Recently, the Torah world was electrified by the news and video of the Shas Yiden public farher on the entire shas by Harav Nissan Kaplan and Harav Rephael Shmuelewitz at Yeshivas Daas Aharon. Maran Harav David Cohen, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron, suggested that yeshivos should invite the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim so that yeshiva bochrim could see true Shas Yiden and be inspired.
Let the Geonim Test Them!
However, Hagaon Harav Yehoshua Menachem Weiss, menahel haruchani of the Erlau Yeshiva Ketana in Bnei Brak, decided to go a step further. “The second shiur of the yeshiva had been spending many hours mastering the 120 daf of Bava Kamma. 20 of the bachurim knew the masechta both by heart and in depth. What better challenge could there be than for them to be tested by the Shas Yiden avreichim geonim? They are acknowledged masters of Shas about whom so much has been written, and who are praised by the Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Chaim Kanievsky, the nasi of Shas Yiden.”
Hagaon Harav Moshe Isaac Samet, Rosh Hakollelim of Shas Yiden, consulted with the avreichim geonim at Shas Yiden Yerushalayim. They agreed to make time in their heavy learning schedules for such bochurim. For weeks, the Erlau Yeshiva was buzzing with excitement. They could not believe this unique opportunity.
No Seforim on the Tables!
The 15-year-old bochurim arrived at Shas Yiden Yerushalayim and were divided into pairs, each with an avreich. Moreover, there were no seforim on any of the desks! There was no need. All the testers and the bochurim knew the gemora texts in detail and by heart. If there was any question, the volume could be found on the shelf. For an intense hour, the bochurim were quizzed over the entire Bava Kamma – length and breadth, forwards and backwards, and in depth – and they could answer all questions!
After this initial question period, the bochurim were gathered together and, collectively, had a general farher. The faces of all were shining with glow and sparks of Torah.
Gedolim of the Future
The avreichim were overjoyed to see the prowess of each of the bochurim. The general sense was these young and budding talmidei chachomim are proof how in-depth and all-encompassing knowledge of Shas can begin at a young age. Harav Yosef Danziger, masgiach ruchani from Erlau, who arranged the occasion, reported that the bochurim returned to the yeshiva on a ‘major high’, inspired and eager to tackle the next masechta with the hope to become true Shas Yiden.
