Tens of Thousands of Tinokos Shel Beis Rabban Learn to Go
in the Ways of the Chofetz Chaim
The Chofetz Chaim’s yahrtzeit is an eis ratzon. There is perhaps no one in recent generations who did so much to help and enrich Klal Yisrael – both in sur mei’rah and asei tov.
Whether it is the sefer Chofetz Chaim that brought to the forefront of Klal Yisrael’s agenda the importance of being careful with one’s speech, Ahavas Chessed that codified all the halachos of chessed or, of course, the Chofetz Chaim’s magnum opus sefer Mishnah Berurah that continues to be the foundational daily halacha sefer in Klal Yisrael, we are still today being spiritually enriched by the Chofetz Chaim. Certainly, the Chofetz Chaim, through his sefer Likutei Halachos on hilchos korbanos in the Beis Hamikdosh also brought the concept of tzipisa l’yeshua, longing for the yeshua to the forefront of public consciousness. Thus, there is no doubt that the day of his yahrtzeit is a tremendous eis ratzon, an opportune time for tefilla and for invoking rachmei shomayim on behalf of all Jews.
The NEED for Tefilla
If there was ever a time that Klal Yisrael needed to unite in a massive outpouring of tefillah and achdus; if there was ever a time when tens of thousands of tinokos shel beis rabban needed to come together to invoke rachmei shomayim, that time is now!
The am hayoshev b’Tzion is under attack from multiple enemies. Just this week the lives of six Yidden were snuffed out by a heinous terrorist attack at the Ramot junction in Yerushalayim. They were killed for no other reason than the fact that they were Jews. Not only are they surrounded by ruthless adversaries who seek to destroy all Jews, but they are also under attack by Western journalists, heads of state and an entire leftwing public relations assault that seeks to paint the Jews as a genocidal, ruthless enemy of humanity. As a result, antisemitism is running rampant in ways that have not been seen since the Holocaust. The stability of the world order is under threat, and license has been given to Jew haters to come out of the closet and openly declare war against the Jews. They have come out of the shadows and are unabashedly in the open.
The Age Old Jewish Response
That is why Dirshu’s 11th Annual International Yom Limud and Tefillah, to be held on 24 Elul/September 17, the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrtzeit, can’t come sooner.
Dirshu, in a remarkable global effort to invoke rachmei shomayim, is holding a multifaceted Yom Limud and Tefillah that will encompass all of Klal Yisrael the world over, including tinokos shel beis rabban, bnei yeshiva, Bais Yaakov schools, baalei battim and any caring Jew.
This year’s Yom Limud and Tefillah will also showcase a special videocast featuring unique divrei chizuk in advance of the Yamim Noraim delivered by distinguished Gedolim and Rabbonim. The videocast will feature a powerful address in English by HaGaon HaRav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Eitan Feiner, Rav of Kehillas Knesses Yisroel of Far Rockaway-Lawrence, and Rav Zev Smith, Maggid Shiur, Daf HaYomi B’Halacha.
Another fascinating aspect to be shown on the videocast is unique footage of HaGaon HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of the Ponovezh Yeshiva L’Tzeirim who was one of the most insightful mechanchim of bachurim in his generation, as he answers questions about and discusses the rebbi-talmid relationship.
The Yom Limud and Tefilla was established by Dirshu eleven years ago specifically to bring Klal Yisrael together on the auspicious occasion of the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrzeit right before Rosh Hashanah in unified tefilla on behalf of Klal Yisrael and to encourage the continued learning of the Chofetz Chaim’s sefarim that have such power to invoke rachmei shomayim.
Organizers of the Yom Limud and Tefilla clearly tapped into the innate feeling of every Jewish neshama in these extraordinary times when Klal Yisrael is facing unprecedented challenges. This concentrated effort in tefilla and achdus was designed to arouse rachmei shomayim in the zechus of the heiligeh Chofetz Chaim who was so moser nefesh to promote these ideals amongst Klal Yisrael.
On the Yom Limud and Tefilla, Jews throughout the world will gather to recite specific perakim of Tehillim and learn segments from the sefarim written by the Chofetz Chaim, the Mishnah Berurah and Sefer Shemiras Halason.
The Tehillim being recited will be perakim chof and kuf-lamed, followed by the tefilla of Acheinu Beis Yisrael. The limud of the sifrei Chofetz Chaim will be from Dirshu’s super popular Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program that is currently learning the laws of refuah, healing on Shabbos. It will comprise siman 328, seif 35-37. The mussar limud from the sefarim of the Chofetz Chaim will be from the sefer Chovas Hashemirah, Perek 12-13.
School Programs Learning from the Ways of the Chofetz Chaim the World-Over
Simultaneously, a remarkable program will take place in more than 300 cities across the world with many hundreds of yeshivos, chadorim and Bais Yaakovs participating.
The extraordinary school-age program designed by Dirshu is sure to have a tremendous impact on tens of thousands of children both in major Jewish centers and in places far from Yiddishkeit hubs. Created with the singular goal of connecting children to the teachings and life of the Chofetz Chaim, the program offers some hilchos Rosh Hashanah together with hashkafa and mussar as taught by the Chofetz Chaim all compiled into an age-appropriate, user-friendly, easy-to-understand booklet replete with magnificent illustrations, rare stories of the Chofetz Chaim and a brief history of the Chofetz Chaim’s yeshiva.
Dirshu has made these extremely compelling, artfully designed booklets in both English and Yiddish.
The captivating stories and graphics are sure to motivate the children in each age group to read and be inspired. In addition, the combination of riveting graphics and clarity of the lessons has been hailed by leading menahelim and mechanchim as a tremendously successful way of bringing alive the lessons of the Chofetz Chaim.
In the English language program, there are over sixty schools participating from Baltimore, Phoenix, Boca Raton, Boston, Brooklyn, Deal, Denver, Far Rockaway, Houston, LA, Lakewood, Monsey, Waterbury, Toronto, Philadelphia and Miami.
In their effort to reach tinokos shel beis rabban from across the spectrum, Dirshu has designed a vivid Yiddish version of the booklet for Chassidishe chadorim with tailormade illustrations. There will be approximately fifty five schools participating in the Yiddish program hailing from Union City, Montreal, Brooklyn, Lakewood and Monsey.
Along with the booklet, all children will be gifted with a professionally produced USB recording in English and in Yiddish replete with remarkable lessons and stories about the Chofetz Chaim.
Many Menhalim have enthusiastically embraced these programs and have noted how much the children have gained from the material during the past years’ programs.
This is aside from schools, chadorim and Bais Yaakovs throughout Eretz Yisrael and Europe who will also participate in the Yom Limud and Tefilla. In all, hundreds of schools throughout Eretz Yisrael, North America and Europe encompassing hundreds of thousands of children will participate in the Yom Limud and Tefilla utilizing the unique content provided to commemorate the auspicious day. The impact on young boys and girls learning about the Chofetz Chaim will be both huge and unparalleled.
With Rosh Hashanah nearly upon us, we realize what a monumental Yom Hadin we are facing. The world is an extremely unstable place. Klal Yisrael needs YOU to daven together with hundreds of thousands throughout the world on Dirshu’s Yom Limud and Tefilla, and YOU need the words of the Gedolim broadcast on the videocast for guidance and chizuk in advance of the New Year.
Don’t miss it!
By Chaim Gold
