A Dirshu Convention Defies Description!

Two Large Hotels Booked For Klal Yisrael’s Upcoming Premiere Convention

By Chaim Gold

Partial view of the participants at a past Dirshu Shabbos Convention

“Anticipation.” Perhaps that is the optimum word to describe the way lomdei Torah from all over America and beyond are excitedly looking forward to the upcoming Dirshu Convention, the Shabbos Kinnus Olam HaTorah that will be attended by thousands in Stamford, Connecticut on Shabbos Parashas Terumah, 3-5 Adar/February 20-22. The Armon Hotel is not large enough to accommodate the tremendous desire for rooms and Dirshu is already booking in the nearby Marriott Hotel which can accommodate hundreds more lomdeiDirshu and their wives. Similar to the previous Dirshu Convention two years ago, the sessions and seudos will only be held at the Armon.

In truth, the hotels are just the material, outer building to physically host the convention, but the spiritual edifice is what makes the Dirshu Convention Klal Yisrael’s premiere Torah Convention. Even the “currency” at the Dirshu convention is Torah and only Torah.

As, HaRav Yitzchok Zalman Gips, Rav of Khal Birchas Avrohom and a longtime Dirshu maggid shiur, said, “This is a convention where people fight to gain entry. Why? So that they can listen to derashos throughout Shabbos! Where else do we find such a thing?!”

{International Delegation Led by HaGaon HaRav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, Shlita

At this year’s convention Dirshu will also have the privilege of hosting an international delegation from Eretz Yisrael and Europe. Heading the Eretz Yisrael delegation will be HaGaon HaRav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva Ateres Shlomo, a leading Gadol B’Torah who represents Torah royalty. On a personal level, Rav Ausband is no stranger to America. Born and raised in Cleveland, Rav Ausband is the youngest son of the former Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe, Rav Aizik Ausband and Rebbetzin Chaya Ausband, founder of the Yavne Seminary of Cleveland, and a daughter of the Telsher Rav and Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Bloch, H’yd.

He was a close talmid of his uncle, HaGaon HaRav Mordechai Gifter, zt’l. Later, at a relatively young age, Rav Chaim Mordechai went to learn in Eretz Yisrael at the Ponovezh Yeshiva, where he became a very close talmid of Maran HaGaon Rav Elozor Shach, zt’l, who displayed tremendous love for the young ilui and scion of Torah greatness. Rav Chaim Mordechai is married to a daughter of HaGaon HaRav Gavriel Knopfler, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Shaarei Torah of Manchester and also a longtime Ponovezher talmid.

Aside from being a gaon and baki in all areas of Torah, Rav Ausband brings with him the unique Torah oratory that characterized Telshe.

One of the major highlights of every Dirshu convention is the in-depth shiur given on Shabbos morning just after davening. Maarei mekomos are usually given in advance, providing the lomdim a window into the topics that the shiur will cover.

During the shiur, the massive, heated tent erected by Dirshu in the parking lot enabling the davening to be held in a serious, inspiring atmosphere, b’rov am, is full of lomdim who take such spiritual pleasure in listening to the shiur. It is not uncommon for lomdim to interject during the shiur with questions from all over Shas as a fiery Torah debate ensues, as the maggid shiur defends and explains his position. This year, the shiur will be given by Rav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, and is certain to once again be a high point of the convention.

Another international guest will be HaGaon HaRav Nosson Binyomin Eckstein, shlita, of London. Rav Nosson Binyomin, a longtime Belzer Dayan in London, has led Dirshu in London for decades. The presence of a Posek and Rav of his stature will also add to the convention.

{The Melavah Malkah: A Combination of Torah Inspiration and Song

The Dirshu convention brings inspiration and regesh not only to the brain but to the heart as well. Throughout Shabbos, zemiros and tefillos will be led by R’ Issac Honig, whose hartzige tefillos and booming voice that reverberates throughout the cavernous tent infuse the olam with inspiration.

And then there is the Motzaei Shabbos Melavah Malkah!

The melavah malkah features the convention’s keynote addresses, with timely messages delivered by leading Gedolei Yisrael.

Among the Gedolim to be in attendance this year are HaGaon HaRav Yeruchem Olshin, shlita, RoshYeshivas Lakewood, HaGaon HaRav Hillel David, shlita, Rav of Kehillas Yeshiva Shaarei Torah, Yoshev Roshof the Vaad Roshei Yeshiva of Torah Umesorah,  HaGaon HaRav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz, shlita, the Skverer Dayan of Boro Park and one of America’s most prominent Poskim, HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Feivel Schustal, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Tiferes Yerachmiel, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Mesivta of Lakewood, HaGaon HaRav Dovid Goldberg, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Telshe, and HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Eisenberger, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Telshe.

A highlight of the melavah malkah is the singing and dancing that bring the uplifting Shabbos to a close. This year, the zemiros will be led by R’ Hershy Weinberger and R’ Avrumi Berko. In truth, it is possible to give over the main message of a derashah in an article, but one simply cannot, with dry ink and paper, describe the dancing after the melavah malkah. How can you depict thousands of lomdei Torah dancing with such elation, such dveikus, deep into the wee hours of the morning? How can you possibly capture the contagious enthusiasm that permeates the hall? The dancing at the end of the melavah malkah is a rikud of simcha, of dveikus, and of deep hakaras hatov to Dirshu and what it has done for them and their families.

“The ‘Simple Yungeleit’ Here are Gedolei Torah!”

Perhaps, Rav Nissan Kaplan, Rosh Yeshivas Daas Aharon encapsulated what a Dirshu convention is most succinctly when he said, “Not long after I arrived at the convention, I went down to the lobby to participate in a bit of toameha. Turning to the Yid next to me whom I didn’t know, I said ‘shalom aleichem.’ We got to talking about learning and I realized that this Yid had been tested on all of Shas! ‘Wow!’ I thought, ‘I wish I had learned all of Shas!’ Then I began to speak to the person on the other side of me and found out that he had been tested on all of Shas with Tosafos!!

“The person across from me had been taking monthly tests on Mishnah Berurah for fourteen years and had already completed the Mishnah Berurah twice! I must admit, I felt like a nothing… I came here to this convention to give chizuk and I found that the ‘simple yungeleit’ siting around the table with me and eating kugel are Gedolei Torah who don’t even realize how great they are!

“This is the definition of being part of Dirshu!”