After Two Years, Lomdei Dirshu Complete Seder Zeraim

It is a milestone. A colossal milestone that deserves to be celebrated. On 26 Cheshvan/November 27, thousands of Yidden the world over will be making a siyum on Seder Zeraim in Talmud Yerushalmi in Dirshu’s Kinyan Yerushalmi Daf HaYomi learning program. Regardless of where they live - in Bnei Brak or New York, Antwerp or London, Pinsk, Russia, or Sydney, Australia - they are united in this unique, challenging limud.

The siyum on Seder Zeraim brings with it extra simcha, because Seder Zeraim is a seder that is not in Talmud Bavli. In Talmud Bavli, the only masechta that we have in Seder Zeraim is Masechta Brachos, while in Yerushalmi, Seder Zeraim includes all the other masechtos that elucidate in detail all the land-based mitzvos. Now, after almost two years of learning beginning in the month of Cheshvan, the seder has been completed.

In addition, for those who have not yet joined Dirshu’s Kinyan Yerushalmi Daf HaYomi, the beginning of Seder Moed is the opportune time. Learning Yerushalmi on Moed is an especially important limud for those who have already learned Seder Moed in Bavli because the Yerushalmi complements and sheds light on many sugyos in the Talmud Bavli. Now is the time to join!

Dirshu’s new Kinyan Yerushalmi, launched on 20 Cheshvan two years ago in conjunction with the beginning of the11^th cycle of Daf HaYomi Yerushalmi, has taken the community of earnest lomdei Torah by storm.

The new program has proven a great attraction for serious talmidei chachomim, many of whom have been learning and been tested for years in Dirshu’s Kinyan Torah, Daf HaYomi Bavli programs.

Participants take monthly tests and are rewarded for good results. In addition to being tested on the Gemara, the participants are also tested on the peirush of Rav Chaim Kanievsky on the Yerushalmi.

Moreover, there are thousands who are not officially part of the program but are also learning the Daf HaYomi Yerushalmi. It is not an exaggeration to say that in the wake of the Kinyan Yerushalmi program, the learning of Yerushalmi, an integral component of Torah shebaal peh has enjoyed an unprecedented rejuvenation.

According to Rabbi Avigdor Bernstein, a senior member of Dirshu’s hanhala, “There is a thirst among lomdei Torah for new vistas in learning. Lomdei Torah are seeking chiddush, new goals and new challenges. Learning Yerushalmi properly is a true ambition for many significant talmidei chachamim. It is a different, more difficult chelek of Torah than Talmud Bavli, and it is simultaneously an integral part of Torah shebaal peh that every talmid chacham should know.”

“Who Would Have Believed That at My Age (85), I would Merit to Learn Yerushalmi?!”

Rabbi Yosef Aryeh, Dirshu’s coordinator for Kinyan Yerushalmi, related, “I am amazed to see the wide range of people participating in the program. Of course, there are avreichim who are great talmidei chachamim seeking a kinyan in another area of Torah, but there are also younger people, such as a young eighteen-year-old bachur who scores very high marks on each test. There is an 85-year-old Yid who also takes the test every month and sent us a letter saying, ‘I have endless and eternal thanks to Dirshu for creating this program. Who would have believed that at my age I would be zocheh to learn Yerushalmi?!’”

The Sar HaTorah’s Stress on Learning Yerushalmi

It is no secret that the Sar HaTorah, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, urged lomdim to learn Talmud Yerushalmi and to become familiar with that chelek of Torah that for various reasons had been somewhat neglected by lomdim in the past.

Indeed, Rav Chaim’s son-in-law, Rav Zelig Braverman, related that he remembered coming into the home of his father-in-law and telling Rav Chaim that he had met a yungerman who mentioned that he is learning Yerushalmi with the commentary that he himself (Rav Chaim) had written on the Yerushalmi. “Rav Chaim’s entire countenance shone with simcha upon hearing this!” exclaimed Rav Zelig. “He was so happy that there was someone learning Yerushalmi who was being assisted by his peirush. I know that there would be no end to the simcha he would derive today to see thousands of lomdei Torah learning from his peirush on Yerushalmi and even being tested on it!”

Rav Berel Povarsky Reminisces about a Conversation with the Brisker Rav Regarding Yerushalmi

Not long ago, when Rav Berel Povarsky was told about the progress in the Kinyan Yerushalmi program, he highlighted how important it is for mature lomdei Torah to learn Yerushalmi. “Very often there are things mentioned in Yerushalmi that are in the Bavli and aside from the obligation to know all of Torah she’baal peh, they also shed light on many seemingly unresolvable difficulties in the Bavli.”

Rav Berel then reminisced about an incident that transpired some seventy years earlier to illustrate his point. “Many years ago, I was learning Masechta Bechoros in the Brisker Rav’s home in Yerushalayim. I ran into a very difficult Rashi that seemed to contradict a halacha. When I asked the Brisker Rav my question, he countered by asking if I had an answer, if I had created my own chiddush to resolve the difficulty. I told him my approach. The Rav listened and when I finished, he replied, ‘Very good. What you said is a good approach, but,’ he added, ‘in truth, I have a better approach. I found a Yerushalmi that shows that the question is not a question at all!’”

“I learned from this,” Rav Berel explained, “that it is very important to know the Yerushalmi because it can often resolve difficulties that one has in the Bavli. My question was not too difficult for the Brisker Rav because he knew the entire Yerushalmi. A true talmid chochom must also know Yerushalmi.”

“To Redeem Tzion and Bring the Geulah is Through Learning Yerushalmi!”

In fact, Rav Chaim Kanievsky’s talmid, Rav Eliyahu Mann shared, “I remember having the zechus to eat the seudos Shabbos together with Rav Chaim. Once, in the middle of the seudah, Rav Chaim told me, ‘I heard from my father, [the Steipler Gaon] that Rav Chaim Sonnenfeld once said, that the gematria of the words from the possuk, “Tzion b’mishpat tipadeh, Tzion will be redeemed through judgment (1670)” equals that of the words, “Talmud Yerushalmi.” The continuation of that same possuk states, “V’shaveha b’tzedaka, and her captives, through charity,” is the gematria (524) of “Talmud Bavli”. This means that a way to redeem Tzion and bring the geulah is through the learning of Yerushalmi!”

To join Dirshu’s Kinyan Yerushalmi program and gain a true Kinyan in Yerushalmi, call 1-888-5Dirshu or email info@dirshunj.org