The Special Class in Har Nof: "The Oldest Participant is 90 and the Youngest is 12"

A mahogany wooden table, wide-open Schottenstein Talmuds, and a group of people sitting around, thirstily absorbing every word from Rabbi Aryeh Strauss, the class leader. This is the scene you'll notice daily when you visit the 'Boston' synagogue in the Har Nof neighborhood of Jerusalem.

Seemingly, a regular Daf Yomi class like all others. However, the deeper the conversation with Rabbi Strauss goes, the more it's understood how this is not a standard class and how much effort each participant invests to be a part of it.

Spiritual Motivation Before Starting the Day

The class at the Boston Synagogue is delivered daily by Rabbi Strauss himself. "I prepare the Talmud and the commentators in advance," he explains, "and in the class itself, I only read the Talmud, as I add the commentaries orally. Of course, questions arise during the class from the participants, and I try to note who asked what. Years later, when we reach the same topic in the next cycle, I remind that participant of the question he asked previously."

Do you ever find yourself unable to attend the class?

"I strive to attend consistently and it rarely happens that I am unable to be there. In rare cases when I absolutely cannot come, I have a regular substitute, whom I send on my behalf."

"Our class is held daily at 5:45 AM," adds Rabbi Strauss. "In fact, it was established eighteen and a half years ago, in the month of Adar 5761, and its time has not changed since. We have merited finishing the Shas twice, with divine assistance. We have very well-known learners – a manager of the Har Nof religious school, a director of the 'Ner L'Elef' organization, an advertising executive, a mortgage adviser at the Tapuah Bank, a senior official in the Ministry of Education, and many more. These are people with busy schedules, yet specifically because of this, they feel the need to be filled with learning and spiritual motivation before the morning prayer, and only then set out to work."

Rabbi Strauss also notes that several years after the class was established, his mother passed away, and they then decided to establish a private minyan in her memory for the morning prayers. "Today, we already have a set routine – we study, pray, and after the prayer, a group studies the Mishnah Berurah for ten minutes. Thank God, they have completed the Mishnah Berurah twice within this framework. Incidentally, something interesting happened that could only occur in a minyan like ours - the fast of Asarah B'Tevet fell on a Friday, and coincidentally, it snowed on that day. This caused people to wake up late and not hurry to the synagogue, so the official minyan had only a few attendees. Luckily, we were there, allowing them to join our minyan and pray with us."

Some participants of the Daf Yomi class at the Boston study hall in Har Nof. Photo: Aryeh Leib Rabin

From Age 12 to 90

The class is also unique due to the variety of ages of its participants. The oldest participant, according to Rabbi Strauss, has reached the age of 90. "In recent weeks, he finds it somewhat difficult to get to the class, so we try to visit his home occasionally and study with him," he says. "The youngest participant, on the other hand, is only 12 – a young boy who decided to be a partner and does so with admirable diligence and consistency.

Recently, a very touching incident occurred when one of the class participants suffered from a heart condition and needed a particular treatment from a senior doctor in the USA. "We accompanied him throughout that period," recounts Rabbi Strauss, "and witnessed closely how hard it was for him to reconcile with the fact that he would have to fly abroad and miss the class for such a long time, not to mention the great expenses required for the trip and treatment. Finally, amazingly, a great miracle happened – Rabbi Firer called him and informed him that the doctor from the USA was coming to Israel for two days specifically to teach his technique to the doctors at Tel Hashomer. He also assigned him as the patient on whom this technique would be demonstrated. Our dear participant ultimately missed only a few days of the class, did not have to bear any costs, and did not need to travel abroad. Truly special divine assistance. I told him afterward that I am sure that thanks to his immense dedication to attend the class every single time, Hashem ensured he did not have to miss it for an extended period."

Want to start studying Daf Yomi and don't know where to begin and with whom to learn? Call the Consultation and Guidance Department at Hidabroot, 073-2221230