"The Yetzer Hora rules over the entire world and we must activate the `Torah as an antidote' to escape it. Only by increasing Torah study all the time can we succeed in upholding the world."
These incisive words were expressed by the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, to a delegation of rabbonim and heads of the Orchos Yosher organization in order to fortify and encourage the study of Mussar promoted by them under the guidance of the president of the organization, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, in anticipation of the annual Yarchei Kalla which took place last week.
Hundreds of laymen came to participate in the Orchos Yosher Yarchei Kalla during the Three Yemei Hagbala preceding Shavuos which took place in the Tzipori Bakfar vacation resort in Kibbutz Chofetz Chaim for a day of pure Torah and Mussar study and spiritual elevation for laymen and businessmen. The number of participants has been steadily swelling, especially among those who have already savored the experience of this Yarchei Kalla and come back to relive it, as they now anticipate the next such gathering.
Orchos Yosher, headed by HaRav Arye Kanievsky, grandson and faithful follower of the Prince of Torah, has taken upon itself the dissemination of Torah and Mussar study through hundreds of ongoing daily shiurim delivered throughout the country and now, organized this one day Yarchei Kalla. To enhance it, the organization brought prominent roshei yeshiva, rabbonim and maggidei shiur who captivated their large audience with their talks and spiritual recharge in anticipation of the festival of mattan Torah.
HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshivas Slobodka in Bnei Brak and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, gave the central address. In his remarks he noted the importance of Orchos Yosher, which caters to the needs of the working community. "After a long day of work, someone who takes the trouble to have a regular learning session brings a huge amount of kovod haTorah. And now when they set up an entire day of learning, it is certainly a day of Kiddush Hashem and it greatly increases the kovod of HaKodosh Boruch Hu. The gemora tells of an amora who used to travel half a year to learn for one day and then travel home for the other half of the year. He was called Bar Bei Rav Dechad Yoma, a rabbinical student for one day. The implication is that since his entire life was centered around this process of kovod Shomayim, he grew and flourished. It is a great merit for Orchos Yosher to convene these days of chizuk for those who come to learn Torah. May Hashem give all the participants health, nachas and success in all their pursuits and may kovod Shomayim increase from this day."
*
The Letter of HaRav Shteinman for the Occasion
BS"D
To the participants gathered here for a day of pure Torah study sponsored by the Orchos Yosher organization:
Much peace unto you,
Every gathering for the sake of Heaven has permanence, especially so during these special days of preparation for the giving of the Torah. I hereby bless all those gathered here that they merit an enrichment both in spirituality and in the material sense.
*
A Letter from HaRav Chaim Kanievsky in Honor of the Event
Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5776
I hereby wish to strengthen those who toil for their livelihood and who have come to toil in Torah through the Yarchei Kalla organized by Orchos Yosher at Chofetz Chaim and to bless them that they reap success and full goodness both in ruchniyus and gashmiyus, and nachas from all their descendants.
