveilus, Ribis, Orach Chaim and Shatnez. There are as well Mini-courses in the Making of a Kosher and Shabbos Kitchens and a course in Prayer.

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30 THE JEWISH OBSERVER

RABBINESANELKASNETT Making the Tal1Dud Accessible to the English-Reading-and-Thinking Public

CREATING THE SCHOTTENSTEIN TALMUD - AN INSIDER'S VIEW

REB HERSHEL'S VISION translation), however, it was important chiddushim; we were to use the classic to differentiate between the actual sefarim (both medieval and contempo­ It is remarkable that the original words of the Gemora and the filler rary) to explain the Gemora and Rashi. goal and conception of the English words. To that end, the former would In the rare instance where no one Talmud needed very little retooling. As appear in boldface type. Similarly, addressed an obvious difficulty or our first General Editor, Rabbi Hershel Tannaic teachings - Mishnayos and ambiguity, one that could not be Goldwurm .,.~, defined and refined it, Baraisos - would be printed in small ignored, we would be forced to offer the idea was to create a sophisticated capital letters to set them off from the our own interpretation - but one that elucidation of the plain meaning of the Amoraic statements. In all, the transla­ was consistent with the primary com­ Gemora according to Rashi, resulting in tion was to be somewhat self-suffi­ mentator's general approach.] a coherent, literary work of scholarly cient, so that the more accomplished Additionally, the notes would present value. Where there was no Rashi, as in user need not be constantly consulting the interpretations of dissenting most of Bava Basra, the elucidation the notes below. Rishonim, identify important issues would follow the primary commentator These notes were to be largely discussed by the commentators, and of that tractate. The actual text of the explanatory. They would provide back­ cite sources for further research and Gemora would be translated at the top ground information when the Gemora analysis. In short, we would provide of the page, as a narration. That is, veered into a peripheral sugya. They the beginner with a good understand­ since the Gemora speaks in half­ would render every remark of Rashi in ing of the Gemora, and the scholar thoughts and half-sentences and all its fullness, drawing from the with a firm and reliable foundation for assumes that the student understands panoply of commentary on Rashi when in-depth study (i.e., he would know the flow, its text would have to be appropriate. [One rule Rabbi what the Gemora said and the fleshed out. Since one of our primary Goldwurm stressed from the very start: Rishonim held, and would be prepared concerns was to teach teitch (literal Ours was not to be a work of original to explore the whys]. l;

31 I FEBRUARY 2 0 0 5 Rabbi Goldwurm was a self-effacing completed Schottenstein Edition is his encountered many people who envi­ talmid chacham who combined monument. sion our team as sitting together in a astounding breadth of knowledge, single beis midrash, engaged in spirited unusual humility, pure yiras Shamayim debate and judicious redaction. In and a clear, logical mind. Tragically, he THE PROCESS point of fact, the fifteen to twenty five passed away only three years into the scholars involved in producing each project, at the young age of 56. His The Schottenstein Talmud is the volume are located all across America memory remains strong, and the now product of a team effort. Yet, I have and in Israel, and work independently. Hence, the work is organized as fol­ lows: A volume is divided by chapters Unde Moishy, Dedi or sub-chapters. Each section is Avrohom fried, assigned an author, an editor and a and other leading Reader. It is the author's responsibility Jewish entertainers to compose an entire first draft, which ....J...r,,,;o,..ef'=',.., includes translation of text and • Polhwoy lo Action are available explanatory notes, as discussed above. • Building the World to visit His draft goes to an editor, who essen­ • Big Lesson from Little Nuts seriously ill tially engages the author as a chavrusa. • 7 Keys to Derech Eretz children He will correct interpretive mistakes, thanks to delete inappropriate material, add • Greatest Speech in History SIM CHAS CHAVA-'11. > .,.-.;-,.,, salient and concise insights, and gener­ nlJWJ "OT'J • Simon Tov - as o Memory Aid il''J..' :lj?))~ ., n:i i11T1 ally polish the writing. The editor's AChessed project run by draft goes to a Reader, v..rho is a superi­ $5.00 each, all for $26.00 Agudalh Israel of Amerka in conjunction wlth or talrnid chachanL He functions as the Suki & Dini: Produ,lions 'J poseik acharon, checking fOr the accu­ Yeshiva Fund To set up an appointment 'al!: , J. . racy of the elucidation and also adding Box 82, Stolen Island, NY 10319 (212) 797~9000 Ext.235 or deleting material as he sees fit. [The author communicates with bis editor, and the editor \Vith bis Reader, through notes in the 1nanuscript.] The Reader's corrections are then sent to the editor, IS YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS PRINTED \Vho incorporates them and forvvards INCORRECTLY ON THE JO MAILING LABEL? the 1nanuscript to various proofreaders. The efforts of the writers and editors We need your help to ensure proper delivery of the Jewish Observer to your home. Please attach current mailing label in the space below, or print clearly your address and to achieve co1nplete accuracy rese1n­ computer processing numbers that are printed above your name on the address label. bles the intensive study of the fore1nost yeshivas. It is co1nmon for debates to stretch well into the night and for long­ distance and even trans-Atlantic phone Affix old label here calls heatedly seeking the correct p'shat. More than once, editors have spent days thrashing out a short pas­ sage of the Talmud before feeling satis­ Name~------fied that they were explaining it New Address properly. After their work is done, the 1nanu­ City, script is paginated - and the process State, begins again. The graphics staff, led by Rabbi Sheah Brander, creates and Date Effective------­ inserts the various diagrams, charts Send address The Jewish Observer and illustrations requested by the edi­ changes to: Change of Address tors. The pages are reviewed by a 42 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10004 Reader and four proofreaders at least Please allow 4-6 weeks for all changes to be reflected on your mailing label. We will not I three tin1es. Their be responsible for back issues missed unless you notify us 6 weeks prior to your move. .J corrections are I L merged by another d . ------Rea ermto:J 32 '---~------THE JEWISH OBSERVER

final version. The process, then, is one word is used in the text (and often in egg is from a pure [tahorj or impure of beirur achar beirur - continual the notes) for teaching "teitch. "] Now, [tamei] sheretz) had Rabbi Eliezer refinement. ft ensures the best work the obvious choices for shorneir - Herzka conducting extensive e-mail that the constraints of time (deadline "guard" and "watchman" - connote discussions with the head of the rep­ pressure), money and human fallibility a person whose job is to protect prop­ tilian embryology department at the allow. erty with no right to use it. While University of Sydney (Australia) and these words describe the paid and with another expert at the University unpaid watchmen, they hardly fit the of Virginia, and doing his own How Do You START? research at the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. Working on the I am often asked how we go from a first part of Eilu Tereifos required blank piece of paper or computer Rabbi Hillel Danziger to consult with screen to the finished work. experts in the field of animal anatomy Obviously, before writing a word, the in America and Israel, as well as with author must fully research the sugya, Rabbi Amitai Ben-David, author of which means all the Rishonim, the the acclaimed Sichas Chullin. In addi­ major , and sefarim specific tion, Rabbi Danziger spent many to the tractate. But he must also, when hours with Mr. Howard S. Friedman, necessary, first define central concepts a leading anatomical illustrator who and establish terminology. For has worked for the Audubon Society instance, the first chapter of Bava and the American Medical Basra deals with a damage called Association, to ensure that the vol- hezeik re'iya. A literal translation of 1 ume's many accompanying drawings this term ("damage of seeing") is j were both accurate and illuminating. ambiguous, and thus unserviceable. And, anyway, what exactly is the nature of this damage? I always chal­ THE WORK lenge younger colleagues, when they ask for help in translating a term, to It is impossible to encapsulate in first define the concept behind the I one or two paragraphs the fifteen-year term. The definition invariably yields renter and the borrower. We eventual­ experience of writing and editing the the translation. And so, after consult­ ly decided upon "custodian," for the Schottenstein Talmud. So multidimen- ing a major rosh yeshiva regarding the strongest sense of that word is some­ sional was the work, so multifarious nature of hezeik re'iya, we came up one charged with a duty of care - the challenges, that no day was like with "visual trespass" for a transla­ which is the common aspect of the I any other. Nevertheless, the underly­ tion. The word "visual" derives nicely four shomrim. ing sense of it was that of standing at from re'iya, and "trespass" - while Sometimes, preparation for writing Ravina's and Rav Ashi's ground zero, not a faithful translation of hezeik - a chapter took the author, editor or I for every word of the Gemora had to accomplishes the goal of specificity Reader far afield. When working on be precisely understood (active or pas­ and, thus, enlightenment. the subject of Kiddush Hachodesh sive verb? it could affect peshat), and The third chapter of (Sanctification of the New Month), precisely rendered (find an overarch­ discusses the four shornrim. These Rabbi Goldwurm had occasion to ing word that can bear Rashi's two are four types of people that have consult with NASA's chief astronomer interpretations). And this I learned , become liable, in varying degrees, for at Cape Canaveral. A sugya in Eilu the hard way, about Rashi's commen­ damage incurred while protecting Tereifos (how to determine if a found tary: If you cannot account for every another person's property. The diffi­ culty here was finding one translation GEFEN •~ of the term shomeir that fit all four types (paid and unpaid watchmen, FINtH'k

-·------·-··-·-·-··-·-··------·------~··~-- F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 5

single word of it, then possibly you do attention to Rashi, there would have fund the work. Considerable private not fully comprehend it. 1 remember been no difficulty. support was a prerequisite to success. once preparing a sugya and encounter­ Very early in the project, Jerome ing a one-word Rashi comment. Schottenstein of Columbus, Ohio dedi­ "Obvious," I thought to myself, and SPONSORSHIP cated the two volumes of Eiruvin, and continued learning. The next day, then undertook the dedication of the while translating the give-and-take of Obviously, this project could not be entire Edition. That, plus generous that Gemora, I suddenly hit a brick produced by a lonely writer sitting at dedicators of individual volumes, wall - a serious difficulty that did not his keyboard and pecking out transla­ made it possible for the work to con­ allow me to proceed. I thought long tions. A team of this size and an tinue. After Mr. Schottenstein's pass­ and hard before - thankfully - arriv­ undertaking of this magnitude require ing, his family continued his ing at a solution. And then I remem­ considerable financial backing. It commitment. bered the one-word Rashi. Stunning! It should be equally obvious that book­ Later, Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein was that very solution! Had I paid store sales could never be enough to dedicated the Hebrew Edition of the Schottenstein Talmud, which has been highly praised by Rabbi and Rabbi Chaim Kanievski r.··v"'1!>, among many others. They are also dedicating the newly inaugurated Schottenstein Edition of Talmud Yerushalmi.

This sefer "Chazarat Hashas" is unique. It will be of great help to the scholars, Yeshiva and Daf Hayomi students. FINAL THOUGHTS

What benefits can one derive from it? In the world of publishing, produc­ ing a seventy-three-volume scholarly Magid shi'ur: All minute details for the lesson are prepared for you. vJork is aln1ost unheard of. Producing Yeshiva students: Your bki'us seder n1ade easy, and fruitful. Guaranteed! Now you can such a work in only fifteen years, and prepare a sbi'ur based on Ran1ba1n, Ra'vad, Shulchan Aruch and Me'iri. within the tiine frame originally pro­ Talmidey Daf Hayomi jected for it, is unin1agined! The suc­ cess of our venture has rnany fathers, Before the Shi'ur: Preview the daf ahead of time. Knowing \vhat it is all about too numerous to acknowledge here, beforehand, will help you to concentrate and understand the Ge1nara fully. It will also but ultimately it was the Will of our enabk you to participate in class discussions. Heavenly Father that an English After the shiur: Review intensively the psak halac!ia relevant to the daf Talmud be that caused it to be. I once Test Yourself: Find out how \vell you have revie\ved the daf You will note that the first heard the Novominsker Rebbe shlita lines of each !ialacha are highlighted, while the balance is not. This \vill help you test give a rernarkable survey of Jewish his­ yourself by looking at the highlighted lines, and thereafter see whether you kno\v the rest. tory (at an "ArtScroll sheva beraclws," Your Chavrusa: \Vhen you test yourself - as indicated above - you serve as your own no less). His main point was that the chavrusa, you ask the questions and you answer them. enterprises and developments that Mastering the daf: Now you will have the ability to have the Ran1ba1n, Shulchan Aruch, occur in each generation are not hap­ the Me'iri on the tip of your fingers. hazard; rather, Hashern desires them for that generation. I think in our gen­ Seder Zra'im, , Noshim and Nezikin covering 28 gemoros, have been printed by eration there was a niche set aside for 110\V. Each set is in two volumes, and cost only $35.00. a Schottenstein Talmud, and I have Seder Nezikin already printed and is on its way from Israel. It will be available in book tried to describe it in this article. I call stores in mid January '05. it "sophisticated peshat," and it fills the Seder Kodshim, Taharos will be printed in two volu1nes shortly IM"YH. void that existed between Daf Yomi This \Viii co1nplete the whole Shas in eight volumes and 39 niassechtos. learning and traditional in-depth analy­ sis. Indeed, our Talmud has enriched Seforim may be ordered directly from the Mechaber at: the former and provided a springboard (718) 544-6544, or from the following distributors: for the latter. May Hashem establish In NewYor.ki HAMOER (718) 437-0054, Fax: (718) 437-3514 our handiwork for us; In Israel: HAMASURA (02) 535-6413 may He establish.

34 GROWING WITH OAF YOMI, ONE DAY AT A TIME

r=I DR. JosHUA GRoss I

l I l I Dal Yomi - Transforming the I l Individual and His Communitv I I earning Gemara has always lively, and - as I had expected - I found I to be a source of true comfort. ' been an important part of my new vistas in learning, expanding my I My medical practice can keep me in ' I L life - especially since my years yedios (factual knowledge) and sharpen­ J my office into the evening, sometimes ) in the beis midrash of Yeshivas ing my skills. I also experienced an J forcing me to miss the nightly shiur. I Rabbeinu Yitzchok Elchonon. The enrichment in totally different dimen­ Learning and reviewing the daily daf has I I stress was always on lomdus and sions. The entire group of attendees of I equipped me with the knowledge and I havana - an analytic;il approach - and the shi11r hecame bmldies. As time went I skills to complete the rlaf on my own on I from that vantage point, we tended to on, the special sense of camaraderie also J these and similar occasions. Of course, I look askance at Daf Yomi. At that pace, brought me closer to my brothers, my I the English ArtScroll Gemara not only I how does one find time to ponder the brothers-in-law, and my father, i1"l' (who I helps or confirms my independent learn- f. I depths behind the simple translation of lived in Cleveland) - all of whom were / ing, its notes refer me to mefarshirn that 'I the text? So, I was committed to learn­ "doing the daf." When flying. the fellow enrich my understanding of the issue. I ing slowly, focusing on the lines of across the aisle had a traveling Gemara j When ArtScroll was not available, I used , I Gemara before me, with their commen­ open on his tray, and we soon were trad­ I the remarkable Chavrusa Gemaras. I I taries, and - through medical school, ing notes on what our respective mag­ I Similarly, when traveling - especially 1 internship, and residency - I struggled gidei shiur spoke out, referring one J during my family's year in Israel, when 1 r to maintain my sedarim faithfully. another to a Tosafos or Pnei Yehoshua I commuted daily to - I com- 1· I After I moved to Monsey, and later not to be missed. My family's schedule JI pleted the daf on my own, with the help joined another frum radiologist in his always revolves around the daf fn addi­ I of these explanatory texts. As an extra 1 practice there, I had to restructure my tion we always seem to manage to . challenge, I am at times asked by Rabbi 1 learning. A friend suggested that I join schedule a shiur at weddings and even Rokowsky to substitute for him when he j him as part of a group attending a daily radiology conferences. )I must be elsewhere. That, of course, calls I I shiur on the daf given by Rabbi Yisroel Interesting insights often emerged for even more preparation and involves Ii Rokowsky, Rosh Hayeshiva of Ohr with the daf, shedding light on current I much gratifying interaction. Somayach in Monsey. He promised me events or on that week's Sedra. For This will i1'"'N be the third Siyum I that I would not be disappointed. Much example, when my son Nosson Meir rr·v HaShas that I will be attending, although I to my surprise, he was right. Yes, he was taken from us in a tragic school bus I will not be celebrating my personal managed to complete the daf within the accident on S Sivan, 5748 (1988), one of third siyum until we reach Kesubos. I ,Ill hour's expanse, but he also managed to the menachamim (visitors during the had joined Rabbi Rokowsky's shiur with pepper the discussion with lomdeshe week of mourning) cited the daf of that that masechta. insights, with references to mefarshim day, wbich describes Hashem's schedule Thanks to the daf, my horizons are / that expound on specific topics that he of activities: during the fourth hour, He being broadened - in Torah knowledge, touched upon. The discussions were teaches Torah to young children who in learning skills, and in the sense of I I) DR. GROSS. A RADIOLOGIST, LIVES IN died before their time (Auoda Zora, 3b, who I am, as an individual and in m! j see Rashi d.h. Gemulei chalav). It proved community of association. ~·

:15 L"~~N~---· ·----·------·· ··· ·~ ·------·----· GROWING WITH DAF YOMI, ONE DAY AT A TIME

I ADAM MELZER I

From September 11•h To the Dal Yomi All of us aboard the ferry stopped of a plane flying very low over the A DAY LIKE No OTHER what we were doing and, for a few water. There was no question in my surreal moments, simply stared at mind as to where this plane was head­ When asked to recall the early hours the gaping hole in the building. ed, and l looked over my shoulder in of September 11, 2001, most people Then, almost as if we were coming time to see it slam into the South will doubtless remember just how out of a trance, we started pulling Tower. The sound was deafening. warm and beautiful a day it was, the out our cell phones and calling Panicked, I headed for my office again, kind of day on which it's almost friends, family members, colleagues making my way around what I per­ impossible to imagine anything bad - anyone we thought might give us ceived to be the danger zone. As 1 hur­ happening. information about the unfolding ried along, chunks of the building and But then again, what would happen catastrophe. No one seemed to know the plane kept falling all around me. on that day was beyond imagining exactly what was going on; a plane When l reached my office building, under any circumstances. had crashed into the tower, more I was told that everyone had been l was sitting on the sun-drenched than likely by accident. evacuated, and that pedestrians had upper deck of the World Financial l disembarked from the ferry and been instructed to walk towards the Center-bound ferry working on plans stopped at the plaza of the South East River. It was then that l made the for an upcoming Jewish music concert Tower to watch in horror as people decision that nearly cost me my life. when l was jolted by the sound of an jumped from windows more than 100 Why, I reasoned, should l proceed east airplane slamming into the North stories above the ground. The police when the way back to and Tower of the World Trade Center. tried to disperse the crowd that had my home is west, towards the Hudson begun to assemble on the plaza, but River? ADAM MELZER IS AN ATTORNEY AT THE they seemed as confused as everyone I began walking west. LAW f<"IRM MELZER & SULLIVAN· Abruptly, the ground began to BISCEGILA, LLC. HE ALSO WORKS IN THE else about what to do and where to JEWISH MUSIC WOHLD, WITH THE go. I decided to walk around the car­ shake. I looked back at the South NEGINAH ORCHESTRA, AND IS A STAFF nage to my office, which was located Tower and saw the building wobble. MEMBER OF THE RADIO PROGRAM, JM IN across from the South Tower. 'Tm finished," I thought, a sick feeling THE AM, THIS IS HIS FIRST APPEAHANCE Suddenly, l heard a noise coming at the pit of my stomach. IN THESE PAGES. from behind - the unmistakable sound All around me, people were scream-

36 THE JEWISH OBSERVER

ing and, quite literally, running for We had been learning for about 20 Instead, I focus on the decision that their lives. I joined the mob, trying minutes when we heard another loud has changed my life as a husband, as a hard not to see, as I ran, the people rumble. The whole room began to father, as a Jew. Not only has learning who had fallen to the ground and were shake. Torah every day been its own reward, it being buried by the wreckage. I was The North Tower had fallen as well. has deepened my understanding of rounding a corner when a large chunk Panic and fear began to set in as the what I am supposed to accomplish in of debris smashed into a man on my room filled with more people, some of this world. Easier said than done, r right, killing him instantly. them severely injured. About an hour often say to myself, but just under­ Again I looked over my shoulder, later, firemen evacuated us from the standing ts crucial. this time to see a 30-foot high wave of building. I will never forget the dazed Like every 9/11 survivor, I suppose, debris coming right at me. looks on their faces as they led us back I think about that day every day. What Inexplicably, I stopped running and out into a world we all knew would separates me from most, however, is turned to face my fate. At that moment, never be the same. that I usually think about 9/11 at the two thoughts came to mind: that the same time every day - right when I decision l had made to head west open my Gemard. meant that I would never meet my REFLECTIONS ON THE unborn second child, and that the time WAY HOME had come to say Shema Yisroel. EPILOGUE Then, without warning, someone Hours later, after undergoing a grabbed the back of my collar and decontamination process, I finally Mark Rosenberg, a friend who yanked me into a building. I turned boarded a train home. Looking out the learned together with me in Yeshiva! and saw the tear-streaked face of a fire­ window, back at the smoke rising from Ohr Yerushalayim in Israel, perished in man. "Get downstairs!" he shouted at where the mighty Turin Towers had the September 11 attack on the World me and another man he'd pulled in once stood, I reflected on how differ­ 1tade Center. Mark was a gem of a per­ along with me. As he headed for the ently this day could have ended, how son who was truly loved by everyone door, he called, "My brothers are still close r had come to dying, to missing who knew him. Those of us who stud­ out there." A moment later, he was bar and weddings... j ied with him in Israel for the year have gone. And then I thought about those 1 gotten together to dedicate a shiur astonishing twenty minutes of learning I room in his memory. right near the site of the disaster. A This effort was undertaken about a AN EXTRAORDJNARY Gemara I had learned as a kid came to j year ago. I recently received an e-mail CHAVRUSA mind: After departing this world, a per­ informing me of the date of the dedica­ son will stand before the Creator. Who J tion ceremony. As Hashgacha would Coughing and trembling uncontrol­ will ask him how he spent his time on have it, I am planning to be in Israel for lably, I raced down the stairs. A earth. One of those questions will be, I a family wedding at that time, and the Chassidishe fellow brought me a cup of "Did you set aside time each day to ceremony is scheduled for the last day water and - a mirror. I could hardly learn Torah?" of my trip. G-d willing, I am going to be recognize myself; I was completely The answer is no, I thought to a part of the dedication ceremony. white from head to toe. Then the man myself in great distress. I don't, My role? took another look at me. haven't, and never did. I learned when To make a siyum on Seder "Wow, you're still holding your r was "in the mood." I Kadashim, of course. !Iil Gemara," he said in an amazed tone. I spent the rest of the trip consider­ "No wonder Hashem saved you." ing how small a role Torah learning CHEVRA OSEH CHESED I looked down to see that I was had played in my life and how I could I OF AGUDATH ISRAEL indeed clutching, along with my work ensure that another day would not go briefcase, my Gemara Taanis. While I by without it. BURIAi: PLOTS was only an occasional learner who The answer didn't hit me until I got would pick up a sefer for a spell every home. IN EREt~ YISROEL couple of months, this was an "on­ Daf Yomi. Interment ig;!~ Sft<>m.er Shabbos again" period, and I had brought the With a great sense of urgency, I got Beis Olani!h ,, ~ Shemesh Gemara to work with me so r could on the phone and found out exactly I Jtiteto: learn during my free time. where the Daf was "holding." Agudath Israel Then, incredibly, the man suggested Now, nearly three and a half years '.f;. NY 10004 we sit down and learn as a way of later, I try not to think about the bad -9000 thanking Hashem for saving our lives. decision that almost cost me my life.

37 I FEBRUARY 2 0 0 5 Several years ago, Reb Sender (sacrificing time and dedicating he discovered not only surprised him, Do/gin was struggling to maintain a effort) to learn daily - yet he felt like but upset him as well. There were daily learning schedule, but was he was failing. He tried cbavrusos, hundreds, if not thousands, of people experiencing frustration with the fact sbiurim and Daf Yomi, but often did walking around with the very same that he often could not remember not retain what he had learned. What problem! While Reb Sender felt better what he had learned the previous was he doing wrong? that he was not alone in his difficul­ day. He was being moseir nelesb He began seeking advice, and what ties, he did not have the answer.

AVROHOM JAFFE Shas, Anvone? A STRUCTURED PROGRAM OF REVIEW AND RETENTION

STRIVING TOWARD A GOAL them!" But one need not be a genius to adds a new understanding into what remember one's learning. All it takes is was learned the previous time. What s with every successful the desire to do it and a practical one does not understand today, he will endeavor, Torah study method to make it happen. This led to understand tomorrow. Or next week. A requires a clear goal and the creation of the "Shas Chabura" - a Or next n1onth - or even next year. strategy. Like any project, the outcome comprehensive learning and chmara There are two reasons why the next is directly related to the planning that program designed to allow anyone review may bring one success: one, he goes into it. Whether one has the entire with even average mental capacity and is seeing the sugya again, and two, by day available for Torah study, or a lim­ an ordinary memory to succeed in his the time he reviews that Gemara again, ited time slot, it can work, as long as learning. he will have seen many more blatt in the goal matches the time available. the masechta - allowing him to look at A common remark is, "I'm no this Gemara from a greater perspective. genius. I can't set my goal at finishing THE THEORY masechtos - let alone remembering THE FRUITS OF REGULAR AVROHOM JAFFE OF LAKEWOOD, NJ 15 A REVIEW GRADUATE OF AND OF BETH MEDRASH GOVOHA. HE SPENT SEV· Gedolim over the ages have extolled ERAL YEARS IN CHINUCH AND KlRUV BEFORE JOINING THE BUSINESS WOHLD the virtues of chazara, often referring ELEVEN YEARS AGO. HE HAS BEEN UTILIZ­ to it as the very essence of Torah learn~ ING THIS UNIQUE METHOD OF LEARNING ing: "Eino domeh shoneh pirko mei'a AND CHAZARA FOR OVER FIVE YEARS pe'amim leshoneh rnei'a ve'echad - WITH APPRECIABLE SUCCESS. FOR A PER· One cannot compare the study of a SONALIZED COPY OF THIS UNIQUE PRO· topic a hundred times to studying it GHAM OH IF YOU WOUl,D LIKE MORE one hundred and one times." With INFORMATION, PLEASE SEND YOUR REQ\JEST. ALONG WITH YOUR PHONE NUMBEH IN A SELF·ADDRF.SSED ENVE· LOPE TO SHAS CHABUHA. P.O. Box 380. LAKEWOOD, NJ 08701, OR CALL THf; OFFICE AT (732) 730·9496.

38 THE JEWISll OBSERVER

who sows a beautiful vineyard, but Mordechai writes in his introduction Gemara firmly in his long-term memo­ does not bother to collect its fruit to Seder Nezikkin that ideally one ry. Afterwards, the Gemara should be (Sanhedrin 99a). should divide his time between learn­ reviewed once a year. In summary, • Rashi translates the term "talmid ing be'iyun (in depth) and bekius - each Gemara is learned on day 1, day chacham" as "one who familiarizes learning and chazering entire masech­ 2, day 9, day 39, day 129 and then himself with his learning by reviewing tos with Gemara and Rashi (and once a year on day 365. It may sound it constantly" (Berachos Sa). Tosafos, when necessary for peshat). overwhelming at first, but a written • The Maharsha says that forgetting By using a significant part of his time program is created for each individual one's learning is a main excuse for "bit­ for chazara, one is following a system - and it becomes easy to follow after a tul'' (giving up on learning), because a bit of time. After all, when a Gemara is person will say, "Why bother to learn if chazzered six times over the course of I will only forget!" (Temura 16b) This the first year, how can one fo rget it? may be the reason why the Mishnah in Even young children have found Avos (3:8) says that one who forgets this system very effective in helping something from his learning is consid­ them learn and remember Mishnayos. ered liable for death penalty because If an 11-year-old boy starts learning he did not consider Torah, which is his two Mishnayos a day utilizing this sys­ "life," important enough to review. tem, he will complete the entire • Chazal also say: "If one forgets Sedarim of Nashim and Nezikin four something from his learning, he trans­ times for his Bar Mitzvah. Not only gresses as many as three lauin (nega­ will this help his personal growth, it tive commands)" (Menachos 99b). will provide him with a phenomenal Chazal, however, anticipated a com­ background for his learning of those mon problem. The Gemara says: masechtos when he learns them in "Migmar be' atikta kashe meichadta - yeshiva. Review of old [learning] is more diffi­ As mentioned, many people using cult than new [learning]" ( 29a). this program have testified that each Rashi explains this to mean that if one chazara not only reviews, but actually has learned Torah and has forsaken it, that will place his learning within his deepens their original understanding of it will be harder for him to retrieve this long-term memory, without sacrificing the Gemara, culminating in a compre­ learning than to study what he has his pursuit of havana (comprehen­ hensive knowledge of the entire never learned. The reason for this is sion) in the least. masechta. The joy and simchas that the excitement of tackling some­ And so this remarkable system of haTorah that this brings is something thing new often motivates a person to commence studying, but reviewing what was studied yesterday just does not seem as exciting. • If each chazara brings a new and IF EACH CHAZARA BRINGS A NEW AND DEEPER deeper understanding, however, then UNDERSTANDING, THEN REVIEWING THE OLD reviewing the old Gemara is not old GEMARA IS NOT OLD LEARNING - IT IS NEW I learning - it is new and exciting. Rashi AND EXCITING. I teaches us that chazara is not a per­ functory activity, but "chazor aleha u'bedok be'umkam," review it and examine its depth. there is a new depth and appreciation with each review learnin~ evolved. Each day brings a that cannot be described - il must be (Kidushin 30a). new al7lud or blatt (depending upon experienced. available time), along with a regular system of chazara. After a Gemara is

THE WAY IT WORKS learned once, it should be reviewed the .T.~E. R. ~;~u. I. -~·~ ...... _ . . . . [ · · · · · · · · · · · · · • · · · · · · · · · · · following day. A week later it should Of course, one mustn't allow chazara be reviewed for the second time. A Many have been utilizing this unique I to consume all of his allotted study month later, the third review should program for the last few years, with time, and new material must be take place. Three months later, one will remarkable results. The originator of I L~ on ~ da:y bas;s The Levush

Another fellow, who recently opened a new business and had to put in very long days at the office, has taught himself to budget his time to create available slots that had not IN THE VIEW OF GEDOLIM existed before. For instance, instead of driving to meetings, he now uti­ lizes public transportation to create a Rabbi Yosef s. Elyashiv i-t"1"?\?>: (totally neglected). Hashem should couple of extra hours to learn. He "For this, one doesn't need my grant you hatzlacha with your pro­ commented: "If l would not be using haskama - itis a MUST for everyone gram to be mezakeh the rabbim." this program, l would probably have to do it." Tuldos Aharon Rebbe N"1''7l!I: gone through the last few years with­ out learning a word." He was once Rabbi 1't''P"W: "Words alone cannot express how seen in the waiting room in an area "There is a chiyuv (obligation) for good this is .. I myself have begun hospital at two o ·clock in the morn­ each and every person to learn and using it, and I have included it in my ing. What was he doing? Why, learn­ KNOW .all of Shas, as it says in the yeshiva's sedarim." ing of course! A kollel yungerman, after several passuk - Vedibarta BaM. B = Novominsker Rebbe N"1"?\?>: ''All years in yeshiva, felt that the time BereL: the time to do this himself, he time in the chabura, this yungerman "This is a great thing; please send should act as a Zevulun to assist has developed a new cheishek me the details of the program." some one who does." (enthusiasm] for learning, and has Rabbi Nosson Zvi Finkel i-t"1"?\?>: Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky committed himself to learning at least 1,000 blatt before leaving kol­ "The chabura in the Mir that utilizes i-t"1"7l!I: "Vasher koach for developing lel. He is now learning in the beis this method gives me much nachas. this system of chazara - lehagdil midrash day and night. In the past three years, they have Torah u'lehadira (to advance 1brah lnterestingly enough, the most enthusiastic proponents of this sys­ learned and chazzered over 1000 study and glorify it)!" tem are the wives. Recently, a kollel blatt using this system in Seder Rabbi Yosef Zeinvert 1'l"1'>?w: yungerman who was in this learning­ Sheini alone." "The question that the Chofetz and-chazara chabura was offered an Gerrer Rebbe i-t"t»'n>: "In the Chaim asked of Rabbi Meir Shapiro, opportunity to join a prestigious out­ of-town kollel. While this was an past, learning all of Shas was a goal I ask of you - What is your zechus exciting offer, his new commit1nents that one strived for. In our day, it has that you were zocheh to create this would not allow him to continue with unfortunately become a meis mitzva derech of harbatzas Torah?" the program. As soon as his wife heard about the offer, she vetoed the idea, saying she was so happy with ------·------her "new" husband, and wanted him preparing to make his third siyum on A friend told him about this program. to continue with the program. all of Shas. Years of diligent study, Though he did not have the time to along with numerous chazaros, have learn a full blatt of Gemara along with culminated in his learning every single chazara each day, he began learning WHY NOT You? blatt in Shas at least five, and as many an amud a day. After a few weeks, he as twelve times. And, with Hashern's commented to his friend, "You can't he Gemara says that "Hatorah help, he hopes to complete Shas every believe the difference this has made in krucha umunachas bekerren year on his father's yahrtzeit. my entire household. l look forward to T zavis; kol lwrotzeh lilmod, yavo A young man who had been attend­ my daily learning, my wife is very ve'yilmod - The Torah was put in a ing a Daf Yomi shiur found that he was proud of me, and I've even heard my safe corner; anyone who wants to, having trouble concentrating and stay­ young son say 'Don't bother Tatty may come and partake of it" ing focused on what was being taught. now, he has to learn.'" (Kidushin 66b). Success in learning is 40 ------T!iE JEWISH OBSERVER

not reserved for the brilliant. It is available for anyone and everyone. In Mishnas Rav Aharon (Vol. 3, pp. 25- 26,) Rabbi ';i"~r. quot· ing Nefesh Hachayim, writes that Personal rt:Sponsibility throughout service - NOT JUSf "PAPERWORK" after 120 years, all Jews will be tested ORIGINATOR OF THE PRESENT RABBINICALLY APPROVED METHOD on all of Shas. Not only talmidei Highly recommended by Gedolai Hador- Here and in Eret7. \'Israel chachamim - but each and every one 104.J-42ntl Street, Brooklyn, NJ' 11219 of us - must face this test. • A businessman who has been Day & N'.ght phone: (718) 851-8925 learning with this system for almost }Vt"ON1!)r.>Np Vl"j7 - 7'1J 1Nl rm:l~:V 'll!I five years and has already made a Kavod Haniftar with Mesiras Nefesh and compassion for the bereaved family. siyum on two sedarim of Shas, recent­ TAHARAS ffANIFTAR SHOULD NEVER BE COlllMF.RCIAUZED ly commented, "Before I started this system, I never dreamed that I could be a Shas Yid. Now, f don't think that 1 KARKA 1" BIIBTZ YISROEL I would forgive myself if I'm not!" Call Rabbi Gavriel Beer for information • At the recent gathering celebrat- I on obtaining cemetery plots in Beth Shemesh and other locations in Israel. ing the siyum of a masechta by a / group of kollel yungeleit, one of the I speakers mentioned the following I story: Rabbi I said that during his days in Volozhin, there were three groups of talmidim. Those who spent their entire day f learning be'iyun; those who spent the I Yo11r # 1 Stop entire day learning bekius, quickly; I for and a third group who spent half of Quality Hats their day on iyun and half on bekius. (718) 972-4003 "The talmidei chachamim," said WE ALSO DRY CLEAN LAllGESf SELECTION I & RESHAPE HATS OF CHDSONIM TIES IN Rabbi Isser Zalman, "came from the (All war~ done an premisesI BROOKLYN :-1-.,.,N. .,b:)tv third group!" j 1368 Coney Island Avenue • When Rabbi / (7 .. 8) 377-5050 was in high school, he covered his Major credit cards accepted • We ship UPS Specializing in small batim for a perfect fit. wall with pictures of gedolim. In the center of all of the pictures was an empty space with a small handwritten I note that read "WHY NOT YOU!" Of FROM- course, few of us will grow to Rabbi Gifter's level, but shouldn't we strive *US$ to fulfill the potential that we have? 15 .90 Even if one is zocheh to spend his entire day learning Torah in yeshiva, it PER DAY is of utmost importance not to forget that there is a vast Shas that must be FIAT PUNTO 3 DR mastered by each and every one of us. OPEL CORSA Now that you know that this learn­ HYUNDAI GETZ 1.3 ing and chazara program has been TOYOTA COROLLA tried and tested, and you know that MAZDA6 thousands around the globe, many MAZDA MPV B.M.W520 with only average abilities, are walk­ U.S.A ing around happy and fulfilled as they Tel: 1..S00-938-5000 move along on their way to becoming 718-998-5500 Shas Yidden, there is really only one www.eldan.co.il question - WHY NOT YOU? ES

41 GROWING WITH OAF YOMI, ONE DAY AT A TIME

YJTZCHOK MEIR KLAHR

DalYomi, Without Missing Anv local Stops

Transit, where I serve .as y goal had always been to Central Timekeeping Operations' for;4 .. "keep up with the shiur" large subdivision. It is a position. th~f. M in yeshiva: "Men darf mit· requires my being available to deal with halten mitt'n shiur," my Rebbi, Rabbi any type of fiscal irregularity or coJT'~;. Dovid Lifschitz (Suvalker Rav), used to puter dysfunction while disbursing. t~e;;: r insist. That involved preparation, tis· paycheck for 15,000 employees, This."§. ··;. tening attentively, and chazara - payroll approaches one billion dollar5,,o:]; ;; reviewing with my .chaurusa or, if need The only exception to constant avant•; be, alone. ability is an occasional emergency (to;'{ Once I started Daf Yomi, this took he documented and explained as it aici~_,.;, on a different scope. I began with the es), and the required hour lunch break;'( · Daf Yomi at the Telzer Beis Midrash in Attending the Court Street shiur wonl<'LS Boro Park, where the shiur is given by create an hour-and-fifteen·minliii;•; Rabbi Yaakov Horowitz N""""'1. Even lapse, and, as a regular occµrren~ef though I have since moved to a differ· could not qualify as an emergenc~~ ent neighborhood, I catch the S a.m. When. negotiating my managerial p¢~7·j bus to arrive early and prepare for this formance audit, I characterized mjssil)g";;~ iS. 6 a.m. shiur because I find the clarity any part of the full shiur as ,a ''haf

42 GROWING WITH DAF YOMI, ONE DAY AT A TIME

If You Toil ...

very Siyum HaShas represents I , his late start compound­ for him didn't seem to work for me. It a tremendous accomplishment. ) ed the difficulties) confirmed his fears was disappointing, of course; but then I realized that the path to success in E The discipline and dedication it IJ that the doors of Jewish study would takes to complete all the tractates of be forever closed to him. learning would not just be tefilla, but Talmud Bavli is worthy of everyone's That is why, twelve years later, his hard work, as well." respect and admiration. But when a I Siyum HaShas was such an extraordi­ That is the path in which his former talrnid of mine, Eliyahu Sneh, l I nary accomplishment. Some called it a rebbeim led him. "I took away his made his Siymn HaShas, the simcha I neis; it seemed that nothing short of a excuses," said Rabbi Shabsai Black, was multiplied threefold. For not only I miracle could explain what he had 1..r·v~·n~> of Yeshivas Ohr Yaakov in was it a Siyum HaShas, and by my for- I done. But as I listened to Eliyahu tell it, Zichron Yaakov. "The doctors had mer talmid, it was also someone that I the explanation seemed otherwise. paskened that he was 'learning-dis­ nobody ever thought would be able to "Once, I read the story of Rabbi abled.' I told him that while it's true he

complete even one masechta, let alone )j Moshe Feinstein's rebbi, Rabbi Pesach was faced with formidable obstacles, all of them. Pruskin. As the story goes, he was so they were not insurmountable." From childhood, Eliyahu suffered I dense, he couldn't understand any­ from a form of dyslexia; some letters j thing, hopeless. But he had a deep on the page were transposed to his eye. desire to learn, so he davened to A LESSON FROM THE SNEH In addition, he could not seem to prop­ Hashem, pleading for siyata erly reproduce the sounds he heard. deShemaya. And his prayers were At the siyum, Rabbi Black explained Although he was intelligent and able to answered. Suddenly, he was able to his approach by way of the famous dia· understand what was explained to understand, and he went on to become logue between Hashem and Moshe him, the words on the page remained a a great talmid chacham. So I did the Rabbeinu at the Burning Bush. Lo meaningless jumble. He had once been same. Daveried to Hashem to help me. ya'aminu bi, they won't believe me, diagnosed as "learning-disabled," and And overnight - nothing. What worked Moshe protested. How could the

his initial experience in yeshiva (as a l By request, I have not used his real name. Jewish people believe that their long­ I should also point out that my contribu­ awaited deliverer would come in the RABBI RUTMAN TEACHES GEMARA TO tion to his development was a modest BEGINNERS IN YESHIVAS OHR YAAlheirlm LT""'" ON JO. D.oc. "'· I 43 FEBRUARY 2 0 0 5

lokeh, one who unjustly suspects the behavior of upright Jews is afflicted. Just one!fear at. .. Yet, Hashem then supplied Moshe with miraculous signs to prove that .•. .,,.!! ttTnn "PP' .ftt.3 il'OO Hashem did indeed send him! That ~"ff; Hashem saw a need for such signs implies that He knew that the people ·si=; j THE NEW BAIS YMKOV SEMINARY would have a hard time accepting their new leader, just as Moshe had said . ... ope.ns tlie dOor to a l!fetim.e efposswilities! Why, then, was Moshe punished with tzaraas? Our students have been accepted Adelphi U. has established In the answer lies a crucial lesson academic scholarships in to the finest graduate schools! addition to Financial Aid for anyone who would aspire to be a !!C Speech Pathology !!C PT I OT PELL, TAP, ETC. leader or educator. If Moshe had felt !C Education !C Social Work SEMINARY SCHOLARSHIPS confidence in the people that they I!C Special Education !C Business IAVAILABLE would believe in him, then they would have done so. His feelings would have REBBETZIN SORA F. BULKA, n~:nn:o RABBI YESHAVA LEVY, ':11130 ll'C' MRS.GITTIE NEUFELD, ASST.PRINCIPAL been communicated to them, inspiring 2600 OCEAN AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NY 11229 !IC. 718.769.8160 M< FAX: 718.769.8640 and enabling them to rise above doubt. When Moshe revealed that he pos­ sessed no such confidence, however, it was clear that he would need powerful signs to convince them. The same is true of a teacher. If he has confidence in the ability of his stu­ dent, then the student can believe in his own potential; if not, the path to success is much harder. "When Eliyahu came to me with his problems, what was I to say? 'You can't do it. Give up and learn a trade"? No. I told him he could succeed, in spite of his problems. And he did."

PRESCRIPTION: AMEILUS You can! Just: call The Yitti Leibel The rash yeshiva's prescription was Helpline. ameilus. Reading exercises of short HOURS: passages of Gemara for about half an Monday-Friday ...... 8an1 -12pm hour a day became the routine. They Monday-Thursday ...... 8p1n -l lpn1 consisted of simple repetition, not for Sunday ...... 9a1n -12pn1, 9pm -1 l pin comprehension, but just to absorb the • 718-HELP-NOW sound and appearance of the words on ·~\~ (718) 435-7669 the page. Eliyahu estimates that over [ ...... (800) HELP-023 the course of seven years, he devoted 1 Lakewood ...... (732) 363-1010 some 2,200 hours to these drills. I Cleveland ...... (888) 209-8079 The person who said it took him a Baltimoce ...... (410) 578-1111 year and a half to learn to pronounce 1· Detrnit...... (877) 435-7611 misya'eish, didn't give up. Did he ever San Diego ...... (866) 385-0348 Tornnto ...... (416) 784-1271 feel like giving up? "Yes," he admitted, [ The Rebbetzin Phyllis Weinberg Branch of the Vitti Leibel Helpl;ne "all the time." I-ie recounted an inci- I t'l"l-' ol_,i•n7•11 i11J :.~ml'.' "'! n:i t-t'Pn "''n !ll:ll'.'l )1 i'7 1'1"'.r-!•n ,,,N K' :-nL'Dll dent that occurred shortly after he was ;ii' ]1~"1J 1n '1't'O "1 ]J ;i '~'\'." "1 1'1 ~'!'1 ]1'0 :J ~DOJ) married. Eliyahu was assigned to tutor Dedicated by Mr & Mrs Shmuel Boruch Wilhelm one of the new arrivals in the yeshiva, \ 44 --·~---·-~-·----__J ----~ ----·------

a beginner. He sat down with him over remain. He still mispronounces words, such obstacles, suggesting that they a Rashba, but found himself unable to and has to compensate for the incorrect too can overcome their own obstacles. translate or explain a single word. His way that letters appear to his eye. It Chazal say: " 'Yagata umatzasa,' senior status as an avreich meant noth­ poses a problem for chavrusos, too. who ta'amin, 'Yagata vela matzasa,' al ing. That night, he said, he cried him­ must adapt to his idiosyncratic style. ta 'amin." If someone claims to have seli to sleep. But there is a benefit in these linger­ toiled in 'Ibrah and found success, "But my wife and my rabbe'im were ing imperfections. They lend credibility believe him. If he claims to have toiled very supportive." Mrs. Sn eh recalls that to his tale of success through extraordi­ and not found success. don't believe she w.=is aw.=ire of her hnsb'7v his rebbi for many years, also provided him with an emotional safety net. "He was always there to catch me, so l never fell too far or too hard," said Eliyahu.

A PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION

Low self-esteem is often part of the fallout from being "learning-disabled," and Eliyahu fell victim to it. "! covered up, but I always felt sad inside. I was always feeling sorry for myself, making self-disparaging remarks was part of it. I was jealous of others, of everybody." He saw a world of haves and have­ nots, and Ile was the have-not. "I was jealous of a fly because it had more wings than me." Someone once told the Kotzker Rebbe that he had gone through Shas. The Kotzker responded: "You have gone through Shas, but has Shas gone through you?" In Eliyahu's case, the journey through Shas has indeed wrought a personal transformation. He tells of how he used to commiserate with a friend who also suffered from lack of self-esteem. "We would say how we're both losers, you know? But a few months ago, when he came by and started in with the 'we're losers· stuff, I told him, 'Uh-uh, not me. Not

of his verbal difficulties I FEBRUARY 2 0 0 5 EDITORIAL OMISSIONS

REFLECTIONS ON KEVOD SHAMAYIM

In the article, "Reflections on Kevod Shamayim: Travels with Rabbi Aaron Leib Steinman," by Shiomo Gottesman (Jan. 'OS), the following appeared (page 13): ... When Rabbi Steinman arrived home in Bnei Brak from the exhausting journey, the first thing he did before turning to weighty kla1 issues was endeavor to improve shnlom bayis. He cor­ rectly surmised that the extended nivi c,,r;,,; DM'l:i iK trr?»:iw nit)ii:i. iunt C'llV'ln i:rcv ':I ?"rn '"1:)i::i iNi::it.1 mn absence of his accompanying ':i:i? m yrM:i? iN tr"l"7l1::i? "lnii n7m cii:i.n i:ii ?::i ':l 'Ki"I rn:n 1iN1J i» ;,,,, talmidim, some of whom had many small children at home, was i:n» 1TM»::iw l'l"l'M 1n? oi:iw tl""Wj'n ?» i.»uJn? N? 1:1? ,iK1J i'Qin ri::iw ii=J 1 bound to have caused familial yn? mt'j' ''i'I i?i"l"O i1t) 1:i:l"I /'HiW't.l Q'W')N "INtu? 'IN vi'1 ''nW' n'1:V'IM ?~to= M'=M

1 • ,,,l '1111' Ji>U> 1N

l'!Ml i'l:JiM 1~~ OP i~ fM? ''M"W' l:l Q'l'IM:l itviN TM7 '"rl'W' Tl'"17 iitl.t' M":lj1Mi

Digest of Meforshim .n"ll:i Cli'l:it.:1

i'"D7 M"tnvn 1iwmt.:1 K"::i '"1p7 in:i '"1ji7 ~~~~~~~~~~·~~~~~~~~~~~~· ~~~~~~ ':>"~ ivv'm 1m"llJ\!1 l"i1"1illJ strains as the full burden had fall­ Therefore, do not be distressed over the Available at en on the nashim tzidkanios hardships you may endure because of LEKUTE I (righteous wives). He immediately your husbands' leaving home for the c/o Yitzchok Rosenberg drafted a letter (reproduced purpose of gaining spiritually for them­ 1445 54th Street above) ... selves and benefiting other members of Brooklyn, NY 11219-4228 Through technical default, the letter Kial Yisroel. In fact, the greater the dif­ 718-854-6701 was not included. It is reproduced ficulty, the greater the reward. 20 Volumes on Torah, Perek, Medrash, below, with an English translation. Hakadosh Baruch Hu should bless Megilos, Talmud, and Tehilim. A few words to women whose hus­ them with only happiness in their life, Proceeds of sales distributed atnong bands traveled abroad to strengthen and may they, together with their hus­ Yeshivos and used for reprinting of Torah: bands, have much nachas from their volun1es out-of-print Chazal tell us that the reward for sons and daughters. PRICE: $8.00 PER VOLUME women who are instrumental in help­ 21 Cheshvan, 5765 ing their husbands or children or others learn Torah is very great indeed. • MRS. fRUMA LEAH MANDEL

FRUM/LIFE COACH In his article, "Mrs. Fruma Leah Spe.,ializing in goal actµalizing for t11., Torah community Mandel ;rv" (Dec. '04), Rabbi Shimon Finkelman recounted how Mrs. Malka Schulman, cc Mandel, with the encouragement of Reb ?"lit, Coach • Catalyst • £gcturer opened the first girls' elementary day school in Brooklyn. Inadvertently, the (416) 782-1462 [email protected] (416) 781-9116 names of two women who were instrumental in opening the school telesessions face to face workshops were omitted: Mrs. Esther Sara (Sadie) Soloff and Mrs. Rochel Chyenna Stern.

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