A Knit Kippah Beside a Satmar Hasid: The Unique Lesson at Zichron Moshe

Zichron Moshe, 10:10 AM. Behind the famous synagogue enters Reb Shimon from the toy store. Ephraim from 'Elkana' joins him. Rabbi Fishel from the Nit'in houses in Mea Shearim spots with his sharp eye the familiar sight of Bouzaglo from the market striding toward the synagogue. He waits a bit, warmly shakes his hand, and enters with him, arm in arm, as if they've studied together at Etz Chaim. And they are not the only ones.

About fifty people, from all walks of Yirei Hashem, come daily to Rabbi Yeshayahu Vander's regular Daf Yomi lesson. Every day at 10:15 AM, the lesson begins. And they are fully there. For some, it's the only time of day they dedicate to Torah study; some are talmidei chachamim intrigued by the challenges Rabbi Yeshayahu Vander presents to the learners; others are newcomers, for whom the clarity and simplicity with which Rabbi Vander conveys the lesson ease their adaptation to Torah study. For over 20 years, they have been drawn to the sweetness of the Torah.

Every day, more and more Jews join in, each with his own style, each with his uniqueness. They all share a common goal: to learn Torah.

Photo: Yosef Cooperman

With Dedication

Rabbi Yeshayahu Vander, how did it all begin?

"The area where we are located is well-known for its bustling activities 24/7 with many shops. Therefore, it was decided to hold lessons throughout the day, so every Jew can come and listen to a lesson suited to their level, in all languages and styles, from dawn until midnight.

"Initially, when Rabbi Krashinsky set up the place beneath the great synagogue (where the lesson is held), he opened a kollel where Torah lessons were delivered. At that time, Rabbi Michal Zilber was giving a lesson. I used to travel daily to hear Rabbi Zilber's lesson. When a daf yomi kollel was opened, I was asked to give lessons there to benefit many. Since then, we have completed shas three times. One of my first students was Reb Michal Gutfarb of blessed memory. I cannot forget him."

For our readers' understanding, who was Reb Michal Gutfarb?

"A very great man, one of the righteous and complete charity gabbai. In his youth, he was afflicted with that terrible illness. He was meticulous in attending lessons even after difficult treatments, with unwavering dedication, never missing study. It gave him life. The doctors had told him he wouldn't have children, and yet he did. He was a man entirely devoted to charity and kindness, his very essence was to help others. When his condition worsened, he calculated that he had the strength for one lesson. He turned to the rabbi and asked which he should choose—an address or daf yomi. The rabbi answered: the daf yomi. From that day on, he steadfastly attended, with supreme dedication. His wife would bring him in a wheelchair, rain or shine, just to hear and learn Torah.

"After he passed away, he appeared in a dream to an acquaintance, and said he reached a high place in the heavenly realms. In the book 'Tuvcha Yabi'u,' Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein writes: 'Know that the reason he ascended to such a high place was not his charity, as everyone would assume, but his dedication to Torah.' Truly astonishing. Interestingly, today the lesson leadership is managed by his brother, Reb Pinchas Gutfarb."

Is the lesson comprised of daf yomi only?

"The lesson itself is of course centered on daf yomi, but also includes 5-10 minutes of mussar, and before holidays, we study the relevant halacha related to the holiday. The lesson isn't structured as a lecture; I pose a question, and each participant engages with it. It challenges everyone, adds interest, and actively involves everyone. It's a highly interactive session.

Photo: Yosef Cooperman

"Rabbi Zvi Kushelefsky, Rosh Yeshiva of Heichal HaTorah, Har Nof, brings from one of the ancients: 'How does a fully intentional prayer look? It's tough to pray the entire prayer with intention, there's always the distracting inclination...but when praying in the congregation, everyone manages to focus on at least one blessing, one on 'You grant wisdom,' another on 'Heal us' and so on. So a full prayer emerges with intention. Similarly, how can we study a full daf? Each contributes his part, everyone completes, and together it's a full, beautiful and rich daf.

"The lesson is recorded and broadcast on 'Kol Haleshon.' One day I asked a question during the lesson, I got home and received a call from a Jew who heard the lesson and wanted to provide a novel answer. The lesson even reaches abroad, a Jew met my father in Baltimore and responded to a question that arose during the lesson. It touched me deeply to receive greetings from such a distant place."

Who are the people attending the lesson?

"The audience is very diverse—from knit kippah wearers to Satmar Hasidim. Everyone sits and learns in extraordinary unity. We leave all differences and politics outside. To the lesson—none of these enter, only love for Torah and Israel. That's the beauty of the lesson, the pleasant atmosphere, Jews from Kiryat Sefer and Beit Shemesh, alongside Jews from Ma'ale Adumim and Chevron. The public is varied, everyone finds their place. There's mutual support and assistance, even financial help...

"There was a Jew, a Holocaust survivor from Auschwitz, a remnant saved from the fire, who insisted on attending every day. He enjoyed the study, and the lesson was his life's elixir. In his later years, when he fell ill, we went to visit him. He was deeply saddened that he couldn't come to learn. I was deeply moved by this, a Jew who went through the Holocaust, experienced unimaginable situations, and was never depressed. Yet when he couldn't attend the Torah lesson—there he broke. It amazed me, how much Torah gives life and strength to a person. 'If not for Your Torah, my delight, I would have perished in my misery.'

"It is told of Rabbi Yochanan, who lost ten children, and accepted Heaven's decree with love. Moreover, he would go with the tooth of his tenth and last child to other mourners' houses, showing them the tooth and his own challenging trial, thus consoling them in their mourning. He buried ten children—and did not break. However, when his study partner passed away—Rabbi Yochanan could not bear it, and he too passed. Torah is the source of life."

Photo: Yosef Cooperman

The Lesson, The Lamb, and The Little Girl

Rabbi Vander also has a unique story: "On a Friday, a few years ago, when there was a serious winter storm and all of Jerusalem was blanketed in bright, deep white, I didn't know whether to go to Zichron Moshe or not. I wondered whether people would come to the lesson in such stormy weather. Eventually, I went with my son on foot. I live on Sorotzkin Street, and for a long hour, we walked between the snowflakes and cold winds. When I arrived at Zichron Moshe, to my surprise, I found about two minyanim waiting for me...

"There was a dear Jew, a Hasid, who had just married off his son, and as is known, the mitzvah tanz takes place at the small hours of the night. It turned out he hadn't slept at all that night, but despite everything, he came to the lesson, not missing it. The dedication of the learners is unfathomable.

"The special thing is that there are supposedly 'simple' Jews at the lesson, coming from nearby shops, the market etc. Their serious learning, longing and dedication are admirable - this is the Jewish people in its glory.

Photo: Yosef Cooperman

"I can tell you about a hairdresser, an innocent, pure Jew, who participated in the lessons actively and consistently, and today he himself delivers a lesson early in the morning. Another Jew, who was a butcher in England, also came and participated in the lessons. He grew so much from these lessons that he became a talmid chacham himself, and today he is a major maggid shiur in Neve Yaakov. See how Torah elevates and exalts a person.

"I hear countless times about Jews attending the lesson, and salutations from family and acquaintances flow to me. 'He has changed so much,' 'How happy he has become.' Women say their home peace has remarkably improved. The lesson reflects on everything, the entire person's surroundings feel the enormous change occurring and benefit from it."

Finally, what is the most interesting case that happened as a result of the lesson?

Rabbi debates within himself. He has countless stories. Finally, he shares one: "When we studied Tractate Chullin—laws of slaughter, we wanted to illustrate the slaughter for the learners. One participant was waiting for children. He took upon himself the whole financial and technical burden of bringing a lamb to demonstrate, he bought the lamb and brought it to the synagogue. It was intended to be a private event, but crowds heard about it and came. We invited a great and certified rabbi and shochet, everything was arranged and ready—and then a city inspector arrived. I was very concerned. I pledged money for charity and began to talk to the inspector's heart. I explained that we were illustrating what we had studied. The inspector softened a bit. In the end, he asked me to sign that within 24 hours the lamb would be removed from here. Of course, I signed joyfully, and within two hours there was no trace left...

"That dear Jew who took care of the lamb did not give up and wanted to pay and arrange for the completion feast of the tractate. After the completion, we blessed him, and all the public answered 'Amen.' Shortly thereafter his wife became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter, truly a miracle. When his daughter was born I joked and said that surely they would name her Rachel, in memory of that lamb event... and indeed that was her name, but not because of the lamb case."

Want to start learning Daf Yomi and don't know where to begin and with whom? Call the guidance and orientation department at Hidabroot, 073-2221230