Dirshu Delegation Visits Netivot

In recent months, several remarkable events transpired that highlight the impact Dirshu is having on Klal Yisrael. Just before Shavuos thousands came together at the Prudential Center to encourage and celebrate the fact that Klal Yisrael was undertaking to learn hilchos Shabbos and since then hundreds of thousands have indeed begun to learn hilchos Shabbos.

Indeed, the impact made by Dirshu is most visible when witnessing their large events such as the one in the Prudential Center or the siyumim on Shas and Shulchan Aruch that Dirshu celebrates in a grand way as befits kavod haTorah.

What many don’t see is the day-to-day impact that Dirshu has on smaller kehillos worldwide. Whether in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Charish or Afulah in Eretz Yisrael, the Dirshu revolution is transforming the Torah atmosphere of tens of smaller communities throughout the world.

The Southern Israeli city of Netivot is a case in point. Recently, senior members of Hanhalas Dirshu visited the city and were very moved by what they witnessed. Rabbi Avigdor Bernstein, a senior member of Hanhalas Dirshu, explained, “We at Hanhalas Dirshu are always very focused on the practical. For example, if there is demand for a shiur we will help set it up. If there is group that wants to learn Amud HaYomi, we will give them the tools to set up a shiur or a chaburah. We don’t often, however, take the time to view the tremendous impact that these shiurim have on entire communities. When we visited Netivot and conversed with members of the kehillah, both the leading rabbanim as well as the regular Yidden who live there, we realized that Dirshu has made a halachic revolution in the community.

A Torah Transformation

Rav Shmuel Montag, Rav of the Netivot community, related, “It is no secret that a number of years ago, the learning of halacha was very neglected. People simply didn’t have a geshmak in learning halacha. They didn’t have a framework and thus it fell by the wayside. What we have seen in the past few years is nothing short of revolutionary! There are tens of new halacha shiurim throughout the different battei midrashim and yeshivos in town! It is not limited to any one segment of the community. There are shiurim in both the Sefardi and Ashkenazi yeshivos and shuls, there are shiurim for kollel avreichim and baalei battim who spend most of their time at work. As a Rav in the city, I have seen the fruits of this labor just by the shailos that I am now getting. In the past many didn’t even realize when a shailah had to be asked. The shailos that I personally and many of the dayanim in town are now getting are a testament to the fact that the tzibbur has an awareness of halacha. Because they are learning halacha, they recognize when they have a shailah. This is all a result of the framework Dirshu created for the daily learning of halacha which thousands in this area have accepted upon themselves.”

“But,” Rav Montag added, “it is not just halacha! I have seen how the recent addition of Amud HaYomi has enabled many who could not keep up with the Daf HaYomi to truly feel a chibbur, a connection with Torah sheba’al peh. The impact goes well beyond just the daily learning of an amud. When Torah is learned every day by the husband/father with a geshmak the entire spiritual makeup of the home is different. The wives and mothers have a much greater connection and sensitivity to ruchniyus, the home becomes a happier, more Toradig place. This is just part of the impact that I have seen in Netivot as a result of Dirshu,” concluded Rav Montag.

The Blossoming of Torah in a Former Spiritual Dessert

Another fascinating meeting transpired at the home of HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Levi, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Schar Sachir and a member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah.

Yeshiva Schar Sachir, the spiritual heartbeat of the entire Negev region, was founded more than a half century ago by the legendary Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Yissocher Meir, zt”l. Rav Yissocher literally brought Torah to the midbar of the Negev and until today, the yeshiva, under the leadership of Rav Levi serves as the region’s spiritual nerve center.

In his conversation with Rav Hofstedter, Rav Levi thanked him for bringing so much limud haTorah to the city. Rav Levi then pointed out that although we see how, in the aftermath of the Holocaust, Hashem had great rachmanus in the ensuing fifty years by allowing Torah to be rebuilt in an unprecedented way, still, there were so many parts of Torah that were neglected in the early post Holocaust decades.

“When I was a bachur,” Rav Levi said, “who learned Yerushalmi? Perhaps a few individuals. That was it. Today, Dirshu has programs where thousands are learning Yerushalmi and being tested on it. When we witness the increase in limud haTorah that is transpiring it is simply mindboggling! The same applies to Seder Kodshim. Who learned Kodshim? A few bachurim and yungeleit in Brisk. Perhaps a few hundred people throughout Eretz Yisrael. Today, thousands and tens of thousands are learning Kodshim and Taharos. The Torah revolution that we are witnessing before our eyes is not to be believed!”

“There is no doubt in my mind,” concluded Rav Levi, “that Hashem gives special siyatta d’shmaya to certain individuals. Dirshu has been given that siyatta d’shmaya and we are seeing the results everywhere.”

“When One Lives a Life of Ruchniyus, One is Happy!”

At the meeting, Rav Levi and Rav Hofstedter exchanged memories and reminiscences about Rav Yissocher Meir with whom both had enjoyed very close relationships and they discussed how proud he would have been to see the way Torah is currently blossoming and blooming in the Negev, in ways heretofore never imagined.

Following their meeting Rav Levi honored Rav Hofstedter with delivering a shiur in the yeshiva. The bachurim latched onto every word of the Torah tapestry which Rav Hofstedter wove.

Rav Hofstedter concluded with divrei chizuk stressing the importance of living a life dedicated to Olam Habaah. He explained that the greatest simcha is to live a life of ruchniyus. He related that Rav Simcha Wasserman, a son of Rav Elchonon, once told him that, “Growing up in Baranovich, we lived in abject poverty, and barely had food to eat, yet we were satisfied and happy, because we lived a life of ruchniyus. When one lives a life of ruchniyus, one is happy.”

That was what hanhalas Dirshu witnessed in Netivot. A joyous community living a life of ruchniyus.