Community Magazine October 2014

tishrei 5775 october 2014 43 of Mishnah Berurah daily, five days a week, with the other two days set aside for review. The younger students were given a daily class on the subject matter by talented teachers, while the older students studied the material with havrutot (study partners). Rabbi Feuer proudly reports that participation in the Dirshu summer program became a “status symbol” of sorts in these camps. “Dirshu Never Stops” “Dirshu boys are committed to their learning, every day, regardless of what is going on in camp,” Rabbi Feuer describes. “Their commitment is visible for all to see. The bachurim actually feel very good about the fact that they are part of a worldwide organization that facilitates Torah learning. It is truly wonderful to see how even at difficult times such as Shabbat morning after a quick kiddush and before the meal, the bachurim flock to learn. The sight of these bachurim coming together following a full day trip after 11:00pm for the shiur [class]…shows that no matter how tired, they know that just as Dirshu never stops, neither can they!” Rabbi Schmelczer, who oversees the Dirshu program in Camp Toras Chaim-Tashbar led by Rabbi Alexander Dembitzer, relates, “I can’t tell you how much and in how many ways the bachurim have been enriched by the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program in our camp!” He explained that the camp ran three different classes, one for boys entering 9 th grade, the second for those entering 10 th and another for those entering into 11 th . Rabbi Schmelczer marveled at how the boys covered all the complex, intricate halachot of the holidays without skipping or taking shortcuts, amassing an impressive wealth of knowledge and proficiency. He added that Dirshu’s booklet included a “ Be’urim U’musafim ” (“Commentaries and Appendices”) section which presents halachic rulings from more recent halachic authorities who lived after the Hafetz Haim (author of the Mishnah Berurah ). This helped ensure that the study would be practically relevant and applicable. An educator himself, Rabbi Schmelczer observed how the daily study program, which includes intensive review, honed the students’ skills in the study of halachic texts. “I can’t even describe how this important skill will help them when they return to yeshiva after the summer,” he said, adding that together with the actual information which they are mastering, the experience is laying the foundation for excellence in the subsequent stages of their Torah education. Amazingly, all of the participants took the test and the overwhelming majority scored more than 80 points! Up Next … In light of the tremendous success of Dirshu’s camp program, the organization will be sponsoring a special follow-up program for this coming Sukkot vacation. The program will focus on the study of the laws of sukkah , and will include lectures by prominent rabbis in the larger communities. The daily study will run for three weeks, from the day afterYomKippur until the end of the vacation. The exciting program, which will be offering great incentives, will be tailor-made for students who want to not just learn the laws of sukkah , but master them, as well. If the accomplishments of the summer program are any indication, the Sukkot Daf HaYomi B’Halacha Program promises to be a smashing success! For more information about the Sukkot study program, or about Dirshu, please contact the organization at 1-888-5Dirshu . Follow us on @avejmensshoes 1206 Avenue J 718-258-4266 A VE J M EN ’ S S HOES Wishing the entire community a Happy Holiday!