Agudas Yisroel of America's 15th Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah began this on Tuesday morning in Yerushalayim with more than 300 participants, a significant increase over past years, leading to the opening of a second banquet hall to accommodate the large crowd. The main subject studied is the sugyos of Bircas Hamozone and Brochoh Acharonah, as discussed in Perek Shloshoh She'ochlu of Maseches Brochos.
The first shiur was a wide-ranging Hakdama Shiur from HaRav Asher Weiss, av beis din Darchei Horo'oh and Rosh Hayeshiva Yeshiva Darchei Torah, who has the distinction (among many others) of having spoken every year at the Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah. HaRav Weiss discussed the Halachic implications of Bircas Hamozone, being the only brocho that is miDeoraisa. He delineated the difference between the words "achilah" and "sevi'ah" as they relate to the posuk, "Ve'achalto vesovato," and focused on the resulting practical Halachic implications.
He was followed by HaRav Pinchos Friedman, Rosh Hakollelim of Belz, who carefully analyzed the importance of the fourth brochoh of Bircas Hamozone. He spoke about the well-known historical background of this brochoh which acknowledges the great Chesed of the Ribono Shel Olom in allowing the Harugei Beitar to be brought to proper Jewish burial.
The Yerushalmi relates, that the residents of Beitar were massacred by the Roman Emperor Hadrian sixty years after the Churban because of their participation in the Bar Kochba revolt against Roman rule. The Emperor did not allow their bodies to buried. Rather he cruelly desecrated them by utilizing them as a fence for his vineyard. A miracle occurred and for a period of seven years the bodies did not decay! This was despite their exposure to the elements, including periods of rain, frost and snow.
After seven years they were finally allowed to be buried. It is for this reason that we make the fourth brochoh in Bircas Hamozone: to thank Hashem for his kindness in this great miracle which followed so closely after the Churban Habayis. Hence, the segue between Bonei Yerushalayim and Hatov Vehameitiv. HaRav Friedman continued by quoting the Rosh who states we should utilize the opportunity of saying Bircas Hamozone to remember and instill in ourselves the impact of the Churban on our lives and ensure that all the trappings of materialism that surround us do not challenge our focus on Avodas Hashem.
HaRav Friedman implored the participants to renew their efforts to have proper Kavannah during Bircas Hamozone, thereby bringing upon themselves and their families the multiple brochos that are promised to those who accord Bircas Hamozone its proper respect.
The evening closed with warm words of his'orerus from the Viznitzer Rebbe, HaRav Yisroel Hager of Bnei Brak. He praised Agudas Yisroel for bringing together such a large group of people for intense Limud Torah Lishmah for an entire week in Eretz Yisroel. All the participants appreciated his warm divrei chizuk, including his emphasis on maintaining Emunah and Bitachon not just when things are going well but also during challenging times. Following his remarks the participants eagerly approached the Rebbe for his brochoh.
In the words of one of the participants, "The Yerushalayim Yarchei Kalla is something that we look forward to the entire year. This year it has not failed to live up to expectations both in terms of the quality of the presentations but also in the thrill of being in the company of so many people learning Torah with such excitement and dedication."
