One had to be there to see the simcha, to feel the contagious joy exuding from the senior Gedolei Yisrael to truly appreciate the Torah revolution transpiring since the inception of the popular Amud HaYomi program.

The Gedolim, who were the first to recognize the transformative impact that such an ambitious project would have on Klal Yisrael, urged Dirshu to forge ahead, and now the fruits of their far-reaching vision was being celebrated.

Over the past several weeks, siyumim on Masechta Eruvin were held at the homes of leading Gedolim and in Amud HaYomi gatherings the world over to celebrate the milestone event of the completion of the difficult, foundational masechta of Eruvin.

Siyumim were held at the homes of HaGaon HaRav Moshe Sternbuch, shlita, Raavad of the Eidah Hachareidis, HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka, HaGaon HaRav Avraham Salim, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Rosh Yeshivas Me’or HaTorah, and HaGaon HaRav Dovid Cohen, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron.

Regional siyumim were also held in locales across the world to celebrate the accomplishment. From Lakewood and Brooklyn to Montreal and Toronto and even far off South Africa, siyumim were held.

The fact that leading elder Gedolei Yisrael agreed to open their humble homes to host the siyumim is indicative of the tremendous importance that they attach to the Amud HaYomi shiur and what it does for Klal Yisrael.

Rav Meir Shapiro’s Vision

The siyum at the home of Rav Dovid Cohen might have been one of the later siyumim but his remarks encapsulated the hashkafa of the Gedolei Yisrael regarding the Amud HaYomi and its importance as a pivotal limud for Klal Yisrael. 

Rav Cohen recalled how some two years ago, when the foundational meetings were held to establish the Amud HaYomi, “I shared an important thought. Rav Meir Shapiro had tremendous zechuyos when he established the Daf HaYomi. Many people have, baruch Hashem, completed the entire Shas through learning with the Daf HaYomi and that is wonderful. Nevertheless, the fact is that for those who learn the daf in a half hour or 45 minutes, it is nearly impossible to learn it properly. When Rav Meir Shapiro established the Daf HaYomi in Poland, Yidden after a day of work or before the work day started, spent not a half hour learning, but hours learning the daf. They were able to review and truly achieve a havana in the sugyos they were learning.”  

“We must understand,” Rav Cohen explained, “Daf HaYomi is not like the limud of chok! If a person does the Daf HaYomi in a half hour, that is not the Daf HaYomi of Rav Meir Shapiro. Rav Meir Shapiro envisioned Yidden throughout the world being able to talk together in learning that day’s daf. He dreamt that they would be so well versed in the daf that they could discuss it and argue over it with fellow Yidden wherever they were. If someone can learn the daf and know it in accordance with that august vision of Rav Meir Shapiro, that is wonderful! Tavo alav bracha! The question is, what happens if a person learns the daf without really understanding it? Rav Elyashiv told me that learning without understanding is worth very little. It is better to learn less but to really understand. Thus, if the Amud HaYomi will ensure that a person can learn less but understand, then this is not minimizing the daf!” Rav Cohen thundered, “It is strengthening the entire purpose of the Daf HaYomi. The Amud HaYomi is NOT minimizing the daf by cutting it in half into an amud! It is clear as light that the Amud HaYomi is strengthening the yesod upon which Rav Meir Shapiro built the Daf HaYomi!

“Just look at how many thousands of people have now completed the difficult masechta of Eruvin and learned it well! With great emotion, Rav Dovid Cohen then went on to say that the zechus of this revolutionary transformation in learning with deep havana is credited to Dirshu and its distinguished Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita. “Nothing that can compare to this zechus and for this we owe deep hakaras hatov to Rav Hofstedter,” Rav Cohen concluded.

A Resounding Success

The siyum at the home of Rav Dovid Cohen was preceded by several others siyumim, beginning with one at the home of Rav Moshe Sternbuch. Rav Moshe, despite his age and infirmity, not only participated in the siyum but gave warm divrei bracha highlighting the importance of a limud done together with havana by so many Yidden the world over. 

Rav Sternbuch was introduced by his talmid, Rav Mattisyohu Deutsch, a Dayan in the Eidah Hacharedis and a prominent Rav in Ramot. Rav Deutsch, who also delivers a popular Amud HaYomi shiur, related that when the Amud HaYomi was about to start Masechta Eruvin, many expressed fear for the future. Eruvin is a difficult masechta, will people fall out of the program?
“What we have seen, however, is the exact opposite! Thousands upon thousands have thrived in Eruvin. For many, it was the first time that they were able to properly understand the concepts, learn and chazer. It was a resounding success!”

“Not Only Have We Learned 104 Dafim, But We Have Built an Entire Spiritual Binyan!” 

The siyumim in Bnei Brak at the homes of both Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch were deeply inspirational. Rav Landau, who is always sparing with words, thanked Dirshu and Rav Dovid Hofstedter who was present at the siyum, for facilitating such an increase in limud haTorah and kevod shomayim in Klal Yisrael.

In his brief remarks at the siyum held at his home, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch cited the words of the Maharal that when a person learns Torah, he builds a great spiritual edifice, an entire building. Rav Moshe Hillel said that the words of the Maharal answered a question that had bothered him. “Why,” he asked, “when we finish a mesechta like Eruvin that contains 105 dafim, do we make a siyum whereas when we complete 176 dafim of Masechta Bava Basra, we do not make a siyum? Isn’t 176 more than 105?” He answered that Eruvin is an entire masechta. There is a shleimus in its completion. 176 dafim in Bava Basra, however, is not an entire masechta, there is no shleimus. A building that is complete has a tremendous advantage. That is another reason that we are so happy today! Not only do we know 105 dafim in a difficult masechta but we have built for ourselves a complete spiritual binyan!

“It is for that reason,” Rav Hirsch ended off, “that I feel that Klal Yisrael has to give a sincere, groise shkoiach to Rav Dovid and Dirshu for doing so much for Klal Yisrael. Dirshu has increased kavod haTorah and yedias haTorah in an exponential way.”

The Amud HaYomi Connects Yidden to Torah

One of the unique siyumim was held at the home of Rav Avraham Salim. Rav Salim, who journeyed all the way to Vienna nearly two years ago to participate in the first Amud HaYomi siyum on Masechta Brachos, related, “We live in a generation in which we see that, baruch Hashem, there is a thirst for Torah! Not only is that thirst evident in those who spend their entire day immersed in learning, but it is also evident when observing the rest of Klal Yisrael. In recent years, I visited numerous countries outside of Eretz Yisrael and wherever I go, I see baalei battim who are also deeply engaged in learning. We see this in the way that the Amud HaYomi has become so popular. The slower pace of learning truly connects Yidden to Torah. The fact that they can understand what they learn at a deeper level intensifies their bond with Torah in a profound way.”

The Achdus of Eruvin, the Achdus of the Amud HaYomi

Rav Dovid Hofstedter briefly addressed each of the siyumim at the home of the Gedolim. At the home of Rav Salim, he cited the words of the Gemara that teach us that Shlomo Hamelech instituted the takanos of Eruvin and netillas yadayim. Rav Dovid asked, “What is the connection between the two. They appear to be two disparate takanos? Perhaps,” Rav Hofstedter suggested, “there is a common denominator.” He explained, “Each of these two takanos has what we could call a negative or refraining component and a positive component. Regarding netillas yadayim, we must wash our hands in order to prevent them from making the terumah impure. There is also a positive aspect that when one washes his hands, he elevates his level of purity.

“With regard to eruvin there is the negative in the sense that we are not allowed to carry in a reshus harabim or from one domain to another, but there is also the positive, the fact that an eruv binds us together, makes us b’achdus as we all are considered to be living in the same domain. Eruvin, the Maharsha teaches us, brings peace between people.”

Building on that theme, Rav Dovid said, “Similarly, the Amud HaYomi has both components. Not only does it prevent one from transgressing the negative of bittul Torah but it is much more than that! It also elevates us and elevates our goals to finish Shas on a higher level. It enables us to learn it with a greater clarity and amkus and review it more and retain it. It isn’t just refraining from something negative, it is also positive and uplifting!”

Amud HaYomi in All Corners of the World

Speaking of positive and uplifting, the sheer impact that the Amud HaYomi has had on communities all over the world, even those far from the crowded frum population centers, is truly remarkable.

One such example was the siyum on Masechta Eruvin in Johannesburg, South Africa. Although
Dirshu has been popular in South Africa for many years, the primary program learned there was the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha. More complex Gemara programs with regular tests were not as prevalent.

When the Amud HaYomi began, however, Dirshu’s South African director at the time, Rabbi Ari Taback felt that the community had reached a stage where they were capable of elevating themselves up a notch.

The limud began with a number of shiurim and really took off. Since then, Rabbi Taback who, after spending many years in South Africa, moved to Eretz Yisrael. Nevertheless, he has remained very attached to his former community and followed with great interest and nachas as the community progressed. Rabbi Taback was invited back to Johannesburg to be the guest speaker at the gala Amud HaYomi siyum on Eruvin.

It was simply amazing to see so many members of the community who in the past would not have dreamed of making a siyum, especially a siyum on Masechta Eruvin, doing just that! Rabbi Taback spoke with great emotion about the strides the community has made through Dirshu’s programs.

Five Montreal Amud HaYomi Shiurim Come Together

Another unique siyum on Eruvin was the one made in the Cot St. Luc neighborhood of Montreal. In Cot St. Luc, one large siyum was held unifying five different Amud Hayomi shiurim in the area. Most of the kehillos in that neighborhood are Sephardic kehillos and it was clear from the testimonials of the many mesaymim that the Amud HaYomi for them was not just another learning seder, but a transformative experience that deeply connected their neshamos with limud haTorah, learning as they mastered a masechta. Indeed, for many, it was the first time they made a siyum!

The simcha the permeated the hall combined with the tremendous outpouring of interest to join from those who have not yet joined was the greatest testament to the far-reaching impact of the five Amud HaYomi shiurim in that neighborhood.

Toronto Celebrates

In Toronto too, a beautiful siyum was held to celebrate the milestone. That siyum was attended and addressed by HaGaon HaRav Moshe Mordechai Lowy, shlita, Rav of the Agudas Yisrael of Toronto and by Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi of Dirshu.

Rav Hofstedter gave a moving drasha during which time, he looked at the diverse nature of the crowd who all hailed from different walks of life and varied age groups and pointed out that all of the Amud HaYomi learners despite their diversity are united by the one thing that unites Am Yisrael, the Torah! “It is so appropriate,” he exclaimed, “that this siyum is being made on Masechta Eruvin, because as the Maharsha says, the concept of eruvin is to unite people into one domain. Eruvin symbolizes shalom and achdus.”

Rav Lowy spoke about the remarkable impact that the Amud HaYomi learning has on each Yid as an individual and simultaneously on the entire collective tzibbur. That is in essence “the power of Dirshu! It changes individuals and has also changed the lives of our collective tzibbur enriching the tzibbur in an almost unprecedented way!”

R’ Shloime Goldreich, an Amud HaYomi learner and enthusiastic participant in many Dirshu conventions, also gave personal testimony on the impact that Dirshu has had on him. 

The siyum in Toronto was made by R’ Yochanan Buksbaum and R’ Alter Shields was honored with beginning Masechta Pesachim.

Now is the Time to Join

Perhaps the remarks voiced at the home of Rav Dovid Cohen by HaRav Aryeh Zilberstein, one of the most popular Amud HaYomi maggidei shiur who is heard by thousands daily on various platforms, best encapsulate what Dirshu is all about.

At the siyum, he said, “Yes, it is wonderful that we have completed Eruvin. Indeed, when you make a siyum on a masechta, the custom is to connect it to the next masechta, Masechta Pesachim. I want to say forget about that idea! There are some who did not complete Eruvin. There are some who have never even started. You should all know that Eruvin has nothing to do with Pesachim. Even if you didn’t complete or even start Eruvin, that is no reason not to get on board now and start Pesachim. The message of Dirshu is to upgrade your limud haTorah in any way possible. That is the raison d’etre of Dirshu. Even if you have not joined yet, now is the time to join the Amud HaYomi. You will see that if you do, your life will never be the same!”