Increasing Torah • A Lesson for the Examinees of the Torah Program at the Home

In these days, when hundreds of thousands of soldiers stand on the front lines and thousands of missiles are constantly being launched toward Israel’s cities, tens of thousands of Jews are strengthening themselves on their behalf—by increasing prayer and reinforcing Torah study, as protection for all of Am Yisrael wherever they may be.

As part of the efforts to strengthen Torah learning, the Torah Program of the Shuvu Banim community held an uplifting shiur from The Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, for the examinees of the “Torah Program” on the Daf Yomi.

The shiur took place this past Thursday night, the eve of 28 Tishrei, in the holy residence of The Rav shlit"a. Below is a summary of the living words of Hashem that were delivered during the shiur from the holy mouth of The Rav shlit"a:

The Rav shlit"a opened the shiur by speaking about the importance of prayer. He said that when a person prays, he truly accomplishes something in the most literal sense—“Who forms light,” and then the sun rises, and so on.

After that, for most of the shiur he discussed the matter of Rachel’s burial—how she was buried specifically “on the road,” by Divine instruction. From this, he explained that if her burial place had been even slightly further ahead, Am Yisrael would not have been able to reach her at all to pray there. He explored the subject of her burial through the Midrashim and the many new insights on this topic. The Rav shlit"a also mentioned the merit of the avreichim of Shuvu Banim: through their determination to reach the holy places—such as Kever Rachel and the Cave of Machpelah—these sites remained within Israel’s territory. Of course, during the shiur The Rav shlit"a spoke at length about the “Swords of Iron” war, and that we must strengthen ourselves in Torah learning and in saying Tehillim.

Toward the end of the shiur, The Rav shlit"a made a siyum on Maseches Gittin, explaining the words of the Gemara in a Chassidic way. He addressed the statement, “even if he found another more beautiful than her,” and said that if a person does not guard his eyes from other women, then he is not worthy of being married to that woman. This, he said, is the teaching of Rabbi Akiva.

Naturally, he strengthened everyone regarding shalom bayis, teaching that a husband must gladden his wife and uplift her spirit at all times—this is the meaning of the verse, “and he shall gladden his wife.” He read from Likutey Halachos, in the words of Rabbi Nosson, about the husband’s obligation to bring joy to his wife. The Rav shlit"a concluded Maseches Gittin by saying that the conclusion of Maseches Gittin is specifically: not to divorce.

Below is the documentation from the shiur and the siyum on Maseches Gittin: