Visitors who entered the bais medrash of Yeshivas Mir in Yerushalayim this week witnessed a remarkable sight. Although the seat of the legendary maggid shiur, Rav Asher Arieli, stood empty as he sat shivah in Bnei Brak following the passing of his sister, Mrs. Miriam Stern a”h, wife of Rav Dovid Asher Stern, hundreds of talmidim continued learning with the same intensity and diligence as if their revered rebbi were present.

Before leaving for Bnei Brak, Rav Arieli suspended his daily shiurim because of the aveilus, but not before leaving detailed instructions to ensure that the uninterrupted rhythm of Torah learning in the Mir would continue.

Following Rav Arieli’s explicit directives, and in full coordination with Rosh Yeshiva Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, the talmidim continued learning from the exact point they had reached in Maseches Pesachim. Rav Arieli has remained closely involved throughout the week, receiving daily updates and guiding the precise pace of the learning schedule.

In addition, at the conclusion of each seder—the very time when Rav Arieli’s voice would ordinarily fill the bais medrash—hundreds of bochurim gathered throughout the hall to hear special chaburos. These presentations were delivered by the roshei chaburah and the sho’alim u’meishivim of the yeshiva, who developed the sugyos according to the distinctive methodology and profound foundations that Rav Arieli has instilled in his talmidim over many years.

True to his well-known practice of hatzneia leches and his determination to prevent any unnecessary bittul Torah, Rav Arieli specifically instructed his talmidim not to travel to Bnei Brak during the week to be menachem avel, sparing them from interrupting their learning in the middle of the zeman.

Instead, an unusual arrangement was made to allow the many talmidim to fulfill the mitzvah of nichum aveilim without disrupting the yeshiva’s schedule. On Friday, Rav Arieli was scheduled to travel to Yerushalayim for several hours to receive the talmidim, after which he would return to Bnei Brak in time for Shabbos.

Rav Arieli is expected to resume delivering his regular shiurim on Sunday, immediately after concluding the shivah, picking up from the exact place the talmidim have reached in their learning.

The report also indicates that, in order to make up for the missed material from the past week, Rav Arieli is expected to add extra shiurim during the upcoming Bein Hazemanim. Since he already customarily delivers shiurim for one week during Bein Hazemanim each year, this year’s schedule will likely be extended so that the talmidim can complete the planned material without falling behind.