[VIDEO AND PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Thousands of participants in the “Dirshu’ tests joined the one thousand representatives at the international ‘Dirshu’ convention in Connecticut in the U.S.

A Shabbos of spiritual uplifting strengthening the Torah world took place during the international convention of ‘Dirshu’ that was held in the Crown Plaza Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. It was headed by the great Roshei Yeshivos and Torah teachers and the Nasi of ‘Dirshu’ Rav Dovid Hofstedter.

The international convention opened in the middle of last week with panels and professional discussions with the participation of heads of ‘Dirshu’ branches from throughout the world, heads of Chaburos of learners, the great Roshei Yeshivos and famous Rabbonim throughout the U.S.

As Shabbos approached, hundreds of participants in the organized tests of ‘Dirshu’, Magidei Shiurim and ‘Dirshu’ activists from all over the country arrived to participate in the unique Shabbos in Connecticut. Among the participants were the members of the Israeli delegation headed by the honorary guest of the international convention, the great Gaon, Rav Boruch Dov Povarsky, Rosh Yeshiva Poneviz who is a member of the presidential counsel of the ‘Daf Hayomi B’Halachah’. Among the honored guests were the Roshei Yeshivos: the Gaon Rabbi Yitzchak Sorotzkin, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Telshe, the Gaon Rabbi Reuven Feinstein, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Staten Island, the great Gaon Rav Dovid Shustel, shlita , Rosh Yeshivas Lakewood, the Dayan of Skver, the Gry”M Steinmetz, shlita, the Gr”Y Avrahams, shlita, from London, the Gaon Rabbi Binyamin Eckstein, shlita, Dayan of Machazikei Hadas, and the head of ‘Dirshu’- Europe, the Gry”M Lowey, shlita, the Rav of Toronto, the GrY”Z Gifes, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva Nahardoa, the Gr’D Olevsky, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Gur in the U.S., and other Dayanim, Rabbanim and those who teach the Daf Yomi in Halachah from all over the east coast.

The noted chassidishe ba’al menagen, Reb Yitzchak Honig was the Baal Tefillos during Shabbos – himself a participant in the tests given by ‘Dirshu’. Members of the ‘Shira’ choir accompanied him in choice selections.

After Tefilas Shacharis, a Shiur Klali, was given by the Gaon Rabbi B.D. Povarsky, shlita, who fascinated the audience with an hour’s long in depth discussion about the particulars of the mitzvah of circumcision, its scope and other aspects of the mitzvah.

A surprising event happened during the Mincha service on Shabbos when the third aliyah was sold to the highest bidder of learning pages of the Talmud. The auction was very spirited with the ‘price’ rising higher and higher until the winner was one of the participants in “Kinyan Shas” of ‘Dirshu’ who bid the staggering amount of TEN THOUSAND pages of Gemara!!! This phenomenon deeply moved the entire congregation and the Roshei Yeshivos who expressed their astonishment that young avreichim are capable of achieving this phenomenal amount of learning in only one year.

After this spiritually uplifting Shabbos ended – after havdalah and a break – the participants washed their hands to take part in the Siyum on Masechet Bava Metzia during the splendid melave malka, which was learned by the tens of thousands of members of ‘Dirsh’ thoughout the world. The Gaon Rabbi B.D. Povarsky, shlita, was honored with the recitation of the Hadran and the Great Kaddish and even gave the central speech during the convention.

The convention continued until the morning with discussions and symposium in which the heads of the different branches of ‘Dirshu’ from the world took part, together with the Nasi of ‘Dirshu’, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, , and the general managers in Israel and the U.S.

The speakers during Shabbos and the malve malka noted that the traditional international convention of ‘Dirshu’ has already become a central platform of Kavod HaTorah that takes place in the U.S. and from it, the Torah spreads out throughout the U.S. and abroad. The public dispersed with the feelings of elation and spiritual uplifting with the strong desire pounding in each one’s heart to further elevate himself in the learning and fulfilling of the Torah.