I see that you have been putting an emphasis on
shidduchim in recent articles. That is what I would
like to discuss.
Many homes and families are being established every day, but
for many, "the sea is still before them" and Yam Suf must
still be split. I have heard that the Novominsker Rebbe, head
of Agudath Israel in America, has given first priority on the
agenda of American Orthodox Jewry to the resolution of the
singles' crisis and has promoted the establishment of
"Invei Hagefen" through New York office of Agudath
Israel.
I recently noticed a wonderful chessed project
advertised in the English YATED NEEMAN regarding a group of
avreichim who traveled to Amuka to pray on behalf of
those who still need their yeshua. I contacted the
organization which sponsored the project, Simchas Olom, and
was given the startling response that two thousand names were
submitted! I feel this project is an outstanding effort and I
thank the English YATED for bringing it to my attention and
being a vehicle for Kiddush Hashem.
Thank you, Tizku lemitzvos,
A Bnei Brak reader
And from another Bnei Brak reader:
A Happy Daf Yomi `Widow'
For the past thirty-four years, my husband rarely missed his
Daf Yomi shiur, but this month he made an exception
— we both attended the Siyum HaShas in English in
Jerusalem. It was very inspiring to see the honor given to
the Gedolei Torah and the dedicated learners — and
also, by one speaker, to the dedicated wives.
It says that a man should actually `sacrifice himself in the
tent of Torah.' A story is told about a man who, one day,
resolved to close his store for two hours a day in order to
attend a shiur. He told his wife, "If I died, G-d
forbid, you would have to take over entirely." Hearing it put
that way, she happily adjusted to the new schedule.
Another man was advised to tell his wife that he had a side
job. His wife was able to cope by thinking about the extra
income. At the end of the first month, she said she had
managed, time-wise, quite well, without his presence at home.
Then she was told that the mascoret — sachar,
the salary-reward, would be deposited in olom habo for
them both.
Whenever I had a hard time in the evenings, I thought about
these stories. However, an incident that actually happened
became a third example. My husband met me at a wedding of a
close friend one time after his shiur. It was late,
and an acquaintance asked where he had been during the meal.
He answered that he religiously attends his Daf Yomi
shiur, rain or shine.
The fellow laughed. He said that he, himself, was a
workaholic, but made occasional exceptions to attend
weddings. A few months later, we heard that he died very
suddenly — at the age of fifty.
I was always worried that no one would participate in our
simchas because my husband always came right at the
end, but he used to drive the baalei simcha home with
their presents and when the time came, our own simchas
were well attended.
The best wedding and sheva brochos from my husband's
point of view was the one we made during the Gulf War.
Everything took place in the afternoon and he didn't miss a
single shiur.
Many men have enthusiastically begun learning the Daf
in the new cycle. It is up to the wives to encourage them to
continue and keep it up, page by page, day by day.
In the merit of righteous women the Jews were redeemed from
Egypt and so, too, in their merit, may the Geula come,
swiftly and in our days.
Chasi G.
