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The learning of Torah, especially the Shas, is getting more and more devotees across the Jewish world –Daf Hayomi (Shas in seven and a half years), Amud Yomi (fifteen years), chaburas in shuls, increased attendance in yeshivos, shiurim – a virtual renaissance after the devastation of the Holocaust. However, nothing rivals, in quantity and quality, the Shas Yiden project based in Bet Shemesh, Israel, under the leadership of the Nasi, Hagaon Harav Avrohom Eisen, Pozna Rov, and the Rosh Hakollel, Hagaon Harav Moshe Isaac Samet.
For the eighth year in a row, last Wednesday evening there was a Siyum Hashas by each of the twenty-one avreichim hage’onim. As they are each committed to a minimum of 5 chazoras on each blatt learned, it was a “Siyum x5”.

In the Home of Sar Hatorah

It was the second time that the annual siyum was held in the home of Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a, in memory of his late Rebbetzin, Batsheva Kanievsky, a”h. Just prior to the siyum, as he has done for the last three years, for a half an hour Rav Chaim peppered them with questions from all over shas. As he has done in the past, Rabbi David Abuhatzeira, shlit”a, sent along two cases of wine from Naharia for a Lechaim at the siyum.
The siyum was made by the Rosh Hakollel and then Harav Chaim asked the Nasi to make the hadran and to begin Brochos. Harav Chaim was overjoyed at this simchas Hatorah and made a lechaim using a becher specially engraved for the siyum, and then broke out with the song mah ohavti sorosecha. All joined in, dancing as they sang. It was an intimate and moving experience with the Sar Hatorah. As the chabura was leaving, Harav Yitzchok Shaul Kanievsky remarked to the Rosh Hakollel: I am envious of you, they are all serious talmidei chachomim. My father has tested many others on Shas, but none of them knows Shas as do your Shas Yiden.”

On to Two Additional Farhers by Gedolei Torah

From the home of Harav Chaim, when all felt uplifted and energized to begin the cycle of studying the Shas again, all the avreichim hageonim, together with the Nasi and Rosh Kollel, made two more stops. These were at the homes of Maranan Hageonim, Harav Gershon Edelstein, Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevez and Harav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka. The Shas Yiden were received with great kovod. At each stop, the avreichim were asked questions from all over Shas and there was a lively give and take, which the gedolim and avreichim all enjoyed.
Both gedolim were lavish in their praise for these special and true Shas Yiden. Rav Gershon commented: “They are all tamidei chachomim of distinction who study Torah with such sweetness and ‘geshmak’. I have been to many siyumim in my life, but I have never been to such a Siyum Hashas celebrated twenty-one talmidei chachomim at one time.” Rav Landau marveled that “they are beki’im (fully proficient) throughout Shas and with great depth.”

‘Google-Shas Avreichim’

The unique Shas Yiden system and curriculum enables their remarkable achievement. On average, their monthly written tests cover 225 blatt, half year test on 1350 blatt, and annual test 2711 blatt. In addition, each has also mastered the Shas by heart.
As the reputation of Shas Yiden continues to grow, so has there been a steady increase of Rabbonim and even gedolim calling in with questions all over Shas and receiving ‘instant answers’. Two of the avreichim are now in the process of committing all the Rashis on Shas to memory and another, all the Tosefos. Their prowess has people referring to them as ‘Google-Shas Avreichim’ or the ‘Reb Chaim’s of tomorrow’.
The ages of the avreichim range from 40 down to 18. Last year, the youngest, Yehuda Schwimmer from Bet Shemesh made a personal siyum, which was personally hosted at Rabbi David Abuhatzeira in Naharia, and attended by all the avreichim. Rabbi David commented: “This bachur will be a light for the world.” Then Rabbi David declared: “The whole world rests on these avreichim geonim!” Last Wednesday, Yehuda completed Shas for the 6th time! He recently became engaged to the daughter of the Shlaff family in London.
There are numerous outstanding talmidei chachomim wishing to join the program so that they, too, can master Shas. Aside from the rigorous acceptance test and trial period, funds are needed to sponsor these additional avreichim.

Tribute to their wives

In a separate Siyum Hashas celebration attended by the avreichim, their wives and their respective parents, the Nasi of Shas Yiden paid special tribute to the wives of the avreichim. “It is certainly not easy to run a home with a large family while your husbands are engaged in such an aggressive and ambitious program. Your encouraging them as they devote themselves to completing 8 blatt a day with another 4 chazoras (i.e. 40 blatt a day) and compiling notes and answering questions of the syllabus – their hatzlocha and zechus is yours, too. May Hashem shower on you all His brochos – to you all and your children”, which was followed by a resounding Amen by all present. Rav Eisen then presented each of the ladies with a personal gift and an envelope.

Yissachar-Zevulun on Shas in Just One Year

It is told of Harav Chaim of Volozhin that he had a Yissachar-Zevulun pact with a local ignorant shoemaker whereby he had a 50-50 deal with Reb Chaim – he paid in to support Reb Chaim and would receive half the merit in the World to Come. One day the shoemaker passed away suddenly. During the shiva, Reb Chaim was facing a perplexing question, and that night the shoemaker appeared to him in a dream and gave him the solution. Reb Chaim was amazed and commented, “So quickly, so quickly has he acquired the zchus and knowledge of the Torah that had been studied!”
Three years ago, at a public Siyum Hashas of Shas Yiden, the Sanzer Rov, who is also the head of Mifal Hashas, commented that never in Jewish history has there ever been a yeshiva or kollel where each of the avreichim knows the entire Shas and completes it every year as is done at Shas Yiden.
A Yissachar-Zevulun pact at Shas Yiden enables a person to acquire the zechus of the entire Shas in just one year. In Yoreh De’ah #246 It states that it is considered as if he learned it all himself. This opportunity has become a source of comfort for people to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

For further information on Shas Yiden, the Yissachar-Zevulun pacts, sponsorships or to donate: 718-702-1528, [email protected]. 1274 49th Street, #562, Brooklyn, NY 11219.