THE BALTIMORE JEWISH HOME
APRIL 28, 2022
34
Dirshu The Joy and Majesty That Were – Dirshu’s Everlasting Connection with Rav Chaim Rabbi Nachman Seltzer
Rav Chaim had been involved with Dirshu for many years. The Sar HaTorah attended quite a few of the large Dirshu gatherings like the Siyumei Hashas in 2012 and 2020 for example, where he even recited the kaddish. But the relationship was much closer than that since there were many private Dirshu gatherings at Rav Chaim’s home – especially when they celebrated different milestones with Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, where he spoke to the charter members of the organization, gave them chizuk and expressed in the clearest way how much he loved what Dirshu was doing for Klal Yisrael – and how he was even jealous of what Dirshu was attaining.
W W W.T H E B J H . C O M
Saying Goodbye As someone who has had the good fortune to be involved with the Dirshu organization under the leadership and guidance of Rav Dovid Hofstedter shlita, I have found myself attending and writing about numerous Dirshu events through the years. There have been many times when I was touched by things that were said by various speakers, songs that were sung, and sights that I witnessed. I have seen thousands of Yidden singing together in gigantic halls, and I have walked along the rain soaked ground just outside the Chofetz Chaim’s kever, with a much smaller group of gedolim. Like I said, many of my interactions with Dirshu have been memorable and have stuck with me. But a key moment happened at the Dirshu Siyum on Mishnah Berurah, which took place at the Arena Stadium in Yerushalayim in 2022. It was a memorable event for a number of reasons. Dirshu events always are. But this time it was memorable for something that happened and made a deep impression on me. Sitting not far from the head table, I caught sight of a tent that had been erected near one of the exits of the hall and was waiting
there patiently. I knew what ing – looking at the crowd of that tent meant. It meant that Bnei Torah again and again – there was a good chance that an action he had never done Rav Chaim Kanievsky was in the past. He was in the going to be attending this sefer and back to the crowd, event and would be brought back to the sefer and back to over to the head table within the crowd. At the time it had the safety of that tent. Beseemed to be out of characing that Rav Chaim was alter, but the moment Rav ready very elderly (this event Chaim’s son made his comwould end up being his final ment, it was obvious that his public appearance) it was unwords were emes, and that HaRav Chaim Kanievsky attending the recent Dirshu World Siyum, 2022 clear until the last moment, his father really had been whether he would actually saying farewell to the people attend. that he loved so much, with a But then in the middle series of loving looks. of the event, suddenly we While Rav Chaim’s eyes understood that Rav Chaim had been closed a lot of the had arrived and was being time in the last period of brought into the hall. The his life, at that moment they fact that he had chosen to were completely open. One make the incredible effort couldn’t help but feel that to come that night, makes the neshomos of Klal Yissense, especially when you rael and their Gadol HaDor remember the quote that his were completely intertwined, talmid, Rav Mann, related which was why the feeling of from Rav Chaim with regard electricity that swept through HaRav Chaim Kanievsky giving the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program, and its founder, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, a bracha to Dirshu. Rav Mann said the hall was so very powerin Rav Chaim’s name, “Tell ful. It was stemming from seemed as if the very roof of the AreDirshu that I am jealous of their zechu- na was about to go flying off into the the fact that both were saying goodbye sim. Ashreichem V’Ashrei Chelkechem night, such was the level of excitement to one another - the people who had - fortunate are you and fortunate is and enthusiasm. Like I stated earli- waited for hours outside the famous your lot!” er – I have been at numerous Dirshu address on Rashbam Street in the heart Since this is what Rav Chaim felt, events, but Rav Chaim’s entrance at of Bnei Brak, and the elderly Rav it made sense that he was there on that that siyum was something I will nev- Chaim, who had welcomed them into great night. er forget, for it taught me in the real- his home and life with such love – as I have never seen a crowd react est sense who Klal Yisrael values and he provided them with hope and blessthe way that crowd reacted when Rav what we all aspire to be. In my mind, ing for so many decades. Chaim appeared at the head table. it was an example of Kavod HaTorah There is no question that everyThere was a sense that history was at its finest. one will remember the way it was and being made as the Gadol HaDor and During the shiva Rav Dovid went that the memory of that apartment and Sar HaTorah was brought into the hall. to be minachem ovel the family and staircase and bridge near the LederEvery person in that gigantic hall was while sitting with one of Rav Chaim’s man shul will remain fresh in our on their feet, the music began to play sons, he mentioned that the Dirshu si- minds. Most of all, we will recall the and it was beautiful, but the singing yum was his last public appearance. sight of an elderly Yid with a sefer in from the mouths of every person in the Rav Chaim’s son then made a fas- his hands and the entire Torah in his hall was way more beautiful. A sense cinating observation. mind – who gave of himself completeof electricity coursed through my “My father said goodbye to Klal ly to Hashem and at the same time body as I watched the events unfold- Yisrael at the siyum.” made himself available to his people ing and saw the veneration and admiThose words struck a chord and like a father to his sons. ration – more than that – the absolute resonated in the most authentic way, For the fact is, Rav Chaim was ours love – which all these beautiful Yidden because that’s exactly what he was do- and we were his.” felt for Rav Chaim. At that moment it
