The Inception of Daf Yomi
With our master's permission and that of the gedolei
haTorah . . .
On the seventh of Elul 5683 (1923), the gaon Rav Meir
Shapiro ztvk'l, addressed a session on chinuch
at the Knessia Gedolah. Towards the end of his remarks he
proposed the idea of Daf Yomi. He added that the following
year, 5624, would be a Shmittah year and expressed his
hope that, since Chazal tell us that "[Moshiach] ben Dovid
will come in the year following a Shmittah," everyone
would merit celebrating the Siyum HaShas in
Yerushalayim.
Sadly, we have not yet merited the arrival of [Moshiach] ben
Dovid. Neither, sadly, have we merited the participation of
many of the two hundred thousand who used to learn Daf Yomi
in Poland alone, as Rav Meir Shapiro wrote in a letter that
was recently published (in Kol Hatorah, issue 58).
However, we do have the merit of taking part in the
siyum of the eleventh cycle of Daf Yomi, led by our
teachers, the gedolei Yisroel.
Rav Meir Shapiro's innovation has become a permanent fixture
in every place Jews live. Rav Meir himself attributed this to
the merit of his work in the field of Torah education and his
dedication to bnei Torah. There is virtually nothing
that can compare with the extent to which Daf Yomi has
proliferated. It is said that our master the Chofetz Chaim
ztvk'l, would call Rav Meir, "Rebbe Daf Yomi."
What Was Daf Yomi Supposed to Achieve?
I have been directed to elucidate one aspect of this
institution. On numerous occasions when he spoke, Rav Meir
emphasized that the idea of Daf Yomi unites all of Klal
Yisroel. He eloquently described how the Talmud
Bavli and its commentaries were put together by Klal
Yisroel in all the centers of its dispersion. The
Mishnah was compiled in Eretz Yisroel, the
Talmud Bavli in Bovel, the Rif and the Rambam in the
Spanish (North Africa) lands and so on.
This is also the aim of Daf Yomi, to serve as genuine bridge,
uniting Torah. When one Jew meets another, no matter from
where, Daf Yomi bridges between them and unites them.
But the purpose and the essence of the idea must be
remembered — connecting every Jew to Torah, everyone
according to their own level. The Gerrer Rebbe, the Imrei
Emes ztvk'l — whose addition on Rosh Hashonoh 5684
to the ranks of those who learn Daf Yomi had tremendous
repercussions, inspiring many others to join too —
wrote in a letter that Torah scholars can learn in depth and
develop new insights into whatever portion of Torah they feel
drawn to, but should still learn Daf Yomi so as not to be
separate from the rest of the community (Rav Meir
Shapiro, vol. II, pg. 450).
Rav Meir Shapiro's intention was thus to merit the entire
community with fulfilling the mitzvah of Torah study,
everyone on his own level. Tanna Debei Eliyahu (Zuta,
perek 2) writes that even someone who merely sits and
reads the words ve'achos Lotan Timna, receives the
reward for Torah study. There is a concept of toil in Torah
(see Peleh Yoetz entry on Tehillim) and [also]
of everyone learning according to his individual level.
Rav Meir therefore viewed Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin as being
"closely connected with the study of the Daf," as he wrote in
an announcement that he circulated in advance of the
yeshiva's establishment, noting his aim to bring
talmidim to the level of "broad fluency with deep
comprehension of Shas."
Practical Application of Halachos in the Daf
Thus, as we embark upon the twelfth cycle and speak about
learning Torah, gedolei Yisroel are pointing to the
remarks of the commentators to Yoreh Deah siman 246
and Orach Chaim siman 155 regarding the obligation
— that rests particularly upon those who engage in
working for their livelihoods and devote only part of their
time to Torah study — to devote some of their time to
the study of halochoh which will be put into practice.
Our master HaRav Shach ztvk'l, used to repeat an idea
based upon the gemora's teaching, "Whoever learns
halachos every day is assured of belonging in Olom
Habo, as it says, `Halichos, olom lo (control of
the world is His)' ( Chabbakuk 3:6). Don't read
halichos but halachos (so that the words can be
understood as, `[one who studies] halachos, the World
to Come is his)' " (Niddah 73).
Yet, asked HaRav Shach, the word used is halichos [not
halachos]. He explained that this teaches us that
halachos must also be halichos — they
must be realized in practice in the conduct of each and every
Jew.
And particularly now, with darkness prevailing in the world,
there is greater opportunity to acquire Torah, as is evident
from today's Daf Yomi where the gemora says, "From the
day the Beis Hamikdosh was destroyed all that remains
Hakodosh Boruch Hu's are the dalet amos of
halochoh" (brochos 8). This is the conduit through
which both the community and individuals are sustained. While
the Beis Hamikdosh stood there was an additional
conduit — that of the service of the Mikdosh and
the sacrifices. But today everything must come through
acquiring Torah.
The holy gaon, the author of Leshem Shevo
Ve'achlomoh, explains that special powers and abilities
were bestowed after the destruction of the Mikdosh (Sefer
Hakelolim, quoted in Shaarei Leshem pg. 467
onwards) because Hakodosh Boruch Hu delights in the
sacrifice made by the one who learns Torah. (A similar idea
is quoted in Bikkurei Avrohom by Rav Avrohom Eliashiv
ztvk'l from Medrash Talpiyos, see also
Nefesh HaChaim shaar 1, perek 4.)
It is thus our duty to declare that the directive to study
halochoh, as elucidated by our master and our crowning glory,
is part and parcel of the [original] institution of Daf Yomi,
whose purpose is to strengthen Torah study in Klal
Yisroel. Be'ezras Hashem, may we merit the arrival
of [Moshiach] ben David and the siyum celebration of
the twelfth cycle on the mountain of Hashem's House.
