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14 Adar I 5765 - February 23, 2005 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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The Daf Yomi — from the Beginning to the Eleventh Siyum

by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Beginnings . . .

It all began on 3 Elul, 5683 (1923), at the Second Agudas Yisroel Knessia Gedolah in Vienna. This great assemblage, chaired by HaRav Yehuda Leib Zirelsohn zt"l, was attended by the cream of Torah Jewry at the time. HaRav Meir Shapiro zt"l had been honored to present to the plenum the suggestions and decisions of the Vaad LeInyonei Chinuch. After enumerating the plans to strengthen Yiddishkeit, and other chinuch-related propositions, Rabbi Meir appealed for permission to present a personal idea to the great crowd.

In his clear and ringing voice, as his eyes sparkled with a great light, Rabbi Meir emotionally outlined his ingenious proposition for the Daf Yomi. All of Klal Yisroel, all over the world, would learn the same daf gemora on the same day. They would begin Shas together and they would finish Shas together. An inseverable bond would be formed between all Jews, irrespective of their location.

Daf Yomi would become the connection between Hakodosh Boruch Hu, the Torah, and Klal Yisroel. And thus, Rabbi Meir dramatically finished his passionate plea: "It is up to the Knessia Gedolah to decide! Will it be that from Rosh Hashonoh 5684 we begin learning a daily daf gemora according to the order of Shas? Will this daf from now on, be a symbol of those who unite to fulfill the Word of G-d?"

Rabbi Meir's fiery words, spouting forth from a heart bursting with yearning for Torah and its lomdim, impressed themselves enormously upon his listeners. Up until then his words had been heard in silence.

Suddenly, while the last word of Rabbi Meir's open question still hung in the air, the crowd was swept with tremendous emotion and simultaneously rose to its feet. Thousands of participants: the gedolim, the rabbonim, and the crowd at large cried out, "Na'aseh venishma!"

The walls shook, reminiscent of the first time those precious words of kabbolas haTorah had been exclaimed. Amidst the joyful enthusiasm of the throngs, Daf Yomi had earned its official acceptance: "Chareidi Jewry of the world does hereby accept upon itself, to learn each day, one specific daf, beginning with maseches Brochos . . . "

On that Rosh Hashonoh, it became reality.

The Inspiration Behind the Daf

A newspaper of that historic period featured an interview with HaRav Meir Shapiro, wherein he expressed his thoughts and feelings about Daf Yomi (freely translated): "As I traveled to the Knessia Gedoloh, a heavy question appeared in my mind. It disturbed me tremendously, and I knew not the answer. I pondered for hours, yet could not come up with a reply. Until I actually stood in the great hall of the convention, I remained lost in thought.

"How can we possibly host, in one hotel, all the gedolei Yisroel, from all circles and different backgrounds? How can HaRav Chaim Brisker connect with Reb Yaakov Rosenheim (President of Agudas Yisroel) from Frankfurt? Can a modern American youth sit comfortably together with a Yid from Tzfas? Can a Torahdige, litvish'e Dutchman go along with a chossid from Poland? What could possibly bridge the differences between people from all walks of life?

"At a loss for an answer, I opened my attache case and took out my gemora Brochos to begin learning in-depth. I reached the first question of the gemora and could not understand it. I began to study the meforshim: Rashi . . . Tosafos . . . Maharsha . . . Maharam. Upon learning their explanations in detail, I was soon able to come up with a pshat."

Rabbi Meir continued to outline his train-of-thought:

"On the spur of the moment, it occurred to me: The mishna was created in the days of Rabbi Yehuda Hanossi in Eretz Yisroel. The gemora was written in Bovel. Rashi lived in Mainz, the Tosafos in France, the Maharsha in Lithuania, and the Maharam Lubliner toiled in Torah in Poland. And — wonder of wonders! — all these diverse backgrounds come together, united, to explain the gemora's classical question."

*

That daf gemora removes all dividing walls, turns the oceans into dry land, joins distant opinions, and bridges diverse nations and foreign countries. All are united around the daf.

We can thus see why the idea of Daf Yomi spread like wildfire. Rabbi Meir's brainchild took off — to the extent that the seforim stores then almost exclusively carried gemoras Brochos. These were snatched up like hotcakes, and masechta Shabbos sold as well. People feared that by the time the Daf Yomi cycle would be up to Shabbos, there would be no gemoras left!

The First Daf

Extra-special preparation for this Rosh Hashonoh was noticeable in the shuls of every town. The shamoshim prepared additional illumination, to last hours longer than usual. As the New Year came in, the atmosphere was awesome, yet particularly festive. Baalei batim hurried to shul, their gemoras Brochos tucked under their arms. Their delight was evident and their faces displayed pride, as if they were showing off beautiful esrogim. Their cause for happiness was justified. After all, the greatest lamdan of the town would be giving the first Daf Yomi shiur tonight, and they would be attending!

Immediately after the tefilloh ended, the tables, especially prepared on erev Yom Tov, spontaneously filled with lomdim. The writer Gershon Gura o"h described what went on in his hometown: "With simchas Yom Tov plain on their faces, those seated opened their gemoras. The New Year opened its doors, and these people turned a new page in their lives . . . Reb Yisroel Yonah zt"l opened his large gemora and could not hide his great emotion. In a trembling voice, he began the shiur: `Mei'eimosai korin es Shema . . . '

"Like drops of dew that wet the parched earth, Reb Yisroel Yonah's sweet words arouse his listeners. The arguments in learning, halochoh, aggodoh, general knowledge of Shas were brought in. The great significance of that day, of that historical moment, is etched in time forever after.

"The allotted time for the shiur passes and the learning stretches on for hours. The lomdim sit mesmerized, unaware that they have not yet made Kiddush! The Wine of Torah, its sweetness infinitely richer than apple and honey, has intoxicated them . . . Finally, the new lomdei hadaf are forced to get up from their places. The kol shofar would be sounding early tomorrow morning and they still had to go home and partake of the seudah. Yet, there was a feeling of satisfaction . . . of achievement . . . of fulfillment . . . The kol shofar would ring differently tomorrow. These lomdim had made a giant step in the right direction.

*

Leil Rosh Hashonoh, in the massive beis medrash of the town Ger. Thousands of Chassidim, dressed in their majestic Yom Tov garb, packed together, jammed into every inch of space. All are eager to catch a glimpse of their revered Rebbe the Imrei Emes, as he concludes the Rosh Hashonoh Ma'ariv. Suddenly the Rebbe turns around and, facing the crowd, announces, "I am going to learn the Daf Yomi. Gut Yom tov."

It was as if the crowd was suddenly electrified. Within seconds, all the gemoras Brochos had been snatched from the shelves . . .

The First Siyum HaShas

In Honor of the First Siyum HaShas on Tu BeShevat, 5691 (1931)

On the first day of Rosh Hashonoh 5684, tens of thousands of Yidden took the first masechta of Shas in their hands and began from "alef" — "Mei'eimosai korin es Shema . . . "

Behold, here they are all today, on the rosh hashonoh of the trees, and the last masechta of Shas is in their hands. They stand here, actually on the threshold of: "One who reviews halochos every day . . . (is assured his share in Olom Habo)."

Two thousand seven hundred and two days have gone by like the blink of an eye. With each day that passed, our hands have turned an additional page. Let us study for a moment, the synchronization that has been achieved by the pages and the days. We can then prove in totality that the numbers are identical: Two thousand seven hundred and two pages.

Praised be the Jew! How great is his persistence and determination! After having struggled through an entire long, exhausting day, accompanied by waves of troubles and responsibilities, he immerses his soul in the crystal-clear waters of the yam HaTalmud. His demanding way of life, his halichos, are exchanged for paths to the World to Come. Call them not halichos—ways; Call them halochos—laws.

The Jew throws off the clothes of This World and dons the clothes of the Next. Although filled with worry and uncertainty, downtrodden and dispirited with his harsh daily existence, the Jew's daf gemora enables him to overcome it all.

The Daf Yomi is like a bridge made of paper on which the Jew courageously treads, passing over the endless oceans of suffering. This bridge is stronger and sounder than any steel bridge ever made.

The pinnacle of Daf Yomi's magnetic power lies in the idea, the reflection, that the one daf gemora I am learning here is being learned by thousands of Jews all over, in whatever place they have been dispersed to, around planet Earth. Each person is different, with his own flavor, his own style of thinking, and way of learning, whether alone or with a chavrusa — yet Abaye and Rovo remain the same.

This exact feeling that Daf Yomi has given the Jewish world is what I felt the first time I went out to collect for the benefit of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin. I came upon many Daf Yomi shiurim in various Jewish centers around the world. The differences in style of learning between HaChover Dr. Braunsweig in Strasburg, or Reb Isser Shamosh in London to Rabbi Schwartz in Baltimore all fade away. Compared to the great power locked into the idea of Daf Yomi, the contrast is irrelevant. Wherever the group of lomdim may be, the content of this inner message remains.

I still clearly remember the everlasting reply given by Yechiel Yeshayohu, the Jewish soldier from Radom. When I perceived that he had a small gemora in his rucksack, probably that of Daf Yomi, I asked him: "Do you faithfully learn Daf Yomi every day?"

To this he replied, "Of course! I am a soldier, and a soldier abides by the rules! I keep the Daf Yomi calendar, and do not allow myself to fall behind!"

He is correct. A vital power, besiyata deShmaya, has joined our platform of strength. This point is crucial, and great importance must be attached to it in the battle for our existence.

Today, at the Siyum HaShas, unusually fortified pillars of strength are on display. Our rows (of lomdim) are constantly growing. All of us, without exception, prepare ourselves to increase our soldiers, for our great source of strength: Daf Yomi.

Today is a Yom Tov for Klal Yisroel. Fortunate and filled with contentment, are those who have merited learning Daf Yomi day-in, day-out. Fortunate are their partners, who have merited hearing the blissful announcement that they too, are considered equal, having donated the grush yomi.

As one man, with one heart, bathed in a luminous beam of hope and promise, we pray that we be zoche to learn Shas again the second time around. May it be amidst better life conditions, with the yoke of golus not so heavily cast upon us. On this holy, momentous day, may the two thousand seven hundred and two blatt gemora, learned by tens of thousands (kein yirbu!), rise Heavenward. May they stand before the Heavenly Throne as Pleaders, to defend and to entreat for Klal Yisroel's Salvation. May we merit Chazal's promise: "One who fulfills the Torah in poverty will come to fulfill the Torah in wealth!"

*

As retold by a close talmid of Rabbi Meir Shapiro: "Our great Rebbe was zoche to celebrate the First Siyum HaShas, on Tu BeShevat, 5691 (1931). Siyumim were held all over the world. Yet perhaps the most splendid affair took place in Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin where the Daf Yomi was conceived. The Captain of the magnificent Yeshiva conducted the siyum with blazing emotions and celestial dveikus. In a total outpouring of his lofty soul, he cried as he concluded the last lines of Shas, tears of joy dropping from his pure eyes . . . "

In Difficult Times

When the Nazi Party ym"sh rose to power, overt antisemitism began to take over. The atmosphere was anxious, controversial, and tense, to say the least. Rabbi Meir's Shabbos Hagodol droshoh of 5693 (1933) sized up the situation, and gave his kehilloh the mindset to continue. "I can still picture how he stood on the bimah of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, his ringing voice echoing zealously," recalled a talmid almost sixty years later:

The gemora in maseches Brochos (61b) relates: Once the Roman Empire issued a decree forbidding Torah study. Papus ben Yehuda came along, and found Rabbi Akiva gathering crowds and teaching them Torah. He asked, "Akiva! Do you not fear the government?" Rabbi Akiva responded with a parable: "To what is this compared? To a fox who was walking along the banks of the river, and saw fish pooling together (moving) from one place to another. `What are you escaping from?' asked the fox. `From the nets of man!' answered the fish. `Why don't you come up onto the land, and you and I will live together, just like my ancestors lived with yours!' invited the fox. `Are you the one said to be cleverest of all the animals?' the fish accosted him. `Fool! If we live in fear in the territories that give us life, how much more so do we fear the area of certain death!' So too, continued Rabbi Akiva, we sit now and study Torah, which is our life. If we give up Torah, how much more so must we fear!

It was not long after, that Rabbi Akiva was caught and imprisoned. Papus ben Yehuda was arrested too, and chained near Rabbi Akiva. `What brought you here?' asked Rabbi Akiva of Papus. Papus's rejoinder was: `Fortunate are you, Rabbi Akiva, for having been arrested for learning Torah, while I have been arrested for (mere) idle-talk.'

The Lubliner Rov explained: "Papus represented the population that wishes to be like all the gentiles. This warped ideology is based on the notion that if we wish to rid ourselves of the tribulations of golus, the only solution is to remove the barriers dividing us from the gentile. The Jew must aspire to conduct his lifestyle as similar to the gentile as possible, to connect with the gentile, and live together with him — they say. In such fashion, they think, the antisemitism will automatically fall away, never to return.

Rabbi Akiva's philosophy was different.

Basing his life on his oft-repeated saying, `All creatures found in the sea are tahor, excluding the sea dog' (Keilim 17:13) Rav Bartenura explains: The sea dog exists in water, yet when threatened with capture it escapes to the dry land. Rabbi Akiva was imparting the following message to Papus: One who runs away from his lifeline displays unclean attributes! A tahor creature does not run away from water! Rather, it descends even deeper into the sea! A Jew wishing to escape his tzoros must plunge even deeper into the ocean — into the yam HaTalmud! One who attempts to be equal to the gentile in order to escape, and thus runs in the opposite direction of his natural lifeline, displays unclean attributes. Tumah! Such behavior will be liable to cut him off in short order from This World.

In our long history of Klal Yisroel among the Nations, those that promoted the idea of equality and brotherhood for all soon fell upon their faces. A few short months ago, the dream of a Jewish Socialist Party arose. Those that imprinted their flag with this equality and brotherhood have rapidly shown us that this ideology is false, full of fallacies, and always contrary to what the Jew should be. We have demonstrated over and over again, that the only salvation Klal Yisroel has is through Torah. "Ki heim chayeinu, ve'orech yomeinu, uvohem nehegeh yomom voloyloh."

By learning Daf Yomi we are in essence declaring: "We are the sons of Rabbi Akiva, and we uphold his viewpoint!"

"Ani chomoh, veshodai kamigdolos" (Shir Hashirim 8:10). Rabbi Yochonon said, "Ani chomoh — I am a wall — this is the Torah. "Veshodai kamigdolos" — and my Towers are the talmidei chachomim. The talmidei chachomim who kill themselves to learn Torah are our protective fortress. "Any instrument created to destroy you will not succeed" (Yeshayohu 54:17). No hoax or ruse can pull us away from learning Torah, and no deception can penetrate our Wall of Torah and our yeshiva fortresses. No matter who we are, from which lifestyle we come from. Through learning Daf Yomi each one of us is, in essence, a cheilek of the one-and-only effective protection we possess: Torah.

In Closing

We come to the close of the Eleventh Daf Yomi cycle. We realize that passage of time has not dimmed the bright flame which Daf Yomi initially ignited in the hearts of Klal Yisroel. On the contrary, its newness remains as if this novel idea had just been introduced. With each passing day, the further development of learning intensifies for the lomdim.

It is as if the spirit of Rabbi Meir Shapiro zt"l hovers over every group of people learning Daf Yomi. As the daily shiurim between mincha and ma'ariv take place after a full day's work, Rabbi Meir's lips mumble in his grave. He can never be gone; the Daf Yomi legacy lives on.

We began this Daf Yomi cycle seven years ago, with the words "Mei'eimosai korin es Shema be'arvis — From when is it permissible to recite Shema in the evening." Let us hope, that in the zchus of the light of Torah and mitzvos, we will soon witness the darkness of night being swept away, by the crack of dawn; "Vehoyoh le'eis erev, yihiyeh ohr . . . " May it happen speedily, in our days."

A Dream

From a distant village in faraway Bukovina, an urgent letter arrived at the home of Rabbi Meir Shapiro zt"l from his sister. The letter was dated motzei Rosh Hashonoh, 5684, and contained the following lines (freely translated from the Yiddish):

"On the night of Rosh Hashonoh, I dreamed that I saw you, my dear brother, in Heaven. Crowds of distinguished-looking tzaddikim surrounded you, their faces beaming like the brilliant skies. You, my brother, were the focus, and your face shone like the radiant sunlight. Everyone was smiling and expressing their gratitude to you, as they rejoiced with your very presence. My dear brother, reveal it to me! What is the explanation of this wondrous dream?"

The sister was mystified, as she did not realize the above was reality, not a dream. All this had indeed taken place in This World. Those thousands of blatt gemora from the first blatt of Shas had all risen heavenward. Like sparkling gems, they created tremendous zechusim for Rabbi Meir. They had formed a Royal Crown for that Day of Judgment eighty-two years ago . . . From the four corners of the Earth, those blatt rose up before the Heavenly Throne and began their outward journey . . .

Their journey still continues today, in 5765. Millions of blatt, in companionship of the Heavenly Angels, now join this great celebration, as we complete the Daf Yomi cycle once again.

The following letter, accompanied by the special Daf Yomi calendar, was issued by Rabbi Meir Shapiro after the completion of the first masechta.

Lu'ach Daf Yomi

To the Youth all over the world, who fear G-d's Word and His Torah,

Peace onto You and Great Blessings!

Colleagues in Knowledge!

The Knessia Gedolah agreed, based on my proposition, to introduce the shiur on Daf Yomi. Everyone accepted this suggestion with great satisfaction and joy. But you, our youth, the cream of our Nation and its future, accepted this plan with the (greatest) holy enthusiasm.

Appreciate, wherever you are, precious children, that you have undertaken a great promise for the G-d of Israel. It is incumbent upon you to approach this holy mission yourselves, and to arouse others to do the same.

Accept from me this Daf Yomi calendar and you will see that we begin Shas on the first day Rosh Hashonoh, 5684, and we will finish Shas, iy"H, on the Rosh Hashonoh of the trees, Tu BeShevat, 5691.

Appreciate, that if upon every member of Agudas Yisroel lays the obligation to learn the Daf Yomi upon you, this commitment increases seven-fold.

Let us trust in G-d and His Kindness, that He swiftly grant us the merit of seeing the Beis Hamikdosh rebuilt, and the Earth filled with Knowledge of G-d.

Children, Precious Ones of G-d! You have gone out with might, in the Name of G-d. Go forth with your strength even further! Carry the banner of Torah up high, for the eyes of all Chareidi Jewry are upon you! May G-d be with you, Courageous Warriors!

From one who signs off with a heart full of longing for the holy Torah, and with blessings for a gemar chasimoh tovoh,

Hakoton Meir Shapiro, Av Beis Din, and ram of Sanok

The Eleventh Siyum in America and Around the World

When Mr. S. of Monsey, NY, realized he would be in Hong Kong on business on the night of the 11th Siyum HaShas, he conveyed his regret to his friend in shul. "I learned the daf every day for seven and a half years, and now I won't be able to join in the celebration."

The particular mispallel with whom Mr. S. shared his disappointment was Rabbi Labish Becker, associate executive director of Agudath Israel of America — organizers of the mammoth Siyum in America — and the man in charge of coordinating satellite transmission of the celebration at Continental Airlines Arena and Madison Square Garden to locations in cities across North America and around the world.

Rabbi Becker recalls, "When Mr. S. explained that there was actually a jewelry show beginning in Hong Kong on the day of the Siyum and that he was not the only one who'd be missing the celebration, I knew we'd have to investigate the possibility of a hookup." Approximately 100 people, among them residents of the Hong Kong Jewish community, are now expected to participate in the local event.

The challenge of coordinating local events is prodigious — particularly abroad, Rabbi Becker observes. But, he says, the personal satisfaction he derives from it is great.

"The excitement the Siyum is generating in these communities is, I would venture to say, comparable to that in the New York-New Jersey area, where over 50,000 Jews will gather at the two Siyum venues." The reason?

"Especially in smaller, more far-flung communities, the event represents an awesome opportunity to plug into the spiritual energy of 120,000 Jews getting together to honor Torah."

Reports from local organizers and participants after the last mega-celebration in 1997, would seem to bear this out.

From Pittsburgh: "The broadcast introduced the attendees to a whole new dimension of Jewish life focusing on daily Torah study and Torah leadership. [Many] in the audience were hearing Gedolei Torah for the first time."

From Portland: "The Siyum was a strong reminder of just what I am missing in a place far from a mokom Torah. But it also gave me a tremendous chizuk that despite the isolation that I sometimes feel in being a representative of Jewry in this outpost, I know that I am part of a strong, large, vibrant . . . Klal Yisroel."

*

The tefillos of Siyum participants in Los Angeles and elsewhere will mingle with the prayers of a large number of Jews. At the time of this writing, close to 70 cities around the globe have registered for hookups — 30 cities signed up for the 10th Siyum — and more are still joining.

The largest local celebrations will be held in Toronto, which will host an estimated 6,000 people at the Ricoh Coliseum; Chicago, where 3,000 participants are expected to gather at the Rosemont Theater; and Los Angeles, where the new Walt Disney Concert hall has been reserved to accommodate the 3,000 celebrants expected at that event.

Other cities with registered sites include Albany, NY; Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Bangor, ME; Bethlehem, PA; Birmingham, AL; Boston, MA; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cincinnati, OH; Cleveland, OH; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; Deerfield Beach, FL; Denver, CO; Des Moines, IA; Detroit, MI; Edmonton, Canada; Charleston, SC; China; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Jacksonville, FL; Johannesburg, South Africa; Las Vegas, NV; Little Rock, AR; Lublin, Poland; Melbourne, Australia; Memphis, TN; Mexico City, Mexico; Miami Beach, FL; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Montreal, Canada; New Orleans, LA; New York , NY; Norfolk, VA; Ottawa, Canada; Overland Park, KS; Panama City, Panama; Philadelphia, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland, OR; Providence, RI; Richmond, VA; Rochester, NY; Santiago, Chile; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Savannah, GA; Scranton, PA; Seattle, WA; Silver Spring, MD; South Bend, IN; St. Louis, MO; and Sydney, Australia.

*

Among the most soul-stirring of the gatherings is the one scheduled to take place at the site of the very first Siyum HaShas in 5691-1931 — Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin, which was founded by the "Father of Daf Yomi," Rabbi Meir Shapiro. Participants at that event will include approximately 100 American members of a tour group organized by Rabbi Dovid Singer of Brooklyn. Efforts are underway to bring in students representing the 14 Eastern European Jewish schools that comprise the well-known Shema Yisroel Network, as well as a number of talmidim from yeshivos in Kiev and Moscow.

For Rabbi Yaakov Bleich, Chief Rabbi of Kiev and Ukraine, bringing the children to the Lublin Siyum is nothing short of a dream come true. Thanks to the satellite hookup and the spectacle of tens of thousands of other Jews celebrating the completion of the same Gemora that they study, they will truly feel part of the greater Jewish world

"When I attended the 9th Siyum HaShas in Madison Square Garden 14 years ago," he recalls, "I remember thinking: 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if these Jews, who for 70 years were cut off from their people, could see this, could feel part of this tremendous world gathering? Wouldn't it be great if they could experience this feeling of achdus, of belonging?"

"And now — they will."

In Eretz Yisroel

There are a number of strong independent organizations in Eretz Yisroel organized around the Daf Yomi, in contrast to the situation in America where Agudas Yisroel is virtually the only organization that promotes Daf Yomi on a large scale. However in Eretz Yisroel, Aguda-Degel HaTorah is also strongly involved.

A large siyum organized by Agudas Yisroel-Degel HaTorah will be held on 20 Adar Alef at the Yad Eliyahu stadium in Tel Aviv, followed by local events throughout the week. The week will conclude with a second major event slated to take place in Jerusalem at Binyanei Ha'Uma.

Meoros Daf Yomi organized a gathering of Daf Yomi maggidei shiurim on motzei Shabbos Parshas Terumoh. Meoros Daf Yomi under HaRav Chaim Dovid Kovalsky publishes a weekly Torah sheet about the current dapim that is widely distributed, and opened close to 200 shiurim all over Eretz Yisroel.

Dirshu has a very active Daf Yomi program with some 3,000 participants in the various programs it runs. The financial support that an avreich can earn in its programs is substantial. A 200-man delegation comprised of maggidei shiurim in the US and avreichim who participate in its Daf Yomi project is scheduled to arrive in Eretz Yisroel and to participate in the major events in addition to events of their own.

The Beis Medrash in Zichron Moshe offers shiurim almost 24/7 and now distributes a very handy paperback version of the current masechta based on the Oz Vehadar edition.

Kollel Iyun Hadaf — English Language Daf Yomi in Israel

Even the largest independent English language Daf Yomi program is based in Israel: Kollel Iyun Hadaf of Har Nof under HaRav Mordechai Kornfeld. It has a kollel dedicated to Daf Yomi and provides a free resource center for Daf Yomi learners around the world. It has thousands of subscribers to its various mailing lists that are sent out all over the world. It maintains a very active Web site that is accessed by hundreds of thousands of users a month. It is organizing an English language Siyum in Yerushalayim on Wednesday 21 Adar I in Binyanei Ha'Uma.

So far they have sold out all the 4,500 tickets that were available for Binyanei Ha'Uma, and the organizers are considering how to accomodate the overflow (see full article elsewhere in this issue).

 

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