Children throughout Israel who have been working on
shemiras haloshon throughout the year under the
auspices of "Mishmeres Hasholem" were rewarded this chol
hamoed in the form of rallies replete with entertainment
and prizes.
Exciting posters were hung up announcing the rallies. In
Jerusalem, 2000 cheder children attended a rally in
Yiddish, and 1,000 a rally in Hebrew. In Bnei Brak, 1,500
children attended. Rallies for women and girls were sponsored
in Yerushalayim by "Loshon V'chesed" and in Beit Shemesh by
"Chafetzim Bechaim."
Mishmeres Hasholem is the largest organization in Israel
propagating zealous observance of the laws of shemiras
haloshon. The organization's easy-to-follow program
requires meticulous observance and studying of the laws from
all members to achieve a community free of loshon hora.
Today it is working towards 30,000 members from all
Israel and has 2,000 building representatives. Branches are
being started all over the U.S. and Europe as well. Many
communities have opened branches to bring a zchus or
yeshua to one of its members.
Yiddish Rally
At the Yiddish Rally which was held at the Ramat Tamir hall
on the third day of chol hamoed, the Eida HaChareidis
Gavad, HaRav Yitzchok Tuvya Weiss, was the featured speaker.
"See the good in Yerushalayim!" he proclaimed to his
listeners. He explained that our goal is not to keep our
mouth sealed, but to use it for good things and safeguard its
kedusha. He blessed the children that they will be
saved from the worst prosecutor of all -- loshon hora --
because they inculcated themselves with the quality of
shemiras haloshon since their youth.
HaRav Mattisyahu Deutsch, the Eida HaChareidis rav of Ramat
Shlomo, told the children, "If you look favorably at others,
then you yourself will be blessed."
The rest of the program involved talks and stories by
distinguished educators. During one talk, a young child burst
out crying that he had lost his raffle ticket. Inspired by
the speakers, another child immediately gave his own ticket
to the child. Each child left the rally with a gift of a
watch and a Mishmeres pamphlet on the latest "midda of
the month."
Hebrew Rally
The well known educator HaRav Meir Tzimrot gave a riveting
talk to his participants. Talks were also given by HaRav
Moshe Kletzkin, HaRav Blau, HaRav Markowitz and HaRav Yisroel
Meir Shushan. HaRav Shushan told the children in singsong,
"If your mouth will be pure, your Torah and tefillos
will be accepted." He told inspiring stories of the
ahavas Yisroel of gedolim. A skit animating the
idea of seeing the good in others was performed by the Shick
brothers. Each child received his own flashlight, imprinted
with the motto "See good!"
Bnei Brak Rally
HaRav Yisroel Hager, the son of the Vishnitzer rav, inspired
the participants with the words of Rav Elimelech,, "See the
good points of your friends and not their flaws." HaRav Hager
signed up the entire Bnei Brak Vishnitzer kehilla of 3,500
families to Mishmeres's program lerefuah shleimoh the
Vishnitzer rebbe.
After the rallies, the office of Mishmeres Hasholem was
deluged with telephone calls expressing appreciation for
their work. A principal of a cheder requested to have
all his pupils join.
Mrs. Suri Wurzburger, the director of Mishmeres Hasholem,
says that her staff is stunned to hear time after time of
various yeshuos and brochos that accrue to
those who undertake to keep the program. "We have two members
who gave birth to children after 10 years. A woman who was
struggling under difficult debts told us that she and her
eight children decided to dedicate themselves to shemiras
haloshon. A person who heard about her commitment to
shemiras haloshon offered to pay up the family's
debts. A woman phoned to tell us about a tumor she needed
removed which just disappeared. I am not surprised. I was
told by a godol, `If you work for shemiras
haloshon, the Chofetz Chaim stands up for you.'"
Mishmeres Hasholem is interested in disseminating its
program, particularly in Bnei Brak. Anyone who wants to serve
as a building or regional representative is welcome to call
its office: (02)5379160.
