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NEWS
22nd Annual Mifal HaShas Gathering
by A. Cohen
Gedolei Yisroel called for increased Torah study as a
response to the harsh decrees on the Torah world during the
22nd Annual Nesius Meeting of the Worldwide Mifal HaShas,
held this year at the home of HaRav Gershon Edelstein, one of
the roshei yeshivos at Yeshivas Ponovezh in Bnei Brak.
"Increasing the light of Torah is the most gainful response
to all of the decrees seeking to constrain and bring about
the collapse of the yeshiva world, chas vesholom, and
in the merit of the Torah their aims will not be
achieved."
Headed by HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, HaRav Michel Yehuda
Lefkowitz, HaRav Nissim Karelitz and the Admor of Tzanz,
other participants at the meeting included HaRav Shaul Alter,
rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Sfas Emes; HaRav Yitzchok Bartler,
rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Itri; HaRav Menachem Tzvi Berlin,
rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chaim Ozer; HaRav Avrohom
Genichovsky, one of the roshei yeshivos of Yeshivas Tchebin;
HaRav Yisroel Grossman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Pinsk
Karlin; HaRav Nosson Geshtetner, gavad of Kiryat
Agudas Yisroel in Bnei Brak and rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas
Ponim Meiros; HaRav Tzvi Drabkin, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas
Grodna- Be'er Yaakov; HaRav Michel Zilber, rosh yeshiva of
Yeshivas Zevihl; HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein, rov of Ramat
Elchonon, HaRav Amram Zacks, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas
Slobodka; HaRav Yosef Lieberman, rosh kollel of Kollel
Shomrei Hachomos; HaRav Boruch Dov Povarsky, one of the
roshei yeshivos of Yeshivas Ponovezh; HaRav Chaim Feinstein,
rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Beis Yehuda; HaRav Menashe Klein,
gavad of Ungvar; HaRav Ephraim Fishel Rabinowitz, rosh
yeshiva of Yeshivas Boyan; HaRav Tzvi Rotberg, rosh yeshiva
of Yeshivas Beis Meir; HaRav Nachum Rothstein, rosh yeshiva
of Yeshivas Nezer HaTorah; and HaRav Eliyohu Shmuel
Schmerler, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tzanz.
Opening remarks were made by the host, HaRav Gershon
Edelstein. "It is hard to speak about such a matter as the
honor and importance of the Torah, particularly Mifal
HaShas," said HaRav Edelstein. "Just as we see the tremendous
success among the large number of bochurim and
avreichim tested through Mifal HaShas, particularly
during the recent period when Torah knowledge has weakened .
. . Many of those tested achieve increased knowledge of Torah
and this is kovod haTorah. How can one speak about
this and praise it when words fail--devar sfosayim ach
lemachsor?" He closed with a blessing, asking HaKodosh
Boruch Hu to help the organization to continue its
success.
HaRav Shteinman spoke briefly, saying sefer Devorim
begins with reproach and ends with Zos Habrochoh,
"for through Torah learning and repetition and review, curses
are transformed into blessings . . . "
The Admor of Tzanz began by extending blessings to the Nesius
before surveying the accomplishments and growth of Mifal
HaShas, citing successes such as Dirshu, which tests
thousands of bnei Torah on the Daf Yomi, and Shaarei
Horo'oh, which tests thousands of avreichim on
horo'oh. "And if Mifal HaShas had the financial means
it could increase the number of participants dramatically,
but the lack of funding hinders this, and the gedolei
Torah assembled here are asking that blessings be given
to this holy enterprise to allow it to bear the heavy burden,
for it has a uniqueness and takes priority. The difficult
state of all Torah institutions is known to all and everybody
has an obligation to bolster support for Torah institutions,
and Mifal HaShas among those, so that it may expand and
support hundreds of additional bnei Torah knocking on
its doors asking to join."
The gathering was led by the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Tzanz,
HaRav Eliyohu Shmuel Schmerler, who said hundreds of new
lomdim joined Mifal HaShas this year even though
stipends are not currently available due to the difficult
financial situation. He mentioned the names of several
gedolei Torah who passed away over the past year
including HaRav Boruch Rosenberg, rosh yeshiva of Slobodka
and a member of the Mifal HaShas Nesius, HaRav Sender Freund,
HaRav Gedaliah Nadel and the Admor of Rachmastrivka,
zt"l. He also read aloud letters from HaRav Chaim
Pinchos Scheinberg and the Admor of Erlau who were unable to
participate.
Later the gathering focused on the presentation of a detailed
report on the past year at Mifal HaShas and an involved
discussion on the program of study, review and tests planned
for 5765. Eventually it was decided that participants in the
30-daf per month program would study masechtos
Beitzoh, Yevomos, Kesuvos, Chagigah and Taanis,
while participants in the 20-daf per month program
would complete maseches Gittin and then continue with
Kiddushin and Bovo Kammo. In the Horo'oh - Shas
and Poskim division, scholars in the Even Ha'ezer
program would continue from Siman 67, Hilchos Kesuvos
Vegittin with the Pischei Teshuvoh, including the
sugyos from the Shas that apply to the
halochos being studied. Participants in the Orach
Chaim program will study Hilchos Yom Tov and
Hilchos Pesach, including the Mishnoh Berurah,
Biyur Halochoh and Shulchan Oruch HaRav.
The gathering closed with inspiring words from HaRav Boruch
Dov Povarsky, one of the roshei yeshivos at Yeshivas
Ponovezh, who mentioned the great merit of the Admor of Tzanz
in founding Mifal HaShas Worldwide and it is known as his
accomplishment, "much as we find the Torah is named `Toras
Moshe' because he was totally dedicated to it and Beis
Hamikdosh is named after Dovid Hamelech, for we see the
blessed fruits issuing from this enterprise, great
talmidei chachomim who grow in Torah."
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