A siyum on Shas is not a common event, even in
Jerusalem, but soon Rav Shalom Shmuel Udwin will be
celebrating a siyum on the completion of writing the
Birchas HaTorah Series, a commentary on Shas. This
unusual event will take place, iy"H, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday evening, 24 Tishrei 5766 (27 October 2005) at
Yeshiva Ohr HaChaim at Rechov Ezra 1 (at the corner of Rechov
Yechezkel) in Geula. Gedolei Yisroel will be in
attendance.
Childhood Inspiration
In an interview with Rav Udwin, he stated:
Growing up in Graff Reinett, South Africa, a small village on
the edge of the Karoo Desert, my childhood became an
inspiration. In this village a minyan of men gathered
most Friday evenings for mincha and ma'ariv.
Before shul many of them would spend most of Friday afternoon
playing lawn bowls or tennis. I would dutifully follow my
late father to his game of lawn bowls every Friday and
thereafter we would together attend shul. One particular
Friday the match was tied and undecided.
Realizing that other members were expecting them in shul,
they informed the non-Jews whom they were playing against
that they awarded them the game and left. I was stunned. I
tried to call my father back but he and his friends headed
off to shul. Eventually I followed.
After davening, my father turned to me and said, "Son,
I have bought you a siddur in Port Elizabeth and I
request that you daven from one page a day." I
agreed.
Not knowing a word of loshon hakodesh, I recited daily
the Birchas HaTorah and especially the part speaking
about how Hashem will sweeten divrei Torah in our
mouths. This incident is etched daily in my life and spurred
me on to finding out what is Torah, and eventually to being
zoche to learn Torah and most importantly being able
to spread Torah in any way possible.
Many years later, after being informed about my own son's
serious medical challenges, I was given brochos by the
foremost gedolim of the era. The brochos were
that if I did the mitzvah of teaching Torah diligently to my
children (and their peers) I would merit being able to speak
divrei Torah everywhere.
I began teaching Torah diligently to my children and decided
in 1992 while in Toronto to begin writing a commentary on the
Babylonian Talmud. This commentary, which is the first
completed modern Hebrew translation and elucidation on the
gemora on the 38 tractates, has finally been printed.
The empathy and support displayed by individuals and
supporters gave impetus and encouragement so that the journey
was made easier. On this occasion I would like to thank all
the many individuals who aided this initiative lechvodoh
shel Torah.
Further Initiatives
While completing a commentary on all of Shas is an
incredible accomplishment, several years ago, Rav Udwin also
established Yeshiva Kol Bonayich in Jerusalem, starting with
his own sons but soon including others who needed a special
therapeutic environment in order to learn Torah. Realizing
that such a yeshiva needs its own building, Rav Udwin has
overseen the completion of such a new building at 46 Beis
Yisroel in Jerusalem, which is dedicated to the memory of his
brother Pierre Udwin (Pesach Yaakov ben Avrohom Karpel). The
Israeli amuta run by Rav Udwin, named Yad Pesach
Yaakov, has two groups of talmidim in temporary
quarters awaiting the move to the new building.
Concerning Yeshiva Kol Bonayich, Rav Udwin explains that
these talmidim, with severe challenges from autism to
schizophrenia, are able to attain a love for Torah. As stated
in Devorim: You will teach it diligently to your
children and you will talk of them when you are sitting in
your home and when you go out. There is no exception to this
rule as the novi Yeshayohu writes all your
children ("kol bonayich") should be knowledgeable
about your Torah and then we will merit much peace and
tranquility in the form of Moshiach.
For further information about Yad Pesach Yaakov, contact in
Israel A. Golden, Hakablan 12/4, Jerusalem (telephone 02-651-
0092) and in the U.K. J. Wolinsky Esq. 79 Leeside Cr. London
NW11.
