NEWS
Agudath Israel of America's 19th Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah

by Dei'ah Vedibur Staff

Setting another precedent for the Yarchei Kallah, the entire gathering at the Lederman Shul was livestreamed, giving over 1,000 viewers around the world a chance to participate from afar in this truly uplifting gathering.

The group was then bussed to the their hotel in Yerushalayim, giving everyone an opportunity to rest before the formal program kicked off on Monday morning.

Rabbi Labish Becker, the Agudah's executive director, described the day as an inspiring way to set the tone for the powerful Limud HaTorah about to unfold, noting that among the participants was a Rov whose baalei batim had gifted him with a trip to the Yarchei Kallah as a thank you for having guided them through all of Shas, and a man whose family sent him to the Yarchei Kallah in honor of his birthday.

"The Yarchei Kallah has become an institution and a life experience," said Rabbi Becker. "We see people starting to prepare for it three months in advance and spending three months afterwards doing chazarah of what they have learned."

THE FIRST DAY

Tu BeShevat, the new year for the trees, marked the beginning of the intense limudim at Agudath Israel of America's Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah. The day started early, particularly for those who took advantage of the opportunity to leave the hotel 75 minutes prior to neitz hachama to daven at the Kosel. For those who remained behind, there was Shacharis at the hotel, after which participants lined up at the Yarchei Kallah registration tables to receive the more than 500 page long book of marei mekomos that would help them further plumb the depths of the sugya d'kallah.

Despite having added extra tables to accommodate the largest ever Yarchei Kallah crowd, the hotel beis medrash was packed as eager attendees took their seats and began readying themselves for the morning's main presentation. Many took advantage of an hour long preparatory shiur given by Rabbi Shlomo Gottesman, editor of Yeshurun and co-chair of the Yarchei Kallah, shedding light on the many nuances of the topic to be addressed immediately thereafter by Rabbi Asher Weiss, Av Beis Din, Darchei Hora'a, Rosh Hayeshiva Yeshiva Darchei Torah.

Rabbi Weiss began the main shiur of the morning by expressing his gratitude at having been honored to speak at every Yarchei Kallah to date and his personal pride in seeing its growth throughout the years before expounding brilliantly on the many intricate halachos that apply to wine, which plays a pivotal role in Judaism.

Early Mincha was followed by a Daf Yomi shiur given by Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, executive vice president emeritus of the Agudah, and by 3 P.M. the beis medrash was filled to capacity once again as attendees began their hachana for the afternoon shiur, preceded by a hakdama given by Rabbi Gottesman.

HaRav Pinchas Friedman, Rosh Hakollelim, Belz, addressed the fascinating halachic conundrums of chatzi shiur, consuming only half the required amount of a dvar mitzvah as well as its implications for issur. Rabbi Friedman also elaborated on the upcoming parsha, noting that even in times of duress, strict adherence to the Torah is key to our survival as a nation.

Two shiurei iyun were offered in the late afternoon, with HaRav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel, discussing the finer points of machalos asuros and tikroves avoda zara with dramatic flair, while HaRav Meir Tzvi Spitzer, Rosh Mesivta, Yeshivas Mir, addressed the various prohibitions related to wine, whose extraordinary ramifications necessitate the need for strictly kosher wine.

Offering divrei chizuk, HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Hayeshiva, Slobodka, Bnei Brak, spoke eloquently on the importance of continuously striving upward and never being content with our spiritual status quo.

In another Yarchei Kallah first, the expanded evening program was open to the public in an initiative sponsored and inspired by Aaron Herzog, with all participants listening with rapt attention as HaRav Aaron Goldmunzer, Skvere Dayan, Yerushalayim, and Rabbi Menachem Genack, Rabbinic Administrator, OU Kosher, delivered a fascinating presentation on contemporary issues related to bishul akum at home, when traveling and in the manufacturing process.

A special women's track was dedicated in memory of Mrs. Aliza Grund, president of N'shei Agudath Israel of America, who founded and organized the Yarchei Kallah's women's program until her untimely passing last May. Over 200 women, both from the Yarchei Kallah and the outside, took advantage of a golden opportunity to hear from the renowned Rebbetzin Rena Tarshish, menaheles of Masores Rochel. After being warmly introduced by Mrs. Debby Jacobs, Rebbetzin Tarshish spoke eloquently about the interplay of the midos of ahava and yirah, in addition to paying heartfelt tribute to Mrs. Grund whom she described as a paragon of chesed who truly epitomized those midos. An afternoon excursion had the group traveling to pour out their hearts in tefillah at Kever Rochel.

Rabbi Avrohom Nisan Perl, national director of the Agudah's Commission on Torah Projects, said that he was inspired by the dedication that was on display throughout the day on Monday.

"It was amazing to see the incredible and tenacious commitment for limud HaTorah shown by the Yarchei Kallah participants, who were in the beis medrash from 6:30 AM until late at night," said Rabbi Perl. "It was truly a sight to see and a testament to their genuine love of learning and their passion for personal growth."

THE SECOND DAY

The enthusiasm was palpable as the second day of Yarchei Kallah learning opened on Tuesday, delving even more deeply into the subtleties of permitted and forbidden foods, deeply nuanced parameters enacted by Chazal to preserve the integrity of the Jewish nation.

After early morning Daf Yomi shiurim, said respectively in Yiddish and in English by HaRav Naftali Prizant, Rosh Mesivta, Yeshiva Gedola Chechnov, Maggid Shiur Daf Yomi, Tiferes Menachem, Boyan, and in English by Rabbi Moshe Elefant, noted Daf Yomi maggid shiur, participants davened Shachris and headed to the Beis Medrash to begin preparing for another day of learning. The well-attended daily hachanah shiur given by Rabbi Shlomo Gottesman, editor of Yeshurun and co-chair of the Yarchei Kallah, was followed by the morning shiur iyun.

Extra chairs were brought in to accommodate the overflow crowd as HaRav Moshe Aron Friedman, Rosh Mesivta, Yeshivas Mir Yerushalayim, delivered the English shiur, elucidating numerous issues related to bishul akum.

The afternoon included Minchah, a chazarah shiur given by Rabbi Shlomo Cynamon, Rav, Khal Bnai Torah, Flatbush, and another hachanah session, before a powerful two part shiur led by HaRav Asher Weiss, Av Beis Din, Darchei Hora'ah, Rosh HaYeshiva, Yeshiva Darchei Torah. Organizers had to reconfigure the room to accommodate an attendance of more than 500 people, the largest number ever to attend a Yarchei Kallah shiur, as Rabbi Weiss gave the second of a two-part presentation on the intricacies of bishul akum and pas akum, followed by a dynamic panel discussion on contemporary halachic issues in kashrus featuring HaRav Aaron Goldmunzer, Skvere Dayan, Yerushalayim, and Rabbi Menachem Genack, Rabbinic Administrator, OU Kosher, that lasted for two and a half hours and touched on a wide array of topics including coffee, sushi, cultured meats grown from cells, induction ovens, potato chips and much more.

A heartfelt Maariv was followed by an emotional siyum on Maseches Avodah Zarah in memory of HaGaon HaRav Chaim Yisroel Belsky zt"l, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Torah Vodaath, Rav of Camp Agudah for decades and a leader in the halachic aspects of kashrus, whose yahrtzeit falls on Friday. The siyum was made by Rabbi Gedalia Weinberger, chairman of the Yarchei Kallah and a magid shiur through several Daf Yomi cycles, and was followed by a fascinating remembrance of HaRav Belsky, given by Rabbi Elefant, giving over many of Rabbi Belsky's piskei halachah. HaRav Elimelech Belsky shared his recollections of his father's character, including his boundless simcha in Torah and his passion for kindling true joy in others.

HaRav Amitay Ben David, mechaber of Sefer Sichas Chulin, presented the Daf Yomi Commission's Global Chullin Initiative, which took place in 22 cities and was livestreamed to many thousands, showing each part of the animal and bringing enormous clarity to these complex halachos.

The Yarchei Kallah's women's track had an equally busy day, leaving the hotel at 9 AM for a trip to Shiloh to spend time at various Biblically significant locations, including the site where the Mishkan stood for 369 years, and Sela Yaakov, the rock that was formed from 12 smaller stones as Yaakov Avinu dreamed of angels ascending and descending a celestial ladder. The group also toured the Eretz Binyamin Center and the Psagot Winery before stopping on the way back to the hotel to daven at the kever of Shmuel HaNavi.

As the Yarchei Kallah passed its midway point, Rabbi Eliyahu Simcha Bamberger, national director of the Agudah's Daf Yomi Commission and one of the Yarchei Kallah's organizers, commended participants for the intensity through the long hours in the beis medrash.

"It is clear to see that everyone is deeply immersed in the sugya d'kallah, internalizing concepts that are simultaneously lofty and applicable to their daily lives," said Rabbi Bamberger. "From the earliest moments of the morning, through the night program, which has grown by leaps and bounds, there is true passion here."

THE THIRD DAY

As always, the morning began with Daf Yomi, given in Yiddish by HaRav Chaim Yehuda Ullman, Rosh Mesivta, Yeshivas Bircas Aryeh Pressburg, Yerushalayim, and in English by Rabbi Gedalia Weinberger, Chairman, Daf Yomi Commission, Agudath Israel, Daf Yomi Magid Shiur, Agudath Israel Zichron Chaim Tzvi of Madison. Shachris was followed by preparations for the morning's shiurei iyun, with Rabbi Shlomo Gottesman delivering a formal hachanah to ready participants for the upcoming Torah feast.

Cementing in their minds their accumulated learning with a chazara shiur given by Rabbi Shlomo Cynamon, Rav, Khal Bnai Torah, Flatbush, after Minchah, participants went meichayil el chayil with another hachanah session.

A Yarchei Kallah surprise moment had Rabbi Weinberger recognizing Rabbi Shlomo Gertzulin, the Agudah's executive vice president for finance and administration, in advance of his upcoming retirement. Visibly moved, Rabbi Gertzulin said that he has been privileged to be part of the Yarchei Kallah staff and that he looked forward to returning next year as a participant.

Next on the program was a detailed shiur on bishul akum by HaRav Nissan Kaplan, Rosh HaYeshiva, Das Aaron, who appealed to the several hundred Americans at the Yarchei Kallah to strengthen their resolve, noting that leniency in the area of bishul akum can yield catastrophic spiritual results.

Flexing their spiritual muscles in a different direction, participants enjoyed a visit to Kever Rochel, taking advantage of an opportunity to daven at a makom kadosh, before returning to the beis medrash for a special audio visual presentation on kosher wine and grape juice. Rabbi Nachum Rabinowitz, a foremost expert on wine production and Rav Khal Nachlas Yehoshua of Monastristch, walked participants through the winemaking process, highlighting the various points during production when halachic issues can arise.

While the men spent their third consecutive day in the beis medrash immersed in their learning, the women's track saw history come alive again, this time with a visit to Beit She'an, known as the Pompeii of Israel, reliving the period of the second Bais Hamikdash as well as the periods when the Mishnah and Gemara were written. Heading north, the women took in the beauty of the Kineret before heading to Teveria to daven at the kevarim of the Rambam, the Shlah HaKadosh, Rabbi Akiva, the Ramchal, and Rabbi Yochanan Ben Zakai and his talmidim.

Three days into the program, the Yarchei Kallah participants found themselves firmly entrenched in the world of learning, the distractions of everyday life fading into the recesses of their consciousness, while the timeless words of the sugya d'kallah occupy their every waking moment.