For the past week they have been bnei yeshiva, fully engrossed in the sugya d'kallah. Sounds like a dream? Well, it's a reality for a few hundred professionals, mostly from America and Canada, some from Europe and Eretz Yisroel, who have come together at the Ramada Hotel in Yerushalayim to turn its central ballroom into a beis medrash. This is the 12th year that Agudas Yisroel of America's Torah Projects Commission is arranging a Yarchei Kallah.
More than two hundred participants are earnestly trying to immerse themselves for a week in the ohola shel Torah. The lomdim have focused all their attention on the sugyos of Mitzvos lav Lehenos Nitnu and Mitzva Habo'o Be'aveira with palpable rischa deOraisa.
Late Sunday night and early Monday morning participants filed into the hotel lobby. Mindless of their travel fatigue, there was an atmosphere of eager anticipation as each participant began this unique four day Torah experience, immediately getting down to "the business of the day," limud behasmada. The kol HaTorah resounded throughout the Yarchei Kallah Beis Medrash.
Rabbi Shlomo Gottesman, co-chairman of Agudas Yisroel Torah Projects Commission, welcomed the lomdim and shared words of chizuk. He quoted the posuk, "Es vohev besufa..." which refers to talmidei chachamim who become ohavim zeh es zeh, applying this lesson to the participants of the Yarchei Kallah. Rabbi Gedaliah Weinberger, chairman of the Torah Projects Commission, acknowledged the diligent work of the many staff members who made the Yarchei Kallah possible. He then noted that Yaakov Avinu returned to retrieve seemingly insignificant pachim ketanim, teaching us our responsibility to treasure all that is bestowed upon us by HKB"H. Time is by far our most precious commodity. How relevant to apply this idea to the Yarchei Kallah participants, who use their few days at the Yarchei Kallah for limud HaTorah listening avidly to the words of Gedolei Yisroel.
After a three hour seder, participants were treated to divrei pesicha from HaRav Asher Weiss, Av Beis Din Darchei Hora'ah and Rosh Yeshivas Darchei Torah, who offered stirring words of chizuk for the attendees. HaRav Weiss then clearly and cogently explained the sugya of Mitzva Habo'o Be'aveira. With his trademark eloquence, he led the participants on a fascinating tour of the sugya.
The women participants were treated to an insightful shiur by Rebbetzin Rina Tarshish on why Rochel Imeinu is known as Mammeh Rochel to all of Klal Yisroel, followed by a trip to Kever Rochel.
As evening arrived, the Bais Medrash was brimming with anticipation, as people vied for a place to see HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman as he regally entered. Despite the overflow crowd, the atmosphere of awe and cherdas kovod was clearly apparent.
The session began with divrei chizuk vehis'orerus from the Rosh Hayeshiva. Rav Shteinman emphasized that we must always be aware that the entire world exists only for Torah. The very first Rashi in Chumash begins with the statement that the world was created for the sake of the Torah and Klal Yisroel. We see from our very earliest history that the world's existence depends on the performance of the precepts of the Torah. The entire world was destroyed at the time of the mabul, as were later the cities of Sedom, Amora, Admo and Zevoim due to their lack of performance of the principles outlined in the Torah.
The posuk in Tehillim states, "Horim rokedu ke'eilim." Our Chazal explain that subsequent to Matan Torah the impact on the world was so great that even nature changed and mountains danced! Such is the power of Torah. Rav Shteinman concluded with a bracha to all the lomdim who obviously hold limud HaTorah very dear to their hearts; to take this message home with them to their families and communities.
This was followed by a very inspiring drosho from HaRav Yaakov Edelstein, Rav UMoro De'asra Ramat HaSharon. He told movingly of his youth in Russia, vividly describing the overwhelming challenges facing Torah Jewry of that time and the incredible Hashgacha that has allowed Judaism to flourish there in our time. He then marshaled various ma'amarei chazal to call attention to the importance of being dan lekaf zchus in the proper manner.
Rav Edelstein's drosho was followed by the opportunity for the participants to receive brochos from these two Gedolei Yisroel.
Second Day of Agudas Yisroel's Yarchei Kallah in Yerushalayim
Today, they all have chavrusas, the avirah demachkim of Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh, a seviva that's conducive to learning and top tier shiurim throughout the day. Let's now immerse ourselves in the yam shel Torah and shteig. These are the sentiments that were echoed by close to two hundred lomdim in the Yarchei Kallah beis hamedrash.
The participants were treated to parparaos shel chochmoh from HaRav Pinchas Friedman, Rosh Hakollelim of Belz, who led the lomdim through a pilpul on the sugya d'kallah. He delighted everyone with keen insights into the sugya of Mitzvos lav Lehenos Nitnu relating especially to the mitzvah of Talmud Torah. He quoted Rav Avraham Min Hahar (a Rishon) who states that in order to fulfill the ikkar mitzvah of talmud Torah it is essential that we derive both hana'ah and ta'anug from our learning. HaRav Friedman also quoted the Eglei Tal who writes in his hakdama, that the essential attribute of true Limud Hatorah is to find "joy and satisfaction in one's learning. Then, the divrei Torah that he learns will permeate his very being."
HaRav Friedman then applied this concept to the teaching of Torah today, especially as it relates to our precious children. It is critical to teach children in a way that instills simcha and joy in every aspect of their chinuch. It is only through simcha in learning that one can truly grow into a successful ben Torah.
HaRav Friedman declared that he was overcome with emotion at being given the opportunity to once again be part of this 12th Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah, when Yidden leave their businesses to devote four days to limud haTorah. This is clearly a hachanah for the yemos hamoshiach when everyone will leave their work and learn Torah all day.
The shiur iyun with HaRav Asher Arieli was now only just over an hour away, and this was critical preparation time. The rischa deOraisa in the beis medrash was palpable. What a sight to behold, lomdim of all ages, from all walks of life, excitedly engaged in the sugya d'kallah. Such contentment, such hana'a ruchani, what a breath of fresh air!
HaRav Arieli's shiur probed ever deeper into the Sugya d'kallah. HaRav Arieli examined the machlokes between the Ran and the Rashba on the Sugya. He then highlighted some of the important differences between these two opinions and demonstrated an amazing breadth and depth of insight into the Sugya.
Rav Nissan Kaplan, a noted maggid shiur in Yeshivas Mir, Yerushalayim, delivered a fascinating halacha shiur that turned the Gemoras, Rishonim and Acharonim we'd been learning so far into a halacha lema'aseh. He challenged the lomdim, citing multiple practical applications of the Sugya d'kallah that affect our daily lives. HaRav Kaplan clearly defined the parameters of the Sugya and shed light on the halacha lema'aseh. This shiur was lively from beginning to end, with the participant's excitedly interjecting at numerous points.
The olam was then zocheh to hear divrei chizuk vehis'orerus from HaRav Shmuel Auerbach, Rosh Yeshivas Maalos HaTorah. He emphasized the importance of limud haTorah and the pivotal role that it has played throughout the history of Klal Yisroel. The participants felt honored to be addressed by such a senior godol beTorah.
The participants were then addressed by the Sanz Klausenberg Rebbe from Netanya who delivered a profound and magnificent message explaining the ideal relationship between a Yid and his Creator. He defined the difference between being a ben or an eved to Hashem in the context of the Sugya d'kallah.
The women's program was a shiur by one of the leading members of the Kiruv movement in Eretz Yisroel, Rav Mordechai Neugerashel. They then travelled south to Ein Gedi, stopping on the way at the Ptil Techelet Institute.
All were then invited to a dinner sponsored by Shuvu. Chaver Hakneses Rabbi Moshe Gafni, was the guest of honor. Watching and listening to the students and faculty of Shuvu was truly inspiring.
Report of 3rd Day of Agudas Yisroel's Yarchei Kallah in Yerushalayim
"This sugya is really becoming clear," said one participant to another, their voices barely audible over the thundering kol Torah as day three of Agudas Yisroel's Yarchei Kallah in Yerushalayim got off to an energetic start.
Indeed, the beis medrash has almost never been quiet; while the sound of the learning is animated during the sedorim, there's really no bein hasedorim. For many, the days' learning began with Rav Meir Zvi Spitzer's lively daf yomi shiur at 6:30 a.m. Everyone is trying to chap arein as much as possible. While the participants are clearly in their element, one can detect an undercurrent of urgency. Although the participants may feel at home, they simply can't allow themselves to forget that tomorrow is the last day of the Yarchei Kallah.
HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Rav of Ramat Elchonon, Bnei Brak, one of the generation's leading Poskim as well as a maggid and prolific author of many popular seforim, graced the Yarchei Kallah with his presence and delivered a shiur b'halacha this morning.
Exuding warmth and addressing the lomdim with his trademark greeting "mein teiyere brieder," HaRav Zilberstein utilized his unique style to lead the mishtatfim on a scenic tour of halachic sheilos. The lomdim were challenged to resolve multifaceted halachic issues that covered disparate topics ranging from hilchos Shabbos, pidyon petter chamor and finally a familial dispute that took place in Eretz Yisroel involving complexities of kibbud av ve'eim and much more. With true, eye-opening stories, the Rav shared profound lessons in halacha and revealed new insights into the realm of a world class posek.
Following the shiur, a few dozen participants continued to engage Rav Zilberstein in heated conversation, while others got right back to their avodas Hakodesh, learning the sugya, trying to prepare as much as possible for the iyun shiur to be given by HaRav Boruch Dov Povarsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh.
The iyun shiur served to clarify not only the finer points of the sugya, but also showed the lomdim practical applications of the sugya. While yesterday's iyun shiur delved into the very depths of the sugya, answering specific questions, Rav Povarsky did the opposite, showing the wider implications of the sugya as a whole.
Although a short break was scheduled after Mincha, many of the lomdim kept on learning without interruption. In fact, this year's attendance of both Rabbi Shlomo Gottesman's hachana shiur during morning seder and Rabbi Shlomo Cynamon's chazara shiur during bein hasedorim was larger than ever before.
By now, most feel at home in the sugya d'kallah, and the questions are getting sharper. There's a true sense of accomplishment, albeit mitigated by the knowledge that the Yarchei Kallah has just passed the half-way point.
Following a short afternoon break, the participants were zocheh to hear a fascinating halacha shiur from HaRav Yaakov Avrohom Cohen, Chaver Beis Din of HaRav Nissim Karelitz and Rav, Ramat HaTzafon, Yerushalayim. Rav Cohen focused on the sugya of Mitzvah Habo'o Be'aveira paying particular attention to the extent of the obligations of a choleh in the performance of the mitzvah of achilas matzoh and achilas maror.
The evening program was dedicated lezecher nishmas HaRav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt"l, the Mirrer Rosh Hayeshiva, whose presence, words of chizuk and his'orerus were sorely missed at this year's Yarchei Kallah. A siyum maseches was organized involving many of the Yarchei Kallah participants to mark this evening's azkarah.
Stirring hespedim were given by HaRav Aryeh Finkel, Rosh Hayeshiva of Mir Brachfeld and HaRav Yitzchok Scheiner, Rosh Hayeshiva of Kaminetz. Their messages of chizuk and mussar touched the very hearts of all present at this very special ma'amad of kovod HaTorah. HaRav Yitzchok Scheiner told a story that amply demonstrates the Mirrer Rosh Hayeshiva's zt"l incredible ahavas haTorah. A wealthy supporter of the yeshiva once asked him why he continued, despite his increasing frailty, to work so hard to expand the yeshiva. "Aren't 5,000 talmidim enough?" he inquired.
The Rosh Hayeshiva responded to the question with a question. "I have heard that recently your business has been growing by leaps and bounds. Why do you work so hard to expand it, isn't it profitable enough already? The answer," said the Rosh Hayeshiva, "is that your love of money inspires you to grow your business and my love of Torah inspires me to do the same." HaRav Aryeh Finkel in his remarks added, "ohev Torah lo yisbah Torah."
The attendees of the seudas mitzvah were then addressed by HaRav Binyamin Carlebach of Yeshivas Mir and the new Mirrer Rosh Hayeshiva, HaRav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, the oldest son of the late Rosh Hayeshiva.
The women participants enjoyed a full day tour of Akko, Rosh Hanikra and the upper Mediterranean coast of Israel.
After the Siyum and seuda, a number of participants went right back to learning in the beis medrash settling in until late at night. Their challenge was formidable; just reviewing the shiurim would keep them occupied for a while, but tomorrow's schedule of two iyun shiurim, to be given by HaRav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi and HaRav Dovid Cohen is enough to inspire them to prepare thoroughly for the shiurim ahead.
