The City of Jerusalem is launching a new project called Bimat
Hasefer HaTorani, in which the Department for Torah Culture
will sponsor evening workshops and discussion groups
revolving around various Torah books.
In addition to offering encouragement to the authors and
editors of modern works as well as publishers of works by the
Rishonim, the aim of the events is to enrich participants'
Torah knowledge through fascinating lectures and the
opportunity to meet face-to-face with the authors and the
figures behind the books and to pose questions.
Jerusalem Mayor Rabbi Uri Lupoliansky says the new project
joins the Jerusalem Prize for Torah Literature as another
building block in the City of Jerusalem's promotion of Torah
literature. "Bimat Hasefer HaTorani will raise the banner of
omol haTorah and putting chiddushim into
writing, and will allow the general public a rare opportunity
to be a part of the process of Torah creation," he said.
The first evening was dedicated to an examination of the
teachings of HaRav Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg, author of
Sridei Eish, on the occasion of his 40th
yahrtzeit and the publication of new, high-quality
editions of his works: Sridei Eish (responsa), a book
of chiddushim on the Shas and Leprakim
(Mussar).
The evening is scheduled to take place on motzei Shabbos
Parshas Bo at the City of Jerusalem's beis knesses at
Safra Square. Speakers include HaRav Yitzchok Sheiner, rosh
yeshiva of Yeshivas Kamenitz, HaRav S. Chaim Domb, a
dayan at Beis Din Momonos Yerushalayim, and HaRav
Avrohom Abba Weingurt, a talmid muvhok of the Sridei
Eish and a winner of the Jerusalem Prize for Torah Literature
for his commentary, Gachalei Eish. Closing remarks
will be made by Chief Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar.
Rabbi Gavriel Stauber, director of the Department for Torah
Culture, says the next evening will be dedicated to works on
Rashi to mark the 900th anniversary of his histalkus.
A special planning committee has issued a call to the general
public to submit ideas for subsequent evenings.
Bimat Hasefer HaTorani is funded through the annual budget
the City submitted at the beginning of the month. Mayor Rabbi
Lupoliansky issued instructions to provide the Department for
Torah Culture a substantial budget increase to encourage the
department's activities and to expand library book
collections in chareidi neighborhoods.
