A shiver of awe passed through everyone present at this
momentous occasion. Thousands of elite avreichim
assembled in one hall. It was not just an event; it was
another brick laid in the edifice of the Torah empire that is
Dirshu.
"You will yet be telling your children and grandchildren that
you took part in this historic assembly," declared HaRav
Avrohom Yaakobson, rav of Be'er Yaakov, to those present.
"Here, at this assembly, a new concept is being introduced:
Kinyan Halochoh!"
Wednesday, the 28th of Nisan 5766, was the first day of the
learning program of Kinyan Halochoh. Inaugurating the
incredible undertaking of the participants was this gathering
attended by many gedolim. A certain solemnity was in
the air, opening with the distribution of the Kinyan Halochoh
kits which contained material about the program. The feeling
continued until the end of the event. The whole affair
bespoke kovod HaTorah and yiras Shomayim.
"It is an auspicious day for the entire Olom HaTorah
when so many people gather together who are willing to
give themselves over to a limud that will bring them a
kinyan halochoh", proclaimed HaRav Shmuel Halevi
Wosner. In his opening remarks he wove together many
divrei Chazal regarding the importance of learning
halochoh.
"This is the essence of Torah" (hein hein gufei
Torah), was Maran HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv's
shlita comment to the Dirshu delegation headed by its
Nosi Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter, when they came to receive his
sanction for the program. "They must learn Shulchan Oruch
with the Tur and Beis Yosef. Then you will
be able to comprehend how the Shulchan Oruch concluded
with that particular halochoh. Limud in this
manner is very, very important and is the essence of
Torah."
The objective of Kinyan Halochoh is for its participants to
gain an essential grasp of halochoh. The first goal in
the program is to complete hilchos Shabbos. Following
a course of study that will last a year-and-a-half, about
1500 avreichim will apply themselves to halochos such as
shehiya, hatmonoh, bishul and hotzo'oh, as well
as concepts such as mimtzo chafotzecho and vedaber
dovor. They will learn through the relevant portions in
the Shulchan Oruch, going back to the sources in the
gemora, and on to the Tur and Beis Yosef, and through
the mareh mekomos that are sent to them monthly.
HaRav Wosner quoted the Ya'aros Dvash: "Anyone who
does not learn hilchos Shabbos three times will
certainly desecrate the Shabbos." He continued, "There is no
set of halochos that is dealt with at such length in
the Shulchan Oruch as these. It is a great thing that
you have undertaken to learn them halochoh
lema'aseh."
HaRav Moshe Shaul Klein told the gathering how appropriate it
is for the program to start with the laws of Shabbos. In
order to acquire a grasp of halochoh one must be able
to translate the sources into halochoh lema'aseh
— practical law. He followed with a riveting shiur
in hilchos Shabbos.
The crowd listened in fascination to the opening shiur
of HaRav Nissim Karelitz on the topic of mitzva bo
yoser mibishlucho. They also were read a letter from
HaRav Moshe Sternbuch in which he writes: " . . . When many
people learn together (the same material) there is special
siyata deShmaya, as is said in the name of the Chofetz
Chaim. May you all be blessed with bircas HaTorah,
especially Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter, the Nosi of
this important organization, who merited this great
mitzvah."
Maran HaRav Wosner ended his address similarly, "How vast is
the share of one who has already merited great mitzvos in
strengthening limud haTorah — Rabbi Dovid
Hofstedter. As we know, one mitzvah leads to another and so
this mitzvah of encouraging learning of halochoh has
also come to him. I bless him that he should see success in
all he does."
About half-a-year ago the program was founded in the homes of
the gedolei hador, with whom Dirshu's representatives
met. In meetings with HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, HaRav
Shmuel Halevi Wosner, and HaRav Nissim Karelitz, the green
light was given to implement this ambitious plan. They
praised Dirshu for the initiative and gave directions on how
to formulate the program.
Much effort was invested in the building of the actual
curriculum. "No one thinks you can decide halochoh
just from learning the Shulchan Oruch. You cannot
learn it without learning the sources first. The Shulchan
Oruch was intended as a review for one who already knows
the source and reasoning for the law," explained HaRav Klein
in his comments about the program.
HaRav Klein, a member of the beis din of HaRav Wosner,
led the group of talmidei chachomim that devised the
actual course of study. It is designed to encourage learning
halochoh in depth. It also contains the hallmark of Dirshu's
programs and success — a regular system of tests with
generous stipends for those achieving success in them. This
maintains a framework and gives incentive to the
participants.
Dirshu is used to the thirst that Klal Yisroel
displays for ways to strengthen limud haTorah. Dirshu
has already responded with a variety of undertakings:
programs for yeshiva bochurim, early morning learning
sessions, the Talmudo program, Kollelei Baalei Batim, the
Chaburas Kollel Dirshu of Lakewood in the Kollel Shas Be'Iyun
Program, the Kinyan Torah Daf Yomi testing program which
includes tests on Mishnayos, and the awesome Kinyan Shas
program. These activities circle the globe: Eretz Yisroel,
North and South America, Europe, and Australia.
The Kinyan Halochoh program was designed specifically for
people serious about reaching a level of psak
halochoh, and the original plan called for 500 people to
be accepted worldwide. However, Dirshu was unprepared for the
massive interest shown in this new plan. Literally thousands
of applications came in, accompanied by heartfelt pleas to be
accepted and enthusiastic letters of approbation from Roshei
Yeshivos and Kollelim.
As a result, Dirshu has allowed those who would otherwise
qualify but were not accepted into the first 500 spots, the
ability to still receive the mareh mekomos and take
the tests until they reach their goal: a real kinyan
in halochoh lema'aseh.
