It was 1:00 am. Rabbi M, a member of the Dirshu North American delegation had arrived in Eretz Yisrael that evening after an overnight flight from America. He had barely slept on the plane and, after being awake for two days, was anticipating a good night’s sleep. Instead, he spent two hours learning non-stop, with tremendous joy, in the nearly empty beit midrash (study hall) of the Mir Yeshiva of Yerushalayim.
What propelled this exhausted man to go to the beit midrash rather than to sleep? He had seen, heard and been bitten by the highly contagious Acheinu (an arm of Dirshu, the global Torah organization) “Torah bug.”
Yes, the North American delegation’s first one-on-one contact with the contagious Acheinu atmosphere of Torah took place in the evening not long after their arrival. They participated in a mesibah (party) that not only aroused them from their exhaustion but inspired them with a newfound dedication to Torah. At the mesibah, bachurim (students) from Acheinu’s yeshivah received awards for being mechadesh chiddushei Torah (innovative and creative in interpreting the Torah).
Just a few months ago, these boys were languishing in Israeli public schools, knowing nothing of Torah. The sparks in each of their holy Jewish neshamot (souls) lay dormant. Through Acheinu’s systematic approach to kiruv (outreach), relentless dedication and follow-up, these boys ultimately progressed to yeshivot. Just months after they began their journey back to Hashem and His Torah they have already begun interpreting the Torah.
The simcha (joy) in that room at the Chavas Daas Hall in Jerusalem was infectious. The gusto with which the students danced, the pure joy on their faces for finding Torah, and their overwhelming gratitude to the founder of Acheinu, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, were tangible as they danced together.
Rabbi M witnessed living examples of young men progressing to incredible heights in just months. When he saw the tangible ahavas Torah (love of Torah) of these young men and contemplated the adversity they had overcome in order to learn in yeshivah, he simply could not bring himself to go to sleep. He felt compelled to virtually swallow up a few blatt Gemarah (pages of Talmud) in his post trip, late night learning session in the Mir Yeshiva.
Acheinu Kiruv Stems From Ahavas Torah
This is the underlying foundation of Acheinu. As Hagaon HaRav Matisyahu Solomon, shlita said at the Acheinu Second Annual Kiruv Conference a day later, “The outreach of Acheinu must stem from a feeling of ahavas Torah—I love the Torah so much, my burning love of Torah is so powerful. How then can I not try to share it with my fellow Jew? Was Torah only given to those who were fortunate enough to be born into religious families? Torah is the birthright of every Jew. I therefore feel compelled by my feeling of ahavas Torah and ahavas Yisrael (love for my fellow Jews) to share it with my fellow Jews who were not privileged with a Jewish education, as I was.”
The Acheinu Second Annual Kiruv Conference, graced by HaRav Matisyahu Salomon, shlita, Masghiach of Lakewood, was an event that will go down in history as a defining moment in kiruv rechokim (outreach to those who have not had a yeshivah education). Anyone observing the vast hall, with hundreds of kiruv workers in attendance, could recognize how through proper utilization of available resources, techniques and expertise of various kiruv organizations and kiruv experts, it is possible to bring a new level of accountability to kiruv rechokim.
This level of accountability will ensure that all kiruv resources are being used to the utmost to guarantee that every boy or girl who comes closer to Judaism will be accompanied on that path by a mentor. It will guarantee that every boy or girl will be assisted in the inherent challenges faced when undergoing such massive lifestyle changes. And there should be an assurance that every boy or girl who begins to learn Torah and lead a Torah life, will be lent support throughout the process, enabling them to experience the ultimate sipuk hanefesh (spiritual satisfaction) of kirvas Elokim (closeness to G-d), and overcome some of the inevitable bumps along the road to their destination.
The Kiruv Conference: Bringing Together The Greatest Kiruv Resources Under One Roof
The Acheinu Kiruv Conference united some of the greatest names in Israeli kiruv and featured fascinating, extremely spirited panel discussions about numerous challenges and difficulties facing mekarvei rechokim (those who reach out to the not yet religious).
In addition, the American delegation was treated to a highly inspirational and informative presentation by Rav Benzion Twerski of Milwaukee. He spoke of the ability of every Jew to reach out to his lost brethren and that one need not be a kiruv professional to show the beauty of Judaism.
Undoubtedly, the keynote session and dinner at the Keter Harimon hall in Bnei Brak was the climax of all of the Acheinu events of the week. The session offered deeply inspirational derashot (lectures) from Rav Matisyahu Solomon, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Rav Boruch Greineman and Rav Chananya Chollak. Over 1,000 kiruv activists gathered to derive and give chizuk (spiritual strength) in their avodas hakodesh (service to G-d). The fascinating, informative program held everyone spellbound.
Rav Dovid Hofstedter masterfully explained the Gemara that asks why Avraham Avinu was punished, to the extent that his children were forced into enslavement by the Egyptians. He explained that the enslavement in Egypt was retribution, because Avraham Avinu, despite bringing so many people under the wings of the shechina, could have brought even more people to Hashem and his Torah. He, according to his exalted madreiga, (level) was taken to task for tiring in his mission.
Rav Dovid went on to explain, how klal Yisrael (the community of Israel) did teshuva (repentance) and rectified Avraham Avinu’s lapse by establishing new generations against all odds in the midst of the worst oppression. Despite their extreme fatigue and lack of energy and koach (strength) the bnei Yisrael (children of Israel) moser nefesh (sacrificed of themselves) to establish new Jewish generations.
“Yes, we have accomplished so much,” said Rav Dovid. “Who would have believed that so many people could be brought tachas kanfei haShechina (under the wings of the shechina) through the influences of the wonderful kiruv organizations throughout the land? Nevertheless, we cannot rest on our laurels. Even when we become so exhausted from our work, on behalf of our brethren, even when we feel we have no strength left, we, like our forbearers in Egypt must say, ‘yesh koach,’ we have strength!”
One of the most memorable moments of the evening was the spontaneous dancing that followed Rav Dovid’s lecture. Full of energy, kiruv activists from across the country celebrated. The perceptible outpouring of ahava served as one of the most unforgettable aspects in an evening full of incredible highlights.
A fascinating video presentation was then shown, with footage of Hagaon Harav Yosef Sholom Elyashev, shlita, Hagaon Harav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita, and Hagaon Harav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, shlita, speaking about the importance of kiruv rechokim in our time and how the only way to be truly successful in kiruv is by exposing baalei teshuva (those who have become religious) to the light of limud (learning) haTorah.
Perhaps the most moving and inspiring moments at the conference were those during which Rav Matisyahu Solomon addressed the assemblage. He began by saying that when he entered the hall at the beginning of the evening, he thought that he had come to give chizuk, but with the program underway he realized that it was he who was receiving chizuk!
Rav Matisyahu then related a beautiful, powerful poem that begins with the words, “Veyesau kol l’avdecha.” The poem describes the exalted time during the days of haMashiach, when all of the nations will come to serve Hashem and recognize His sovereignty over the world. The poem eloquently describes how the nations will abandon their idols and offer sacrifices to Hashem. It culminates with the triumphant words, “veyitnu lecha keser melucha’” (they will give You the crown of sovereignty). The final words immediately preceding “veyitnu lecha keser melucha” are “veyishm’u rechokim veyava’u”—Those from far off will hear and they will come. “These words,” the Masghiach thundered emotionally, “contain the foundation of what should be our approach to kiruv rechokim.”
“Acheinu’s approach to kiruv is an approach that reaches out to rechokim in a way that they will see the beauty of limud haTorah and their neshamos will therefore be ignited with the mesikus (the sweetness) of Torah. They will then join us in the beit midrash.
Kiruv: Extending The Walls of the Beit Midrash
“Acheinu,” the Mashgiach concluded, “wants to extend the walls of the beit midrash to include those Jews who have not yet had the opportunity to enter the walls of the beit midrash!”
