Community Magazine February 2019

“Let me tell you what I used to do at my own Shabbat table when my children were young. I would learn the work Ben Ish Hai on the halachot of Shabbat every week. We studied the B en Ish Hai and reviewed it. First of all, our children learned many halachot as a result. The second thing the studying accomplished was that it gave structure to the Shabbat meal. Our children saw that a Shabbat meal wasn’t just a time for gossip or to talk about unimportant and sometimes foolish matters. The meal was injected with the unique flavor of Shabbat.” Rav Cohen highlighted the importance of utilizing Shabbat properly by sharing another anecdote, a fascinating conversation he once had with Rav Elazar Shach. “I remember many years ago,” he recalled, “a number of Roshei Yeshiva of prominent yeshivot came to me complaining, ‘The yeshivot have such a long break for Pesach. The entire month of Nissan! That is a long time for students to be off from Torah study. Perhaps we should shorten the break?’ “I did not want to undertake a decision of such magnitude on my own, so I went to consult with Rav Elazar Shach, Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh and the oldest Rosh Yeshiva at the time. Do you know what he answered? He instructed me to tell the Rosheh Yeshivot that before fixing the month of Nissan, they should fix Friday and Shabbat. ‘Those are two full days every week that are often not utilized properly,’ he said. ‘Let us fill those days with structure and Torah study first!’ “ Baruch Hashem , for 60 years I am delivering shiurim on Fridays and Shabbat. On Friday, we have a shiur on the laws of Shabbat, and on Shabbat, on Mishnah Berurah .” Rabbi Cohen then extended his blessing to Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter, shlit”a , Nasi of Dirshu, for creating and facilitating such an enormous amount of Torah study, andespecially, the study of the laws of Shabbat. “Hashem should help that we should only perform His will without any ulterior motives whatsoever,” he said. “I amaccustomed to praying that Hashem should open the hearts of those who study Torah and grant them that they have yirat Shamayim [fear of Heaven], to truly understand, to ask questions, to answer questions, and most of all, that they should love Torah, love to learn Torah.” Turning his attention to the numerous rabbis around the table who deliver shiurim , he concluded, “But the main thing is that the rabbi giving the class should prepare and know the material perfectly. In this way, those who listen will learn to love the Torah!” Countering the Satan Rav Cohen’s remarks were followed by short words of blessing from the Nasi of Dirshu, Rabbi Dovid Hofstedter. He noted that before Yaakov Avinu went down to Egypt with his family, he sent his son Yehuda ahead of him, and Rashi explains, based on the Midrash, that Yehuda went first in order to open a place of study “from where Torah rulings would come forth.” The Midrash is telling us that we need not only a yeshiva, but also a place where scholars will reach practical halachic rulings. Whenever Jews arrive at a new place, our sages are telling us, they must have a yeshiva and a place where one can receive halachic rulings and halachic guidance from our sages. “Why,” Rabbi Hofstedter asked, “did Yaakov Avinu specifically send Yehuda? If he wanted to build a yeshiva, he should have perhaps sent an architect and a developer!” The rabbi answered, “Yehuda is the power of malchut , the power of a king. Whenever there is something good happening, the Satan , the yetzer hara [evil inclination], tries to get in the way. Yehuda has the power of malchut , a power that can counter the yetzer hara’s diabolical plans. “This, too, is why we feel so fortunate to be here at the home of the Rosh Yeshiva, and why Dirshu is fortunate to have the blessing and constant support of the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Cohen, and other leading gedoleh Yisrael [spiritual giants]. With their backing, their merit and their tefillot [prayers], we will certainly overcome any hurdles that the yetzer hara places in our way!” Hacham Shalom closed the event by congratulating all of those learning the Mishnah Berurah , proclaiming, “One must know how to learn the Mishnah Berurah . Every line in the Mishnah Berurah is worth so much! There is no greater zechut than studying the Mishnah Berurah !” Indeed, not only in France, but also throughout Eretz Yisrael , Hacham Shalom has encouraged the learning of Mishnah Berurah in Sephardic yeshivot . 42 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE