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Prominent Rabbanim Deliver Divrei Chizuk and Children Around the World Daven for Klal Yisrael and Internalize the Chofetz Chaim’s Message
By Chaim Gold
HaRav Eytan Feiner
The mother of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, zt’l, the famed Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, was once asked, “What did you do to be zocheh to such a son?” She replied, “I am not sure what I did, but I can tell you one thing, I complimented him all the time!!”
“A compliment, a positive word, can have a profound impact on others, above and beyond what we could have ever imagined! Let’s us all try to positively engage in chesed with our words.”
These passionate words were said by Rav Smith, Maggid Shiur, Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, on the pre-Rosh Hashanah videocast in conjunction with Dirshu’s Eleventh Annual International Yom Limud and Tefillah held on the yahrzeit of the Chofetz Chaim, Wednesday, 24 Elul/September 17.
Other prominent speakers on the videocast were HaGaon HaRav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, RoshYeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Shlomo, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, Nasi of Dirshu, and Rav Eytan Feiner, Rav of Kehillas Knesses Yisrael of Far Rockaway-Lawrence.
Another fascinating part of the videocast was the unique footage of HaGaon HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, zt’l, Rosh Yeshiva of the Ponovezh Yeshiva L’Tzeirim and one of the most insightful mechanchim of bachurim in his generation, answering questions about and discussing the rebbi–talmid relationship.
The videocast was punctuated with inspirational niggunim of hisorerus in advance of the Yamim Noraim.
The Yom Limud and Tefillah was established to designate the yahrzeit of the Chofetz Chaim as a day to bring chizuk and hisorerus to Klal Yisrael in advance of the Yamim Noraim through the message of the Chofetz Chaim.
For the eleventh year, the Yom Limud and Tefillah has successfully brought all of Klal Yisrael together specifically on the auspicious occasion of the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrzeit just before Rosh Hashanah in unified tefillah on behalf of Klal Yisrael and to encourage the continued learning of the Chofetz Chaim’s sefarim that have such power to invoke rachmei shamayim.
This year, perhaps more than in any previous year, the Yom Limud and Tefillah resonated in a more profound way—as Yidden are under attack both in Eretz Yisrael and around the world, just because they are Jews.
On the Yom Limud and Tefillah, Yidden throughout the world said perakim of Tehillim beseeching Hakadosh Baruch Hu to have mercy on Klal Yisrael and learned halachos from the Mishnah Berurah and the sefer Shemiras Halashon, both authored by the Chofetz Chaim. “The zechus of limud haTorah, tefillah, and the extra sensitivity in matters of speech will certainly serve as a shield for Klal Yisrael in the upcoming YomHadin,” said Rabbi Avigdor Bernstein, a senior member of Dirshu’s hanhalah.
Rav Zev Smith raised an important aspect of how to use one’s speech. He highlighted the importance not just of refraining from forbidden speech such as lashon ha’ra but stressed how much chesed can be done through speech. He related a story of a woman, the mother of a large family, who began to feel unwell. She went to the doctor, who ran a battery of tests. The next day the doctor called her and asked her to come down to his office. When she arrived, he told her the diagnosis: cancer! He then mapped out a very aggressive treatment plan that could potentially save her life.
That woman came home from the doctor and realized that despite everything her large family needed supper. She decided to take them all out to a local pizza shop, planning to break the news to her family over supper. Before she even had a chance to break the news to them, she first got them settled with their food. Then, as she got up to bring something to the table, a woman who was observing her family, came over and said, “You have such a wonderful family! I have been watching them, and I am so impressed. You should be gezundt, healthy, and have nachas!”
The mother related that what kept her going for the next two and half years of excruciating treatments, chemo, and radiation were the heartfelt words, “You should be gezundt, healthy and have nachas!”
“The unbearable had become bearable,” thundered Rav Smith. “Why? Because of chesed b’dibbur, chesed with words!”
Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi of Dirshu, commented on the previous year through the lens of a Torah perspective. “These days before Rosh Hashanah and during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah offer us an opportunity to reflect on the past year and look deeply into ourselves as a tzibbur so that we can potentially discern what we need to improve in the year to come.
“In all truth, Klal Yisrael experienced many miracles this year. Yes, there were numerous tragedies and losses this year, r’l, but at the same time, there were so many yeshuos! Klal Yisrael saw the Yad Hashem!
“The Gemara in Eruvin teaches that every Jew should constantly analyze his own conduct and see what he can improve. Even in the good things that he does, he should try to see what he can do better.
“Perhaps we can suggest that now is the time to analyze what we have been doing that is right. Why? So that we can be encouraged to continue in that path and build on it.
“We know that the world stands on Torah, avodah, and gemilas chasadim. This past year we all davenedfor Klal Yisrael. We invested our hearts and souls in tefillah. There was the war in Eretz Yisrael, the hostages, the losses. We davened with more kavanah and more heart.
“We also learned more Torah. Since the war in Eretz Yisrael began, look how much Torah has spread nationally and internationally. There is the Amud HaYomi that has spread to all corners of the globe and so many other important Torah programs.
“And what about gemilas chasadim? When there were cuts in funding for yeshivos from certain sources, what did Klal Yisrael do? They gave and they gave!
“We should take encouragement from all of these and realize that Hashem looks favorably on these actions, and we can build on them going forward.”
One of the especially notable aspects of the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrzeit was the special Yom Limud and Tefillah programming for children which was created with the singular goal of connecting children to the teachings and life of the Chofetz Chaim. In North America alone, more than 100 schools held special sessions of learning from the legacy of the Chofetz Chaim while in Eretz Yisrael and Europe similar programming was held in many hundreds of schools!
The Yom Limud and Tefillah is another way that Dirshu is unifying young and old all over the world to invoke rachamei shomayim in the Yamim Noraim.
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