Lomdei Daf HaYomi B’Halacha to Complete Hilchos Shabbos and Embark in Hilchos Eruvin
This coming 17 Kislev/December 7, will NOT be “A Day of Infamy.” Unlike December 7, 1941, which was described by President Roosevelt after the Japanese attack on an American base in Pearl Harbor as “A Day of Infamy.” This year, December 7th, will be a day that will live on in fame! It is the day when tens of thousands of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha learners will make a siyum on Hilchos Shabbos, Chelek Gimmel of Mishnah Berurah, in the third machzor of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, and begin Chelek Daled!
Now, lomdei Dirshu already know that although Dirshu frequently emphasizes the importance of making gala siyumim to celebrate milestones in limud haTorah and yedias haTorah those celebrations are also springboards for further growth. In the case of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, however, this means the beginning of Chelek Daled, Hilchos Eruvin with all our strength and enthusiasm.
Filling the Empty “Chairs”
Before Dirshu embarked on Chelek Daled in the first machzor of Daf HaYomi B’Halachah, the hanhala of Dirshu was a bit wary over the fact that Chelek Daled of Mishnah Berurah was viewed by many as a closed sefer, a sefer that seemed to only be understandable by experts in Eruvin. When they visited the great Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, zt”l, and expressed their fear, Rav Shteinman, with his ever-present smile, explained, “Do you know that when Rav Meir Shapiro established the Daf HaYomi most people laughed at him? Today, however, the entire Klal Yisrael learns Daf HaYomi. That is the way it is with all things of this sort. People are skeptical, but if you persevere, the entire Klal Yisrael will do it. The same is true regarding hilchos Eruvin.”
This brings to mind the famed meeting between the Chofetz Chaim and Rav Meir Shapiro, founder of the Daf HaYomi of Talmud Bavli and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Chachmei Lublin:
When Harav Meir Shapiro came to Radin to visit the Chofetz Chaim, the Chofetz Chaim told him, “Yasher Koach—Thank you, Rav Meir! Thousands of chairs in Gan Eden are giving thanks to you for rescuing them from eternal loneliness”. The Chofetz Chaim went on to explain, “What do you think, the chairs in Gan Eden bear names of the people who will sit on them? No, that is not the way it works in Gan Eden. The chairs there possess the names of the Masechtos in Shas. One chair bears the name of Masechta Shabbos, another Masechta Eruvin. A Jew who arrives in Gan Eden after his years in this world and has learned Masechta Shabbos will be able to sit on the Masechta Shabbos chair. Of course, all the “popular” Masechtos have many people who sit on them, but what of the Masechtos that are rarely learned? What about Masechta Zevochim and Menachos and other Masechtos from the order of Kodshim – they sit forlorn and alone. Until now, it was rare for anyone to merit sitting on them. Now, however, since you have instituted the Daf Yomi, you have ensured that these chairs are also full of people. You have saved thousands of chairs from loneliness. What a zechus!”
The “Meis Mitzvah” of Mishnah Berurah
It is no secret that Chelek Daled of the Mishnah Berurah has until now been the “meis mitzvah, the lonely chelek” of Mishnah Berurah. Virtually every yeshiva graduate has learned portions of the other five volumes of Mishnah Berurah. Unfortunately, and tragically, the fourth volume that is largely devoted to the complex halachos of Eruvin has been neglected.
Now, the time to place Chelek Daled to its rightful place has come. Dirshu has dedicated itself to making it easier and giving lomidim any tools that they need to be able to properly learn and understand Chelek Daled.
The Dirshu Mishnah Berurah with its clear diagrams and guidance in the Biurim and Musafim is one way that this is being done.
Another exciting development is that this year, Dirshu will be opening a special hotline called “Kav Hameishivim” where great experts in hilchos Eruvin will always be available to answer questions regarding the text of the Mishnah Berurah and the poskim as well as on practical matters related to Eruvin. (More details on this exciting and innovative initiative next week.)
Another important thing to contemplate this year is that in the course of the past year, multitudes across the entire world have completed Masechta Eruvin in the popular, worldwide, Amud HaYomi program. Those who learned the masechta are already familiar with all the concepts, terms and halachic ideas.
Learning Hilchos Eruvin is “A Ticket to Olam Habaah”!
In truth, Daf HaYomi B’Halacha participants are already at the cusp of greatness. For nearly two years, they have been deeply immersed in hilchos Shabbos. Day after day, week after week, month after month, test after test, the lomdim learned and reviewed and are now familiar with the entire gamut of hilchos Shabbos.
The great posek HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Wosner would say that those who complete hilchos Shabbos should celebrate their accomplishments. They deserve to be placed on a pedestal and are worthy of the greatest admiration.
That being said, Rav Wosner explained, that in a way, learning hilchos Shabbos is easier than learning hilchos Eruvin for the simple reason that there are many meforshim on hilchos Shabbos, empowering learners to get a good grasp of the material. When it came to hilchos Eruvin, however, the Chofetz Chaim would have unique praise for people who learned hilchos Eruvin because of the dearth of meforshim. Rav Wosner related that he recalled how the Chazon Ish invested tremendous effort and toil in learning hilchos Eruvin and ended off, “If the wider tzibbur learns Eruvin properly it is a ticket to Olam Habaah!”
The fact that it is specifically now that the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program is beginning hilchos Eruvin offers a unique opportunity for those lomdim of the Amud HaYomi to take their newly acquired knowledge of Eruvin to the next level. Not just knowing the Gemara but following the Gemara through to its ultimate conclusion in halacha l’maasah. For those lomdim, every word of practical halacha in the Mishnah Berurah and the related Biur Halacha will be clearly understood as they are intimately familiar with all the scenarios discussed. What an opportunity!!
Indeed, as Dirshu embarks on the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha of Chelek Daled, Mishnah Berurah, it is really the time to “chap arein - to seize the opportunity”. For those already learning in the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha Program, now is the time to maintain the momentum in the quest for shleimus in knowledge of all chalakim of the Mishnah Berurah.
For those who are not yet part of the program, now is your chance! Now is the time to fill the Chelek Daled chair in shomayim! Now is the time to finally get a true kinyan in Chelek Daled. In just a few months, with approximately a half hour of learning a day you can have a kinyan in Chelek Daled.
It’s the opportunity of a lifetime!
Don’t miss it!
To join, or to obtain a luach of Dirshu Daf HaYomi B’Halacha together with a luach of all of Dirshu’s other programs, please contact Dirshu at, 1-888-5-Dirshu or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
