Listening to the Shiur of Harav Povarsky
There is something about going back to where it all began to make you remember who you are and what matters most.
In the Agudah's 20th annual Yarchei Kallah, participants found themselves overtaken by an emotional connection to Eretz Yisroel, knowing that they were following in centuries-old footsteps and are crucial links in a chain extending back to Klal Yisroel's origins. More than just an educational experience, the Yarchei Kallah has demonstrated that the seforim that have been their constant companions and the experiences they have shared are elements of a mesorah that has been handed down through the generations, one that defines us and has sustained us through the years.
The air was electric in the batei medrash as enthusiastic lomdim dove headfirst into the day's program, sponsored le'iluy nishmas HaRav Yechezkel ben HaRav Naftali Besser. Staples of the Yarchei Kallah, the hakdama and chazara shiurim were given, as always, by Rabbi Shlomo Gottesman, co-chair of Agudath Israel of America's Torah Projects Commission, and Rabbi Shlomo Cynamon of Rav, Khal Bnai Torah, Flatbush. In addition to the English Daf Yomi given by Rabbi Yochanan Stengel, Daf Yomi maggid shiur, Yesodei HaTorah and menahel, Bnos Yisroel High School, Baltimore, a parallel Yiddish Daf Yomi shiur was said by HaRav Chaim Yehuda Ullman, R'M of Yeshivas Bircas Aryeh, Pressburg, Yerushalayim.
HaRav Dovid Cohen
Both of the day's concurrent shiurei iyun addressed the subject of tashlumim in tefillah, understanding how to correct omissions in davening. HaRav Dovid Cohen, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron, spoke masterfully in Yiddish, while HaRav Yosef Elefant, R"M in Yeshivas Mir, Yerushalayim, had the Yarchei Kallah's English track riveted. Both highly regarded rabbonim outlined the halachic, hashkafic and practical backgrounds of the many issues that can arise when tefillos are not said in their proper time.
The day's halacha shiur featured HaRav Nissan Kaplan, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Das Aaron, tackling the intricacies of zmanim, with a look at how they evolve and their importance as a component of tefillah. In his inimitable style, he addressed different situations that have become commonplace in recent years, such as the importance of paying attention, not talking and other issues of decorum during davening.
HaRav Nissan Kaplan
An evening visit to Kever Rochel had Yarchei Kallah participants pouring out their hearts as they davened for themselves, their families, their communities and for Klal Yisroel. Enveloped by echoes of tefillos dating back millennia, it was an emotional moment for the group, who approached the opportunity to speak directly to the Ribono Shel Olam with unprecedented reverence and a heightened appreciation for the gift of tefillah.
HaRav Yosef Elefant
Wrapping up the day's program was HaRav Yehoshua Yankelowitz, who took listeners on a journey through the history of the Siddur. Rabbi Yankelowitz's audio-visual presentation explored the origins of tefillah and segued into a discussion of the many nuschaos of davening and how they developed over time. He demonstrated how every word in the Siddur has both a source and a purpose, arming his audience with an extra dimension to bring to their davening.
For the women of the Yarchei Kallah, Wednesday brought with it an opportunity to exemplify the timeless words of Shimon Hatzaddik, strengthening the three pillars that sustain the world: Torah, avodoh and gemilus chassadim. The morning's dose of Torah was eloquently delivered by HaRav Meir Tzvi Spitzer, R"M Yeshivas Mir, Yerushalayim, who explained the incredible power of heartfelt tefillah which can yield miraculous results. They were inspired by HaRav Spitzer's assurances that women's tefillos have special and far-reaching merits.
The nshei chayil of the Yarchei Kallah took the concept of avodoh one step further, going to daven at the nearby kever of the Zhviller Rebbe, HaRav Gedaliah Moshe Goldman. The women split up into two groups to see the exceptional chesed that happens daily at Puah in its efforts to help couples who struggle with infertility, and rolled up their proverbial sleeves on a visit to Pantry Packers to assemble food packages for needy families.
Also on the day's itinerary were the historic excavations at the southern wall of the Kosel, which include archaeological remnants of the steps and gates leading to Har Habayis as well as the marketplace and streets traversed by the olei regel when they came to the Beis Hamikdash during Mishnaic times.
Rabbi Gedaliah Weinberger, chairman of the Daf Yomi Commission, said he is gratified to see concepts presented over the past three days solidifying in participants' minds.
"Year after year, the information presented seems at first to be unrelated," he said. "But on day three, there is a chazaka in learning and Yarchei Kallah participants suddenly realize the meaning and the purpose behind things they have been doing their entire lives. The looks on their faces when everything falls into place and they have that 'aha' moment is simply priceless."
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The morning dawned crisp and cloudy and overflowing with mixed emotions.
Like marathoners nearing the finish line, participants at the Agudah's 20th annual Yarchei Kallah were filled with anticipation as they readied themselves to soak up every word of every shiur. And yet, amid the exhilaration and excitement was a silent prayer that, somehow, Yehoshua would miraculously appear to once again utter the phrase "shemesh b'Givon dom" holding back the hands of time and extending the Yarchei Kallah, for even just a few more hours.
Armed with the determination to make the most out of their final day and buoyed by the sheer joy of their newly acquired limudim, participants started Thursday morning with a sense of confidence, ready to be inspired. Preparing themselves for the challenges that faced them over the next few hours, lomdim took advantage of opportunities to learn bechavrusa and to attend hachana and chazara shiurim as well as the Yiddish Daf Yomi given by HaRav Naftoli Gefen, Maggid Shiur, Kaminetzer Yeshiva, Yerushalayim and the English Daf Yomi said by Rabbi Elozor Kanner, Daf Yomi Maggid Shiur, White Shul, Far Rockaway.
The first shiur iyun of the day was given by HaRav Pinchos Friedman, Rosh Hakollelim of Belz, who took the participants on a masterful tour of sugyos relevant to the topic of tefillah. Rabbi Friedman, author of the sefer Shiveli Pinchas and the highly popular divrei Torah bearing the same name, exhorted participants to pay special attention to every word of their davening in order to prevent errors that occur all too frequently through lack of attention.
HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein
HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Rosh Kollel of Bais Dovid in Cholon and rov in Ramat Elchonon, Bnei Brak, dazzled the participants with a real-time discussion of shaylos that have been brought to him on a wide variety of topics. Citing multiple poskim in his analysis, Rabbi Zilberstein explained how each source could potentially influence the outcome. A concurrent shiur for the English track was given by HaRav Yitzchok Blau, Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Ateres Tzvi, whose interesting discourse into halacha l'maysa of tefillah offered guidance on multiple davening-related matters.
The final shiur of the Yarchei Kallah was a halacha shiur given by HaRav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Ateres Shlomo, who discussed the concept of tashlumim in the fourth brochoh of Shemoneh Esrei, Atah chonen le'adam daas. Rabbi Ausband reviewed the brachah's application as a form of Havdalah, walking listeners through possible scenarios and what corrective actions should be taken when the special Motzei Shabbos recitation of Atah chonantanu is accidentally omitted.
The women's contingent enjoyed a full day of hands-on learning that included a trip to Masada and a visit to the remains of the Bayis Sheini era village of Ein Gedi, returning to the Ramada in time to join the Tzeischem Lesholom banquet, the culmination of a week that will be forever remembered. As participants prepared to go their separate ways, phone numbers were exchanged and plans were put in place for future learning, cementing the special bonds forged during the Yarchei Kallah.
"There were many tearful good-byes but even more promises to continue the incredible hasmodoh that we have seen over this week," said Rabbi Shlomo Gottesman, co-chair of the Agudah's Commission of Torah Projects. "It has been a transformative and uplifting week for each of our participants. We have no doubt that the inspiration of the Yarchei Kallah will touch their hearts every time they open up a siddur."
Enjoy these and more photos from the 20th Agudah Yarchei Kallah at https://aiayk.org/gallery-2020/!
Videos and audio of the sessions can be found at https://aiayk.org/audio-2020/. Video credits: Moshe Coopersmith; Video Editing by Dovid Gross.
The visit to Kever Rochel
