Harav Matisyohu Salomon Shlita was in Beachwood, Ohio speaking for the Yad Chaim Mordechai Kollel, directed by the Rosh Kollel Rav Yankel Velvel Katz, Son of the Telzer Rosh Hayeshiva Harav Mottel Katz Zt”l.

The Kollel opened 10 years ago and b”h has close to 100 baalei batim learning every night. There are over 200 different baalei batim that learn there during the week. There are 16 full time avreichim headed by the Rosh Kollel, Rav Yankel Velvel Katz and the Rosh Chabura Rav Alexander Charlop.

In the past years, the Kollel has brought in Rav Rueven Feinstein, Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rav Yissocher Frand, Rav Aharon Feldman and other Roshei Yeshiva, Shlita.

The evening began with close to forty people making siyumim on different mesechtos that were learned during the year. Rav Matisyohu Shlita began by saying how overwhelmed he was by the atmosphere of Torah in the air and how tangible it was.

He commented that he normally doesnt say his own peshotim, but he couldnt find any pshat on the significance of the eshan mikivshan, the smoke ofrom a furnace that klal yisroel witnesses by Har Sinai. He suggested that it was the Ribbomo shel oilam giving testimony that there will be Torah after the smoke of WW2.

His main message was from his Rebbe, Reb Leib Gurwitz, the RY of Gateshead. The Midrash says that Hashem asked all the nations if they wanted the Torah and they all first asked: “what is in it”? Hashem answered to each of them something that was their weakest charachteristic and they had to refuse. Klal Yisroel said “Naaseh V’nishma.” The Ribbono Shel Oilam was impressed and said “Mi Gila Raz zeh”? Who revealed this secret to them? Only the angels can say we will do even without knowing what it is that will be required of them. Reb Leib asked an extremely penetrating question. If klal yisroel would have asked, what is in the Torah, what would Hashem have answered us? What is our weakest charchteristic? The answer, he claimed is the Possuk “Lo Selech Rochil B’amecha.” Don’t be Oiver the Issur of Rechilus and Loshon Hora. Could we have claimed that we will not speak one word of loshon horah?
The answer is that we had one secret. While it is true that each nation could not have kept that particular Mitzva and Klal Yisroel as well – that is with the capibilities that they had at the time. However, with the acceptance of the Torah, Hashem gave us those abilities to overcome these desires and then things which we thought were impossible will become possible and even Geshmak. This comes with a true commitment and only if none makes a serious and honost commitment. This is what the Yom Tov of Shavuos is about.
(Thanks to our Ohio Reporter for gathering this information!)