Special Guest From Eretz Yisrael, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, Shlita
How do you explain the unique magic of a Dirshu Convention to someone who has never been to one? In truth, it is impossible! How can you describe the Torah atmosphere? The rarified feeling of being in the presence of many hundreds of talmidei chachomim and their wives whose lives literally revolve around limud haTorah?
You cannot describe it, but perhaps no words can better encapsulate Klal Yisrael’s preeminent Torah Convention than its official name of “Kinnus Olam HaTorah.” As Dirshu celebrates its 30th Anniversary, this year’s convention to be held over the weekend of Shabbos Parshas Terumah 3-5 Adar, February 20-22, at the Armon Hotel in Stamford, promises to be an unforgettable Torah event.
“We are not in Stamford, Connecticut! We are in Dirshu!”
At a previous convention, Rav Moshe Benzion Weinberger said something profound that resonated, “You think you are in Stamford, Connecticut, but you are not! There is a law that an embassy of a country is considered that country’s sovereign territory. For example, if you are in the British Embassy in Washington, you are not in Washington. By law, it is considered as if you are in Britain. Similarly, we may think we are in Stamford, Connecticut but really, we are in Dirshu! Dirshu is a different planet, a different atmosphere. If there is anything that I learned this Shabbos, it is that being in Dirshu is something not in this world. It is a hechere velt, an elevated world of Torah and a world of indescribable simcha!”
At this year’s convention, lomdei Dirshu will have the zechus of being in the proximity of and hearing divrei Torah from senior American Gedolei Yisrael and a guest Gadol from Eretz Yisrael.
Among the Gedolim who will grace the event will be luminaries such as HaGaon HaRav Yeruchem Olshin, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Lakewood, HaGaon HaRav Hillel David, shlita, Rav of Kehillas Yeshiva Shaarei Torah, Yoshev Rosh of the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva of Torah Umesorah, HaGaon HaRav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz, shlita, the Skverer Dayan of Boro Park and one of America’s most prominent poskim, HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Tiferes Yerachmiel, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Mesivta of Lakewood, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Goldberg, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Telshe, and HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Eisenberger, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Telshe.
The special guest from Eretz Yisrael will be the Rosh Yeshiva and ilui, HaGaon HaRav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, who is slated to give this year’s famed iyun shiur after Shacharis on Shabbos for the entire assemblage.
In previous conventions this shiur has been delivered by luminaries such as HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Yaakov Borenstein, Rosh Yeshivas, zt”l, Kiryas Melech and ybl”ch, HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ponevezh, HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Miller, shlita, Rosh Kollel of Toronto, HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, shlita, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, shlita. One of the highlights of the shiur is the spirited give and take during these shiurim as lomdim ask questions in the middle and one can feel the fire of Torah pulsating in the atmosphere.
A Breath of Torah Oxygen
Just as it is impossible to describe the Torah atmosphere of a Dirshu Convention, it is impossible to encapsulate the feelings permeating the hearts of Lomdei Dirshu in anticipation of the biennial convention. Many have attested to the fact that the convention is like a breath of Torah oxygen in that it gives them the opportunity to meet like-minded “brothers and sisters in combat”, who set aside large portions of time daily to learn, chazer, learn and chazer again, learning the material for the comprehensive tests that every lomed Dirshu aspires to take successfully.
These multitudes of talmidei chachamim come together with their counterparts, talking in learning and exchanging tips on how to enhance yedias haTorah and retention of the vast amounts of Torah that they learn. The chizuk they derive from realizing that they are a significant part of a massive global movement of yedias haTorah cannot be quantified. It doesn’t matter which program you are in, whether it is the Amud HaYomi, Daf HaYomi, Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, Kinyan Halacha or any other program, you are united by the same thing, Torah.
Phenomenal Women’s Program For Nishei Dirshu
In addition, the wives of lomdei Dirshu walk away from Shabbos on a high. Not only are they deeply inspired by the special women’s programing but perhaps even more so, from meeting other distinguished wives and mothers who truly understand what it means to be part of Dirshu with the inherent thrill of witnessing the hatzlacha of their husbands and/or sons after a test; or upon completion of a masechta, recognizing how, through Dirshu, the entire family becomes elevated and closer to Hashem. This year, a unique women’s program is being planned with addresses by some of the most inspiring women speakers and role models as well as deeply moving entertainment.
This year, Dirshu will be privileged to have Rabbi Joey Haber address the Nishei Dirshu. The women will also have the privilege of hearing speeches and words of chizuk from Rebbetzin Slovie Jungreiss-Wolf and Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner. The programing for women promises to be a highlight for the Nishei Dirshu, who serve as the backbone behind the successful Torah learning of their husbands.
During the meals, discussions revolve around the intricacies of the masechta or as one Yid commented - so matter-of-factly that he did not even think it was remarkable - that all his mechutanim know that he does not schedule a chasunah of one of his children for the week of a Dirshu test because then there would be one night when he would not be able to attend sheva brachos… The Dirshu test comes before everything!
The personal stories spontaneously shared by lomdim about what Dirshu has done for them, their wives and families leave participants amazed and inspired.
“How Can I Not Come?!”
The event, scheduled to be held at the Armon Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut, will bring together Lomdei Dirshu and Nishei Dirshu from all walks of life who are united by one thing, their commitment to accountable limud haTorah. It is this common denominator, this achdus, this joint sense of mission, that permeates every Dirshu convention. Yes, the lomdim may look different, with some wearing suits, others bekeshes, some wearing black hats and others shtreimlach, some with Sefardic pronunciation and some with Ashkenazic pronunciation, but they are bound together by the one thing that unites all of Klal Yisrael, the Torah along with their deep, abiding dedication to steady and accountable limud haTorah.
This year, Dirshu will again be privileged to have the presence of Gedolim and Rabbanim who represent all of the different shevatim of Klal Yisrael. Among them, HaRav Shmuel Choeuka, shlita, Rav of Congregation Ohel Simha of Deal, NJ, HaRav Yehoshua Abba Busel, shlita, R”M at Beth Medrash Govoha of Lakewood and Rav of the High Street shul, HaRav Yitzchok Zalman Gips, shlita, Rav of Khal Birchas Avrohom and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Mevakshei Torah, HaRav Binyomin Eckstein, shlita, Belzer Dayan of London and Director of Dirshu Europe, HaRav Eytan Feiner, shlita, Rav of Khal Knesses Yisrael of Far Rockaway , HaRav Mordechai Ginsberg, shlita, R”M, Yeshivas Chochmas HaTorah, and HaRav Yisrael Moshe Olewski, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ger and many others.
The zemiros and music will be led by R’ Isaac Honig and the Shira Choir. The Shabbos will culminate with a beautiful Melava Malka that is open to the general public where the Gedolim as well as the Nasi of Dirshu will give keynote addresses in honor of the lomdei Torah.
One prominent American Rosh Yeshiva put it succinctly, “How can I not participate in the Dirshu Convention?! This is an event with no agenda other than increasing limud haTorah - no political agenda, no fundraising. It is, simply put, a celebration of dedication to learning. We are just coming to celebrate with Yidden who have invested days and nights over many years to learn, chazer and be tested. How can I not come?!”
