As he departed for the United States to participate in the concluding phase of the Keren Olam HaTorah campaign, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch issued an extraordinary appeal to tens of thousands of avreichim across Eretz Yisroel, urging them to undertake a daily taanis dibbur during the opening half-hour of each learning session from now through the end of the Yamim Nora’im.

The special letter, released shortly after the rosh yeshiva left for America, was distributed to roshei kollel throughout the country. It comes against the backdrop of the ongoing challenges confronting the Torah world, including the draft decrees and the loss of critical yeshiva funding.

In the letter, Rav Hirsch presents what he describes as a powerful spiritual response to the current struggle facing lomdei Torah.

The rosh yeshiva emphasized that the very difficulty of maintaining such a commitment is what gives it its unique value and power.

“It appears proper that every avreich, from now until the end of the Yamim Nora’im, should be careful to begin each seder with a half-hour taanis dibbur,” Rav Hirsch wrote. “This is something very difficult, and precisely because it is difficult and constitutes a form of mesirus nefesh, it will bring tremendous kavod Shamayim.”

According to Rav Hirsch, this act of self-sacrifice will generate a special closeness between Klal Yisroel and the Ribbono Shel Olam.

“As a result, HaKadosh Boruch Hu will draw closer to us, and then we will merit a special siyata diShmaya from Him,” the rosh yeshiva explained. He stressed that “without this special siyata diShmaya, it will not be possible to prevail against those who are fighting against us.”

Rav Hirsch expressed confidence that the acceptance of this kabbalah would not only help secure victory in the current battle facing the Torah world, but would also elevate participants to unprecedented spiritual heights.

“Through this, we will merit special siyata diShmaya and we will be victorious in this struggle,” he wrote. “Moreover, it will bring us to extraordinarily high levels that we have not previously attained.”

The letter concludes with a request that roshei kollel actively encourage their avreichim to embrace the initiative.

“It is appropriate that roshei kollel speak about this matter,” Rav Hirsch wrote, underscoring the importance he places on ensuring that the message is translated into practical action.

The letter was released at a particularly significant moment, coinciding with Rav Hirsch’s departure for the historic concluding events of the Keren Olam HaTorah campaign in the United States. The rosh yeshiva embarked on a whirlwind three-day trip intended to bring the organization’s fundraising efforts to a close.

Last Friday, an emotional Tzeischem L’Shalom gathering took place at Rav Hirsch’s home, attended by dozens of roshei kollel representing tens of thousands of avreichim throughout Eretz Yisroel. During the event, the roshei kollel expressed gratitude for the rosh yeshiva’s tremendous efforts in establishing Keren Olam HaTorah and for his tireless work on behalf of bnei Torah.

{Matzav.com}