Avid preparations for the grand kinus in honor of Siyum Maseches Eiruvin and commencement of Maseches Pesachim within the Daf Yomi cycle are finally complete. The Kinus, scheduled to take place on Sunday, 15 Tammuz, in Binyanei HaUma, will be graced by leading Gedolei Hador, Torah luminaries, Roshei Yeshivos, Dayanim and Rabbanim, shlit”a, who will join together to pay tribute to lomdei Daf Yomi and encourage others to join the ranks of the tens of thousands learning Shas each and every day. The highlight of the event will be a special tribute to Maran HaGaon HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, ztvk”l, and special address by family members and Gedolei Torah who will emphasize the greatness of limud haTorah.

Directors of Dirshu and Toda’ah visited the homes of Rabbanim and Gedolei Torah, shlit”a, to impart special invitations to attend this momentous event.  They received the unanimous blessings of the Rabbanim who all praised this great initiative and effort to reinforce limud Torah throughout the world. Several Gedolei HaDor added that this kinus is fundamental during this trying period when the Torah camp is being threatened on all sides, and that it is vital to continue recruiting soldiers of Torah and halacha in order to expand the scope of learning throughout the world.

The special siyum event, produced by R’ Efraim Silberberg’s Effect event production company and partially sponsored by the Jerusalem Municipality, will also spotlight the great joy felt by lomdei Daf Yomi throughout the city. Rabbi Gavriel Stauber, director of the Jerusalem branch for Torah-culture, commented that, “Neighborhood Rabbanim, maggidei shiurim and members of shiurim all attest that kvi’as ittim la’Torah has risen substantially amongst the community; and since the great Siyum HaShas and start of the new Daf Yomi cycle last summer, many new shiurim have opened, as well.”

The kinus planning committee reports that the event will commence with recitation of Pirkei Tehillim and ‘Acheinu kol beis Yisrael,’ in response to the harsh decrees and assault against lomdei Torah and bnei hayeshivos. Thereafter, there will be a special tribute to Maran HaGaon HaRav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, ztvk”l, with a beautiful presentation and glimpse into the life and greatness of the spiritual giant, our amud hora’ah, zt”l. This will be followed by the celebration of siyum Maseches Eiruvin, which has been learned daily throughout the last few months in the framework of Daf Yomi, and beginning of the first lines in Maseches Pesachim.  The simchas hatorah of siyum Maseches Eiruvin will be enhanced by a stirring musical performance produced by R’ Moshe Laufer, R’ Ruvi Bennett and an expanded orchestra.

A Dirshu spokesperson shares that the kinus will likewise highlight the importance of learning Daf Yomi B’Halacha, a special learning track for the study of halacha launched by the organization with HaRav Elyashiv’s instruction and blessing. This unique program has gained momentum throughout the past years; and Dirshu will issue a heartfelt appeal to anyone who has not yet joined this important endeavor to integrate Daf Yomi B’Halacha into his learning schedule

Toda’ah executives note that years of experience have proven that the vast majority of those who overcome the hurdle of completing Maseches Eiruvin in Daf Yomi, which encompasses many a complex topic, ultimately complete the entire Shas. “No doubt, the chizuk offered by Gedolei HaTorah at this event will bolster lomdei Daf Yomi in kehillos across the globe, endowing them with increased strength, aspiration and fervor to continue reaching their goal, and also increase the numbers of soldiers fighting the sacred battle for Torah and halacha.”

Hagaon Harav Yisrael Moshe Friedman, shlit”a, chairman of Toda’ah, shares that throughout the course of the evening, the thousands assembled, as well as thousands of virtual participants in countries around the world, with join together in a unified recitation of Tefillas HaShl”a, the special prayer recited on behalf of one’s children’s ascension in Torah.  “We hope that this hour will be one of rachamim, an eis ratzon, when thousands upon thousands will join together in an awesome tefilla to preserve the pure chinuch of our children.”

Simultaneously, Dirshu will be hosting parallel kinusim in the United States and Europe. Large halls have been rented in London and Paris; and in the US, in Lakewood, Brooklyn, the Catskills, and dozens of smaller locations throughout the country.

Immediately after the siyum, the assembled will commence the first daf of Maseches Pesachim. Specifically now, when the hardships are many, and Torah Jewry faces blatant hostility, it is time to reinforce kol haTorah and tefilla throughout the world, as will be poignantly exemplified through the siyum, new beginning and recitation of Tefillas HaShl”a.

The Dirshu administration explains that “Many Gedolei HaTorah and Chassidus, shlit”a, who participated in the gala World Siyum HaShas last year in locations throughout the globe and who called upon the tzibbur to join the circle of lomdei Torah and mesaymei haShas are now making a point of attending this kinus, as well. Their goal is to grant chizuk to lomdei Daf Yomi and urge those who have not yet joined this special group to do so, to be koveiah ittim la’Torah, as well as to encourage them to add limud Daf Yomi b’Halacha with Mishnah Brurah to their daily learning regimen.

Throughout the past few days, the kinus planning committee, comprised of representatives from organizations promoting harbartzas Torah, has been working nonstop to ensure the success of this holy event which will glorify Torah and honor talmidei chachamim and those who are oskim ba’Torah.  A committee spokesperson concludes, “This great kinus will once again prove that ‘Ein gadol ka’Torah v’ein chachameha k’Yisrael—There is nothing as great as Torah, and no scholars as Yisrael.’ Despite the challenges, the honor of Torah is only intensifying and will continue rising as, b’ezras Hashem, hundreds of Yidden join the learning tracks of Daf Yomi.”

(YWN – Studio B)