How It’s Going

The first group of participants came back very energized. Word spread, and every year since then, Covid aside, attendance increased by about 20 percent. In 2022, an astonishing 440 former talmidim and friends of the yeshivah flew in to participate. Last year, following the Simchas Torah massacre, there weren’t as many participants. This year, we expect about 300.

What I Do

I’ve been involved in the back end of the Mir’s Yarchei Kallah since 2008 — at this point, I have the help of Reb Uri Stern, our international liaison, and we arrange it together. Today, the Yarchei Kallah has two daily sedorim at its core — first and second — along with some chizuk at night. The entire week revolves around those sedorim, and every decision we make is based on one question: How will this affect first and second seder? If any stop or event or idea will detract from seder, then it’s not a good fit. We have a group of balabatim coming to Eretz Yisrael to sit and learn for a week, and the primary focus is to give them that.

Order of Operations

There’s a daily bus from the hotel to the Kosel for vasikin, as well as the yeshivah’s Shacharis. First seder is either a hachanah (preparation) shiur or participants can go through a list of mareh mekomos (sources) with their chavrusa, followed by an iyun shiur from one of the Mir maggidei shiur. After lunch is second seder, and we replicate the first one but with a sugya in halachah. These two sedorim are focused — it’s earlier in the day and the time difference ensures minimum distractions.

After supper, the yeshivah provides buses to a variety of mekomos hakedoshim, where participants go as a chaburah, and rabbeim or maggidei shiur often come along as well.

At the end of the week, on the way to the airport, we try to visit one of the gedolim in Bnei Brak as sort of a “goodbye kiss” from Eretz Yisrael.

Location, Location, Location

It’s a juggling act. Asking a running yeshivah to absorb an additional 400 talmidim is a big deal. And in a yeshivah like the Mir, where on a standard day during the zeman the batei medrash are filled to capacity and then some, there’s simply no room for an additional chaburah, let alone one of this size!

We take over a few of the Mir’s dining rooms, which is not as easy as it sounds, because they use them not only for meals but also for shiurim. For the week of Yarchei Kallah, the yeshivah rents space in places like Bais Yaakov Hayashan or Zvehil, and we send the current talmidim to the rented spaces for meals. We don’t want to dampen their welcoming spirit for the Yarchei Kallah, so the yeshivah tries to add some treats to the menu and make it worth the walk. But we can’t make the talmidim walk for their shiurim, so we have to find space closer by for those.

The Chavrusas

Participants can learn either with each other or with a current Mir avreich. About 100 avreichim participate in the Yarchei Kallah, and their presence ensures that the ruach replicates that of any Mir beis medrash and that if any questions arise, there is someone to whom to turn. If a participant learns well with a specific avreich, I’ll mark it down and make sure to set them up again the following year.

The Accommodations 

We reserve rooms in a nearby hotel. The Yarchei Kallah participants eat in the yeshivah, which has a full-time professional chef, and there is an understanding that their standards may have upgraded a bit since they were in yeshivah, so that week, the kitchen staff does its best to present a variety.

What We’ve Learned Along the Way

At first, we looked to bring in “big names” from Yerushalayim to say shiurim. At some point though, we realized that the Mir is one of the biggest mekomos HaTorah in the world, our rank and file is outstanding talmidei chachamim and rabbeim, so why seek outside speakers? Now all of our speakers are from the Mir.

Also, in the early years, we tried picking a sugya that can go over well with a diverse audience — things like mei Chanukah and yeihareg ve’al yaavor. Now, we try to do the yeshivah’s sugya or something closely related because while the avreichim that join can technically slide into any sugya and the rabbeim can say a shiur on any given topic, they are that much more prepared if we learn the sugya they’re learning. It’s been a successful model. We always observe how the participants are taking to the sugya — What’s going well? What are the challenges? Is it too deep? Are the mareh mekomos not matching up to the shiur? — and take all of these into account for the following year. During second seder, when we learn halachah, we decide what to learn based on the feedback. We change it from year to year —  sometimes, people want something more practical, sometimes a more lomdishe sugya. This year, we’re learning the sugya of yayin nesech, which is applicable to everyday life.

Business and Pleasure

Quite a few rabbanim join every year and consider this week their vacation — learning in a beis medrash away from home, undistracted, and relatively unknown. We also have many professionals, including an internationally recognized retina specialist who utilizes the bein hasedorim to set up a mini-clinic in the rebbetzin’s home to treat Israelis with eye issues. One year during lunch, he told an Israeli avreich that based on his symptoms, his issue was in the front of the eye and he needed a cornea specialist. The bochur thanked him and started to walk away, but the retina specialist took him a few tables down and introduced him to a fellow doctor who happened to be a cornea specialist and was happy to take a look.

On the Side

The Thanksgiving week Yarchei Kallah is the Mir’s most intense, no-frills program. Throughout the year, there are smaller shul or community-specific groups that will come for a small, personal yarchei kallah, groups from places like Rochester, Chicago, Panama, England — even Lakewood. Those groups are much more similar to our original Yarchei Kallah — a relatively small group that slips into the yeshivah.

From the First Impression…

The first year, a maggid shiur who was supposed to speak double-booked and couldn’t make it. Rav Yoina Halberstadt, one of the avreichim who was helping, didn’t want the already modest program to be reduced further, so he asked for a Chumash and on the spot proceeded to give a shiur on the parshah. The participants were so excited about the quality of the Mir’s avreichim — here was an avreich who gave his time to help with the program and when needed, was able to spontaneously deliver a full-blown, high-level shiur!

… To a Lasting Impression

One participant came because his learning schedule was almost non-existent — he felt he needed a boost. The week was exhilarating for him, and when he got back to the States, he started a learning seder. The next year, he came again, and once again, when he got back home he committed to additional learning sedorim. A few years after he his initial trip, he had such an intense learning schedule that he was torn whether or not he should come to our Yarchei Kallah because he’d have to put all his regular learning sessions on hold for a week! He came in the end, but the fact that he considered not coming because of his learning schedule was such a testament to our Yarchei Kallah.

Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Pikesville, Maryland

Number of attendees: 500 (aggregate)

When: Various times throughout the year 

Rabbi Gedalya Frankel is Ner Yisroel’s associate director of alumni relations and has been coordinating the Yarchei Kallah programs since 2018.

Wide-Ranging Operation

I’m part of a group of four people — Rabbi Eli Greengart, Rabbi Pinchos Mandel, Rabbi Shimmy Goldstein, and myself, working under the leadership of our menahel, Rabbi Boruch Neuberger — who focus on maintaining and growing the yeshivah’s relationship with its alumni. The Yarchei Kallahs are one way we create opportunities for alumni to stay connected with their rabbeim, chaveirim, and our unique makom Torah.

We run several learning programs that fall under the Yarchei Kallah umbrella. First, there’s the on-campus National Yarchei Kallah before Shavuos, a two-day program featuring sedorim, shiurim, and divrei chizuk. Alumni come from all over — Atlanta, Brooklyn, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Far Rockaway, Five Towns, Los Angeles, Monsey, and Passaic.

We also have a Latin American Yarchei Kallah, an extended weekend program in yeshivah for our alumni who live in Mexico, Panama, and Chile.

Finally, we have a Yarchei Kallah for the Sephardic Community, a one-day learning program on campus which caters to our Sephardic alumni and friends living in Baltimore. Rabbi Naftoli Neuberger, the grandfather of our current menahel, was instrumental in the mass emigration of Persian Jewry after Ayatollah Khomeini’s government took power in 1979, and to this day, the yeshivah enjoys a special relationship with the Sephardic community.

Inspired by the hanhalah’s insistence that everything we do needs to have its roots in limud haTorah, we also started a Yarchei Kallah on the day of our annual dinner, offering guests coming to Baltimore the opportunity to spend the day in the beis medrash prior to the evening’s event.

We also offer other programs, not geared specifically toward alumni.

In 2019, we also hosted the first ever Yarchei Kallah for the roshei kollel of 13 community kollelim, enabling them to invigorate themselves with serious learning and networking. Prominent talmidei chachamim offered divrei chizuk and hisorerus, and there were roundtable discussions addressing topics relevant to out-of-town kollelim.

We recently hosted our annual event for fathers and grandfathers of current talmidim, a special opportunity to let them experience a day in Ner Yisroel.

Various communities have also sent visitors to spend time on the yeshivah’s campus, including shuls, community kollelim, and kiruv organizations from cities like Atlanta, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Norfolk, Silver Spring, and Toronto. There’s no charge and we’re happy to welcome any group, yeshivah schedule permitting.

Putting Out the Welcome Mat

Our message to alumni is: A talmid is always welcome to come home! Come for a shiur, a seder, a day, a Shabbos, reconnect with your rebbeim and your yeshivah, and see how vibrant the yeshivah and the beis medrash continue to be, how despite its growth and innovation, the yeshivah is still very much the same unique makom Torah it has always been.

And our message to others interested in visiting: You’re welcome any time. We will fill your time here with shiurim, divrei chizuk, Q & A sessions, opportunities to speak with rebbeim — and good food!

We strive to make guests comfortable and give them the opportunity to have a successful experience. That doesn’t mean compromising on what we stand for — we have yet to run a BBQ Yarchei Kallah! As my rebbi Rabbi Yissocher Frand likes to say, “If it’s not rooted in a sugya in Shas, then I can’t speak about it.”

Still, we find a way to draw visitors in and show them what we are about, what we are doing, and what we stand for.

Ask Me Anything

For all participants — and especially for talmidim — the highlight of every Yarchei Kallah is a Q & A session with Rosh Yeshivah Harav Aharon Feldman shlita. After several minutes of welcoming guests with divrei brachah, he takes questions on any topic they choose. He often opens by saying, “I came armed with answers. What I need from you are questions.”

These sessions are never scripted, and the Rosh Yeshivah doesn’t shy away from any topic. Questions inevitably range the gamut of interests of Torah Jews — from politics (both here in the US and in Eretz Yisrael) to chinuch habanim and shalom bayis. The questions can be broad: “What is the greatest challenge facing Klal Yisrael today?” (The answer: “Influence from the societies around us”) or speculative: “What role will AI play in the future of limud haTorah?” (The answer: “Not much. The true value in limud haTorah has always been and will always be found over a sefer, with a rebbi or chavrusa.”)

Area of Study

The sugya d’kallah will be chosen either based on the time of year (Chanukah, Yamim Noraim, Shavuos, etc.), the masechta the yeshivah is learning, or a request from the attending group. To the extent that we can, we try to match the sugya to the group, both in terms of topic and level of learning. Our rebbeim and avreichim are willing and able to deliver shiurim in a wide range of topics and styles.

Guests always want to hear from the more well-known personalities (like the Rosh Yeshivah, Harav Beryl Weisbord, Rav Yissocher Frand, and Rav Tzvi Berkowitz) but we also try to introduce them to other rebbeim, as well as avreichim from Kollel Avodas Levi. This is mutually beneficial, as it gives our avreichim the opportunity to give over and hone their skills.

Fine-Tuning the Program

Over the years we’ve learned how to better meet the needs of those coming to campus, whether it’s our understanding of which types of shiurim best meet each group’s needs and what time of day is better suited for which type of shiur, to offering courtesies like providing clear maarei mekomos, private meals with rebbeim, and refreshments throughout the day.

We try to change up the roster of rebbeim who take part, including newer/younger/lesser-known members of the hanhalah as well as avreichim from the kollel, and we’re also constantly on the lookout for new and relevant topics to use as a sugya d’kallah.

Keeping It Fresh

Each event gets its own graphic, and we follow up after each one with recordings of the various shiurim as well as pictures. Over the years we’ve included take-home items like notebooks and pens as commemorative keepsakes of time spent on campus.

A Surprise Guest

When we held our first National Yarchei Kallah I reached out to Rabbi Eytan Feiner, rav of the White Shul in Far Rockaway and a Ner Yisroel talmid, for help with selecting material for the sugya d’kallah. After we arrived at a decision and I thanked him, he told me he was looking forward to seeing me there. I was surprised; I hadn’t expected him to actually participate, but when I told him as much, he said, “Of course I’ll be there; what could be better than to spend days back in yeshivah? I already told my kehillah when I will be away — and that my phone will be off!”

Gateshead Yeshiva

Started: 2021

Participants: 100

Duration: 2 days during the Three Weeks

Shaul Bodner, Senior member of the alumni committee

How the Gateshead Yarchei Kallah Started

The idea of a Yarchei Kallah, or as we call it “Yemei Limmud” — a time when talmidim of the yeshivah can return for pure limud haTorah — had been floating around for a few years, but it never actually came to be. Then, in 2021, as Covid restrictions were being lifted, we saw that despite the easing, and eventual lifting, of the Covid regulations that had prevented in-person gatherings, there were many chavrusas who were still learning with each other online via Zoom, and others who returned to in-person learning had opted to learn upstairs in the quieter areas of the shuls. A number of us felt that the concept of limud Torah b’rabbim needed chizuk. What better way was there to be mechazek that limud Torah b’rabbim than going back in an organized manner to the yeshivah we all value as the cornerstone of our chinuch?

On the Timing

Since its inception in 2021 (5781), the Yemei Limmud take place during the Three Weeks, usually a week or so after 17 Tammuz. The primary reason we chose that period is that historically, bochurim in Gateshead go on to learn in Eretz Yisrael after Pesach and the new bochurim don’t come until the following Elul, so the summer zeman population is typically around 50 bochurim less than the rest of the year, which frees up space in the yeshivah. The extra room allows a program of this size to join the yeshivah in the beis medrash with relatively minor disturbance. In addition, there are no weddings during the Three Weeks, so more people can participate.

On the Program’s “USP” — “Unique Selling Point”

We termed the program “Yemei Limmud — Back to Gateshead.” The concept is to go back to the yeshivah, sit in the beis medrash and attend the shiurim just as we did when we were formally enrolled in the yeshivah, and relive the whole experience, which remains vivid in the mind of a Gateshead talmid no matter how many years and decades have gone by. We have received many requests to sleep “in my bed” in 111 or 008 in the dorms! This is the real deal. Many of the shiurim from the Yemei Limmud have been made available online, as has a popular weekly dvar Torah on the parshah from the Rosh Yeshivah in English.

This is part of the motivation to connect with alumni who feel a natural affection and connection to the yeshivah. In 2018, a Shabbos hisachdus was held back in Gateshead, and there are plans for another such Shabbos in the making.

On the Limud

The most common request we get is, “We want to go back to yeshivah  with no shortcuts.” We prepare a booklet with maarei mekomos based on the material the yeshivah is learning and delve right in alongside the talmidim who have been there all zeman long. This past summer— which was our fourth Yemei Halimud — the yeshivah was learning the challenging sugya of Ribbis Ketzutzah (or “defined interest”), which is located in Bava Metzia in perek Aizehu Neshech. We did have requests for “a more user-friendly” track. The end result was that on the first day, we stuck with the yeshivah’s limud and on day two, we went back to the previous amud and extensively covered the sugya of Gonev Al Menas Lehachzir / L’meikat (stealing with the intent to return the stolen object / stealing with malicious intent). The halachah shiur that day also focused on the latter sugya. With siyata diShmaya, we found a balance to make the limmud palatable and accessible for all.

On Choosing a Sugya

The concept here is to experience two days back in yeshivah. We don’t have our own limud — we learn exactly where the shiurim and talmidim are holding, give or take a blatt. The first day is more tailored to introduce the sugya and prepare for the Rosh Yeshivah’s shiur klali, which takes place in the beis medrash at 6 p.m. On the second day, one can choose from various shiurim along with organized va’adim covering parshah, mussar and halachah. Before we come, the Rosh Yeshivah can give up to 20 maarei mekomos for us to review, his son Reb Eliyahu will relay the key points in each, and two staff members at Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, Rabbi Avrohom Shaye Frand (a devoted alumnus of the yeshivah) and Rabbi Zev Shonbrun, both of whom are involved in BMG’s Shivti program will produce a complete maarei mekomos package. They email us a PDF, we add various other content, and we print it out for the participants, many of whom begin the limmud on the train journey to Newcastle. Their selfless devotion to harbatzas haTorah and the perfection of their product is a key to the success of the limud.

On the Highlights

On the Sunday evening, all the rabbanim of the yeshivah join for dinner. They are seated in the middle of the hall, where everyone can easily engage and reconnect with them, or catch up on the progress of their son or grandson currently attending the yeshivah.

Each year on Monday, the second day of the program, the participants eat lunch with the Rosh Yeshivah, which is a special occasion. The highlight is  a Q & A session in which we have an opportunity to ask questions regarding hashkafah, chinuch and current challenges. A personal highlight was witnessing three generations — a current talmid with his father and grandfather – both alumni –  learning together. Another time, someone wanted to sign up, but he had never learned in a yeshivah and was nervous about how he would manage. By now, he’s a regular.

On the Accommodations (Lodgings / Food)

Most of the participating balabatim come in from London — which is an approximately three hours train ride. We book 60 seats on the 9 a.m. train, and travel together. We stay at the Gateshead Hilton, and the yeshivah caters all the meals from the yeshivah kitchen, which is arranged and presented by the local ladies’ guild. The group dines in the local communal Bewick Center, a short walk from the yeshivah. While a nominal registration fee is charged, the costs of the event are underwritten by two loyal supporters of the yeshivah.

On the Rosh Yeshivah’s Longing

The Gatesh ead Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Avrohom Gurwicz, is very encouraging of the Yemei Limmud. One of the quotes that he has often used when we depart is: “Why wait a whole year to come back?”

Agudath Israel of America

Number of Participants: 400

Where: Jerusalem

When: The week of Presidents’ Day

Rabbi Shlomo Gottesman is the cochair of Agudath Israel’s Commission on Torah Projects

The Yarchei Kallah That Almost Wasn’t

Perhaps the most telling point about the Agudah Yarchei Kallah is not how it started, but how it almost didn’t start. Conceived decades ago against the background of the intifada by my dear friend Rav Shmuel Bloom, the original proposal was a trip to Eretz Yisrael, spent learning Torah, as a way of being mechazek our brethren in Eretz Yisrael.

In my capacity as a senior partner in the Agudah’s Torah Projects Commission, I went to consult with Rav Aharon Leib Steinman about the idea. While over time I would be zocheh to a relationship with the gadol hador, at that point I was still unschooled in his unique approach to anything ruchniyus related, and assumed he would freely offer a brachah. After all, what could be wrong with learning Torah?

To my surprise, though, at first the Rosh Yeshivah refused to endorse our idea. “Why do you need to come here to learn?” he queried. “You want to be mechazek us? Do so from home!’’

The time and expense involved in coming here would be counterproductive, he explained. “Bleibt aheim, un lern besser — stay home and learn better,” he concluded.

That was my introduction to Rav Steinman’s strict adherence to emes and abhorrence of anything resembling a gimmick. Swallowing hard, I tried to explain the realities of life for an American balabos. We would need to get away, to take advantage of the time difference and — of course — the siyata d’Shmaya of Toras Eretz Yisrael, to be able to immerse ourselves in high-quality learning.

Rav Steinman was initially unmoved by my arguments, and it took several visits during which we revised and refined the plans until he granted his blessing. His acquiescence was predicated on three conditions. First, the program would need to be totally dedicated only to limud haTorah, precluding any other activities. We would have to pick a beis medrash and not budge from it.

“No trips to see gedolim,” he said with a smile. “I will come to you!”

Secondly, we would need to commit to three sedorim a day, as in any yeshivah or kollel, and third, in what was perhaps the most difficult hurdle, there was to be absolutely no publicity.

Ultimately, we agreed that we would advertise in the US, but adopt a low-key approach in Eretz Yisrael.

This was 25 years ago, and we like to think that our success since then was a function of our absolute adherence to Rav Steinman’s guidelines. When the participants wanted to go to Kever Rochel to daven, we shoehorned in the trip during the very short bein hasedorim slot, so as not to impinge on any learning time. For the duration of the weeklong program, we are running a full-time yeshivah, including shemiras hasedorim! Our participants understand this and respect it, and that is one of the reasons we have so many repeat attendees. Some have actually made it through all 25 years!

On My Role

My role as Yarchei Kallah chairman is to organize and structure the program and serve as the point person for the participating roshei yeshivah, rabbanim, and lomdim. In addition, as it would be difficult to fire a volunteer, I am the chief address when anything doesn’t work perfectly.

The work starts many months in advance with the intensive analysis involved in picking the sugya d’kallah, which has to meet several criteria:

It has to strike the right note between being challenging enough for balabatim who can learn on a sophisticated level, but not overly complex.

The sugya has to be one that the roshei yeshivah who say the in-depth shiur iyun have material prepared for.

The topic needs to have relevant halachah l’maaseh so the lomdim find the connection to their lives.

For many years we concentrated on Orach Chayim and Yoreh Dei’ah, and covered more than 20 sugyos in Berachos and Moed in depth. We aim to replicate a yeshivah chaburah, where we learn the sugyos, the Rishonim, the classical poskim, and conclude with the halachah. Recently, in response to requests, we’ve begun including Choshen Mishpat topics as well, which we had hesitated to do because of their complexity, and people have given us positive feedback. In fact, here’s a scoop for Mishpacha readers: This year we’ll be learning the sugyos related to professional responsibility malfeasance and malpractice, covering many fundamental concepts in Seder Nezikin including mazik, garmi, guarantors, and much more.

Setting the Stage

We’ve realized that the only way we can present a high-quality, serious program is by leveraging the advantage of advance preparation. The hachanah program has evolved and grown over the years, and today we have an extensive course of study, both in person and via Zoom, that starts a full six weeks in advance. We aim to familiarize participants with the sugyos we’ll be learning so everyone starts on solid ground.

While obviously not everyone participates, I estimate that a very high percentage of attendees put in some serious hachanah, and it supercharges the learning when the program actually begins.

On How We Keep Things Current

While adherence to our ironclad principles is nonnegotiable, we are also aware of the need for flexibility reflecting the times. For example, our non-Yiddish-speaking crowd has grown exponentially, including distinguished Sephardi bnei Torah, and so we’ve had to move to a more English-language-based program. We set up panels of experts, including doctors and professionals, to address the practical aspects of halachah, and l’havdil, I’m constantly looking out for younger, lesser-known talmidei chachamim with the goal of including at least one or two each year. Many younger talmidei chachamim from Eretz Yisrael first made their way onto America’s radar at the Yarchei Kallah, and I’m thrilled about that.

On the Rabbanim Who Have Graced Our Yarchei Kallahs

The unabridged list would be its own article, but I can say we’ve been zocheh to have almost every senior talmid chacham, posek, baal machshavah, and admor of the last two generations join us. While by no means complete, the list includes: Rav Steinman, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Rav Neuwirth (author of Shemiras Shabbos K’hilchasah), Rav Shmuel Auerbach, Rav Gershon and Rav Yaakov Edelstein, Rav Moshe Shapira, and yibadel l’chayim tovim, Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Yitzchock Zilberstein, Rav Dov Landau ,Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Asher Weiss, and the Admorim of Belz, Gur, Klausenburg, Vizhnitz, and Boyan, among others.

Memorable Moments

Our barometer of a successful Yarchei Kallah is seeing people learning diligently with chavrusas and listening raptly to master maggidei shiur. We strive to create buzz in the beis medrash and not outside of it. That being said, there were some things over the years that stood out, including, sadly, the loud boom of a terrorist bomb explosion during one seder and the wail of emergency vehicles for hours afterwards.

On a lighter note, one year Rav Dovid Cohen had to pause his shiur as the national anthem was sung at a political rally being conducted in an adjoining room.

To me, though, the most memorable moment repeats every year when I walk in the first day and survey a packed, giant ballroom resounding with the excited sound of kol haTorah. It will never get old for me.

On Advice to Other Organizations Planning Yarchei Kallahs

On a lighter note, I always remind my very professional friends at the Mir that I am a “partner” in their wonderful program. Many years ago, when they began planning their Yarchei Kallah, my close friend Rav Binyomin Carlebach called to ask for some advice. I told him I would be happy to give my input, but for a price.

“How much”? he asked.

“Ten percent of the sechar of the learning,” I retorted.

A distinguished talmid chacham and a good negotiator, Rav Binyomin, who immediately realized that according to most poskim, such deals are permitted and do not mitigate the sechar of any participant, graciously agreed to my terms. Since then, the Mir Yarchei Kallah has grown exponentially, I revel in the “cheap” acquisition I made. The Mir may have forgotten about our deal, but I hope in Shamayim they are keeping track!

Seriously, though, many kehillos organizing such programs have consulted with me for assistance on selecting sugyos and speakers. I also have a fund that I use to help start-up programs, and there are often gratifying results. I’d say the key is to understand your target audience (and work with modern marketing techniques to reach them), and prepare them well.

Rav Steinman never allowed anyone to say he was working l’Sheim Shamayim. He felt that in today’s generation, no one is worthy enough to claim that. And those few who are don’t need to say it.

“At most,” he would say with a smile, “one can state that he is working in the name of harbatzas Torah.”

We would hope that our continued hatzlachah is due to our effort to adhere to that lofty principle!

On the Impact of the Yarchei Kallah

My longtime colleagues, fellow chairman Rabbi Gedalya Weinberger and Rabbi Leibish Becker, executive director of Agudah, recount many interactions with participants who have told us how powerfully impacted they were. Many said the week spent learning in Yerushalayim supercharged their learning for the rest of the year. I was particularly struck when one attendee told me the week had literally changed his entire attitude toward learning. Learning had always been a casual affair for him, he shared, but after the Yarchei Kallah, he’d undertaken to start learning seriously.

(Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 1038)