Who can forget last Rosh Chodesh Adar when a terrorist murdered eight young talmidim at Yeshivas Mercaz Ha’Rav as they sat learning in the bais midrash? Who can forget the feeling of horror and the strong desire to be able to do something, anything to make sense of an event that seems from all angles to appear so senseless? And now, it’s eleven months later and finally, we are being given the opportunity to do just that when this coming Rosh Chodesh Adar, February 24th 2009, on the first anniversary of their death, eight sifrei Torah will be dedicated in the memory of the eight kedoshim.
Jews all over the world are being called upon to unite to commemorate and celebrate those students and the Torah and mitzvot to which they were so committed. So many have already offered their support to this campaign, the sheer numbers attesting to Klal Yisroel’s united haskamah and affirmation of B’Lev Echad’s goal in calling upon all yeshivos, communities and individuals to join in the global learning initiative, and to join the mitzvah campaign. The project has been funded by an anonymous family from the New York area, which also is donating the eight sifrei Torah, one for each of the families of the boys from the yeshivas.
The purpose of B’Lev Echad, according to the project’s organizers, is to create an unprecedented celebration of unity in Klal Yisroel in order to commemorate those eight students and the Torah to which they were so committed, creating a true kiddush Hashem and showing that when those who learn Torah are attacked, our response it to learn even more Torah.
There are three ways to join the B’lev Echad initiative. Join with thousands as eight days before the event, Jews around the world participate in the 8-for-8 Mitzvah Campaign. The campaign will focus on a specific mitzvah one for each of the eight days leading up to Rosh Chodesh Adar. Each mitzvah will be dedicated l’ilui nishmas one of the eight kedoshim. A yeshiva, community, or even an individual can choose to participate in one, some, or all of the eight mitzvos.
A second way to join the B’Lev Echad initiative is to join with yeshivas, individuals and communites across the world who have already signed up for the worldwide learning initiative. This initiative is an effort to conclude the Talmud and Tanach eight times over in time for the Worldwide Siyum which will take place with the Hachnasses Sefer Torah.
The grand finale of all this will be the massive Hachnasat Sefer Torah Broadcast that will be taking place in Yerushalayim and silmutaniously broadcasted to schools and communities all over the world uniting Jews and celebrating the Torah and mitzvos to which the eight boys were so committed. Students and communities will experience true achdus while watching this event together with hundreds of thousands of Jews around the world. The 45-minute broadcast will include the end of the Hachnasat Sefer Torah, inspiring speeches, and the conclusion of the Worldwide Siyum.
To join in the achdus of the B’Lev Echad program simply visit our website at blevechad.com or call (732) 361-2543. Participants will receive specific instructions regarding what to learn, with content geared toward both young people and adults. Yeshivos will receive resource material, including signage, preparatory learning packets, and details about the 8-for-8 Mitzvah Campaign including suggested projects. With so little time and so much that can still be done, every one of us is urgently needed to make the effort to participate in this true show of achdus today.
(BY:M. C. Millman / YWN Desk – NYC)
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11 Responses
Super idea
Can we have a specific limud for girls/women also.
It’s so nice to see a group of people trying to unite the worldwide Jewish community during these troubling times. I will definitely be a part of it.
This event is a must for all Jews around the world. No matter what affiliation you are part of. Every Jew must care for the next Jew and that is why this is a beautiful event. Hashem wants to see all the Jews unite at all times but especially during such troubling times. How can we not care about the next jew who suffers and how can we not love each Jew who was created by Hashem. If we don’t love each Jew we are in a sense rejecting Hashem’s Creations. This event goes much more then that, it’s not an event just to unite but to as well remember the 8 Kedoshim that were murdered for Learning Hashem’s Torah and doing his Mitzvos. We as jews can remember them perhaps by trying to emulate what they did best. I for one will be a part of this event and I hope that everyone signs up and gets involved. Just to finish off when this terrible event happened, The biggest Kiddush Hashem that happened was to read how Gedoliam stopped with all that they were doing and learned for them, Davened for them, and said Tehillim for them as well. In fact the night of the Masscare, a Bar MItzvah for the Belzer Rebbe grandson was suppose to be held, The minute the Belzer Rebbe heard about the event, he refused to come out of his room until he was finished saying Tehillim and was ready on a emotional level. I think this tells us something about carrying for the next Jew even in the greatest of Simcha, we must feel pain for others. I beg of each one of you to get involved, feel the pain of each Jew, no matter what you are doing. Find a minute and sign up and get involved for such a amazing program. Every jew counts. Let’s show the families of the 8 Kedoshiam we feel their pain and that we are there for them in this time. I think this isn’t to much to ask. Lets us hope and Daven and learn Bezuchus these Kedoshiam. Lets get involved and make a difference and hope that this Kiddush Hashem will lead to the ultimate Kiddush Hashem that of the coming of Moshiach very quickly in our days.
Yasher Koach for this amazing Event
Baruch Hashem that Klal Yisroel are finally waking up and recognizing that the Geula will come by our unification. This event can be our key. Yoshor Koach to everyone involved and to all who support the achdus of Klal Yisroel!
What an incredible idea!! WOW!!! In light of everything Klal Yisroel is going through now more than ever it is the time to unite as one BLEV ECHAD to bring the geula bekarov. This event embodies Torah and mitzvot under the umbrella of achdus for Am Yisroel.
It is an absolute imperative for each of us that wants the Mashiach and is inspired by this idea like I am to take a minute to log onto Blevechad.com and sign up you school, shul and yeshivah!
Anyone can participate and learn for this project! Signing up is easy @ http://www.BlevEchad.com. Let’s Unite!
This is an incredible initiative, run by incredible people. I’m very inspired by this wonderful program, and hope we’ll all be zocheh to be a part of it!
– DJ
I, as well as all of those I’ve spoken to about this initiative, am extremely supportive of the efforts being made by B’lev Echad. All yidden should see this as a personal invitation to unite and turn the deaths of the kedoshim who perished that day into a testimonial of the Jewish nation’s strength and courage to survive. May the neshamos have an aliyoh and may those spearheading this effort receive siyata dishmaya to push on ahead in this holy task. -YS-
this is crazy a year passed .. woow time flies.. whenis Moshiach coming?
This is the most moving and powerful display of unity in Jewish History since the time of Purim!! We should find out who thought of this idea and inaugurate him as our Messiah!! REVEAL YOURSELF O Chosen One!!
anxiously waiting…
To bklynmom: the learning is for men and women, boys and girls
Moishk