HaRav Shteinman zt"l
Last Erev Shabbos, a letter of chizuk was printed on the first page of Yated Ne'eman written by HaRav Dov Lando, as follows:
"As we find ourselves now at the beginning of the winter months, we each have the merit and obligation to utilize the long Shabbos and Motzei Shabbos evenings for Torah study, each according to whatever he prefers and wherever he desires, be it in one's home or in the beis medrash. It is important that all communities provide shiurim during these times. Similarly, yeshiva students should also exploit these hours for study in their yeshivos."
His letter goes on:
"Certainly, at this time when Klal Yisroel here needs merits so desperately to protect us from enemies who rise against us from all sides, the most effective action is Torah study, for its merit and the merit of supplementary study shall spare us from persecution and harm, both from within and from the outside. Only goodness shall protect Jewry and impose peace and security from every side."
The letter already evoked much positive reaction in all study halls this past Shabbos, as reports this writer, who prayed on Friday night in Yeshivas Orchos Torah and saw the letter greatly enlarged, posted at the yeshiva entrance, alongside a notice about a 'six hour learning session' to take place already that Friday night.
HaRav Yeruchom Mishkovsky, the yeshiva mashgiach, has spoken in the past of a conversation he had with the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, about upgrading tefillah in the yeshiva. He told him that there was a group of students who studied throughout Friday night, followed by a daybreak Vosikin prayer outside of the yeshiva. He asked whether he should discourage this in order that they pray together with the yeshiva.
Maran replied anxiously, "Just this, not! Do not dare touch Friday night study!" He then continued to speak about the importance of study on Shabbos in general, and of study on Friday night in particular. And from that time on, this particular session became part of the yeshiva norm.
Exactly 27 years ago, in Cheshvan, 5758, a delegation of Torah leaders: HaRav Shteinman, HaRav Lefkowitz, and HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, issued a public cry: "We hereby appeal to all dear bnei Torah in a matter already brought up repeatedly regarding reinforcing the Friday and Shabbos study sessions as much as possible. It is well known that the holiness of these times are greatly conducive to increased progress in Torah study and yiras Shomayim. Many great scholars were produced through the added study application of these times. In fact, these times constituted about a third of a person's entire life. Familiar are the words of the Vilna Gaon based on the Yerushalmi which state that each word, individually, is Torah, and consequently, considered Torah. Thus, in one day, a person can accrue tens of thousands of positive mitzvos, while conversely, one who wastes a single day, has abolished thousands of mitzvos, because each word of Torah corresponds to all of the mitzvos put together, as is brought in Yerushalmi.
"The advice to fortify study during these days is to establish set sessions of joint study rather than haphazard study, which includes review of material learned, or study of different material. Married students are advised to study tractates from Sedorim Zeraim or Taharos in depth. In the merit of this fortification in the mitzvah of Torah study and the honor of the holy Shabbos, may Hashem help us merit to see the coming of Moshiach speedily and in our time."
