Beaming and Singing, ‘Rav Chaim’ declares:
“Open another 10 Shas Yiden Kollelim!”

By Rabbi Eliezer Sandler

          At the incredible Siyum Hashas held at the home of, and presided over by, the Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Hagadol Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a, Rav Chaim first gave a farher on Shas and then hosted a most joyous siyum for the avreichim of the Shas Yiden Kollelim. There have been many requests to open other ‘branches’ all over Eretz Yisroel, especially in Yerushalayim. When the Nasi of Shas Yiden, the Pozna Rov, Hagaon Harav Avrohom Eisen, shlit”a, asked Rav Chaim if he should go forward with another new project so soon after opening in Bnei Brak, and to give him a brocha for success, Rav Chaim burst out with: “Open another 10 kollelim and you will see that each will have its own sponsor!”

          Project Shas Yiden and its kollelim have electrified the Torah world and have become a known phenomenon. In less than 10 years, the rarity of a Shas Yid – someone who is fully conversant with every single page of the Babylonian Talmud – has been dispelled. There are now two kollelim in Eretz Yisroel where each avreich is a Shas Yid and completes the entire Shas every year, and also knows it by heart.  

At Rav Chaim’s
          The 9th annual Siyum Hashas took place this last Monday night for the 6th year in a row in the home of Rav Chaim. It was, in essence, multiple siyumim of Shas celebrated by each of the 31 avreichim of Shas Yiden-Bet Shemesh and Shas Yiden-Bnei Brak kollelim. As in past years, the collective siyum was held in memory of the late Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky, of blessed and sainted memory.

          For years, Shas Yiden had one location in Bet Shemesh and, at the personal request of Rav Chaim, a 2ndkollel was opened in Bnei Brak. At the launch of Shas Yiden-Bnei Brak, Rav Chaim looked at the guests and declared, “All who support Shas Yiden will merit olam hazeh and olam habah, and will acquire Torah and great wealth.”

          His faced creased in smiles, Rav Chaim questioned the avreichim and listened to the siyum by the Rosh Hakollelim of Shas Yiden, Hagaon Harav Moshe Isaac Samet, shlit”a. The kaddish was recited by Reb Zalman Leib (Leo) Weiss of Boro Park in memory of his mother. Rav Chaim drank a l’chaim and then led all in joyous singing, inspiring them to rise and dance, celebrating the incredible simcha of the moment.

          Rav Chaim’s son, Harav Yitzchok Shaul, shlit”a, commented that Rav Chaim’s interaction with the Shas Yiden avreichim and their progress is a highlight for the Rav, and that was clearly evident at this year’s Siyum. He also commented that Rav Chaim has farhered many yungerleit on Shas and told him that none come close to the yediah (knowledge) and havono (understanding) of the Shas Yiden avreichim.

Supporters from Abroad
          Some fourteen Shas Yiden supporters from New York and Lakewood flew in for the Siyum, and some of their sons studying in Yeshiva in Yerushalayim attended. One of the supporters arrived directly from the airport with his carry-on in hand, and after the siyum that same night he flew back to New York! His comment was: “Just to see the simcha of the Torah and the smile on Rav Chaim’s face was worth it!” The atmosphere was ‘electric’ with the spirit of Torah extending back two millennia to the time of the Tannaim and Amoraim. At the conclusion of the siyum, each of the guests received brochos from Rav Chaim.

          The group also visited other gedolei Torah who were effusive in their praise of Shas Yiden and gave each guest personal brochos. They included Maranan Hagaonim Hagedolim Harav Berel Povarsky, Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsh, Harav Chaim Feinstein and Harav Gershon Edelstein. Rav Edelstein commented that that whatever supporters of Shas Yiden contribute, or add to their financial support, will be commensurately blessed by Hashem.

          A highlight was a visit on the following day to Harav David Abuhatzeira of Nahariya, who is one of the most enthusiastic supporters of Shas Yiden. He had sent his warmest wishes to the gathering, as well as two cases of wine to share in the simcha of the Siyum Hashas. He enthused about Shas Yiden that “the world rests on the Torah learned at the kollelim of Shas Yiden!… I have no doubt that Mashiach tzidkeinu will come in their merit.” Indicating towards  Rav Eisen he declared, “This Rav Hagaon, what he does is for the honor of the Ribbono shel Olam ” There, in his own private beis medrash, Rav David made a l’chaim, gave each a bottle of wine and a matbay’a (coin) of the Baba Sali, and then each had an opportunity to speak privately with Rav David.

A Breathtaking Farher
          On the afternoon before the siyum, an intense farher from throughout Shas was conducted at the Shas Yiden-Bnei Brak kollel. Hagaon Harav Yitzchok Shmuel Schwartz, shlit”a, rav in Bais Medrash Chisda and Rosh Kollel Emek Hatorah in Bnei Brak, known as a true Shas Yid, gave the farher. For a full hour, he grilled the avreichim non-stop with questions that tested their mettle and knowledge of Shas. Simply put, there in the bais medrash, Shas was flying back and forth. Rav Schwartz was taken aback by their erudition and mastery of Shas. To even attempt to answer some of his questions, comprehensive mastery of entire masechtas was needed!

          The group of guests, some scholars in their own right, sat with their mouths open at the pansophic knowledge of the avreichim and the thrust and parry of the verbal duels before them. In their own words, they “witnessed the intense bren and simcha of Toras chaim (the living Torah) – Shas was just flying.” (For those who wish to experience the farher, it will be uploaded to the Shas Yiden website in the coming week – www.shasyiden.com )

With Rav Meilech Biederman
          An unexpected visit by the group was made to the famous scholar whose weekly shiur is e-mailed to over 40,000 recipients – Hagaon Harav Meilech Biederman, shlit”a. He came into the room and immediately started singing a nigun, followed by another, and then began talking about the Shas Yiden project and the avreichim. He had already had the opportunity to speak with them and farher them on a previous occasion. His words were significant: “If I would not have spoken to them and seen their prowess with my own eyes, I would have said that I could not believe that entire kollelim could have such groups who know the entire Shas from start to finish and from end to beginning – remarkable… I believe that you should thank the Pozna Rav for the opportunity to be able to have Yissachar-Zevulum pacts with such talmidei chachomim!” And with that, he jumped up from his seat and began to dance with great simcha, and all joined in. Thereafter, each had a private meeting with him.

Gedolim of Tomorrow
          In the two kollelim in Bnei Brak and Bet Shemesh, there are 31 avreichim who are undoubtedly the gedolim of tomorrow. They have the entire Shas Bavli at their fingertips – memorized from Brochos to the end. Two of the avreichim are currently working at committing all the Rashi’s throughout Shas to memory, and another, all the Tosafos!

          So great is the prowess of Shas Yiden avreichim that when publishers of new editions of the Talmud or other seforim (books), as well as talmidei chachomim, have questions on the accuracy of texts anywhere in Shas, they call Shas Yiden in BneiBrak or Bet Shemesh and, of course, get instant answers. This kind of expertise and knowledge is what earned the enthusiastic endorsement and encouragement of Rav Chaim, and has people affectionately referring to them as the ‘Reb Chaim’s of tomorrow’ or ‘Google-Shas Avreichim’.

          The avreichim represent all sections of the Jewish and Torah world – Ashkenazim and Sefardim, Yeshivish and Chassidish – all coming together with one common and lofty aim – the learning and knowledge of Shas. When one walks into Shas Yiden, any differences and groupings are left at the door. There is no time or need for divisions or side issues. The focus of Torah and all that it entails is too compelling and important. The sense of common purpose and mutual Torah goals have proven to be uniting factors among the Shas Yiden avreichim.

Incredible Regimen and Unique Learning System
PLUS 160 days more per year PLUS Mishnayos!
          The Shas Yiden program operates throughout the year – including every Shabbos and every Yom Tov – basically, every day of the year. There are no bein hazmanim (vacations), otherwise the avreichim would be unable to keep up the pace. Thus, the avreichim at Shas Yiden learn, officially, some 160 days more per year than any other kollel throughout the world!

          To complete the annual cycle of 2711 daf (front and back of each page) of Talmud Bavli, and to know it flawlessly, they are committed to complete 8 daf a day – five times each! On every Shabbos and Yom Tov, as well as erev Shabbos and erev Yom Tov they are required to study 4 daf (each also five times). They keep copious notes of each daf and, every month, they have a detailed written test on 225 daf. At the half year point, they have a written test and an oral farher on some 1350 daf, and at the end of the cycle, a written test and oral farher on all 2711 daf of the entire Shas.

          In addition, at the suggestion of Rav Chaim, the avreichim also have a seder in Mishna so that the Siyum will coincide with a completion of the Mishnayos of Zeroim and Taharos – thus the Mishna and Gemora in its entirety! There is also a mussar seder which is currently following the sefer Ahavas Chesed.

Website and Live Farhers
          Shas Yiden has opened a new website – www.shasyiden.com – with news, articles and pictures from Shas Yiden. It has already proven an interesting commentary on the amazing levels of competence in Torah scholarship. Of great interest are the video clips of live farhers, where the avreichim are peppered with questions from all over Shas and are required not only to answer and identify halochos, disputes and who said them, but also the exact page and location of the quotes. They are all truly remarkable scholars.

          The endorsements and some of the letters of support for Shas Yiden found on the website, represent a veritable ‘Who’s Who’of the Torah world. The words of the gedolim highlight the incredible regard that they have for the avreichim of Shas Yiden and the founder and Nasi, Hagaon Harav Avrohom Eisen, the Pozna Rov.

The Words of the Rosh Hakollelim…
          Hagaon Harav Moshe Isaac Samet, shlit”a, Rosh Hakollelim of Shas Yiden, is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the entire Shas Yiden Program, as well as all the tests and farhers. In the latest Shas Yiden publication, Yama shel Torah, in anticipation of the Siyum he writes the following:

          ‘As we approach this lofty and joyous festival of Simchas Torah of Shas Yiden, the Siyum Hashas for 5777, our hearts are filled with indescribable feelings of joy and delight… When looking at the twenty-six tomes of the Talmud Bavli, each of which contains tens and hundreds of folios, the heart refuses to believe that we have managed to go forward step-by-step, page-by-page, day-after-day to this point. We can only look with amazement and ponder the question, “How did we conquer this mountain?” … And it is as if a Heavenly Voice responds – “Even so.” In awe and love we will recite “Hadran Alach Shas Bavli – We will return to you, the Babylonian Talmud, let us not forget thee…”

          Following the siyum, Rav Samet met with the Lelover Rebbe from Bet Shemesh, who commented with amazement about the Shas Yiden phenomenon. “How could they complete and know Yevomos and Chulin in just this month of Cheshvan!? I am working through Yevomos at present and know just how complex it is. I decided to present a very complex question to one of your avreichim, thinking to stymie him or, at least to give him food for thought. To my amazement, almost without pausing, he gave me a detailed and accurate response. It is amazing and impossible to imagine how they are trained to both study and retain the information and understanding. They each deserve the title of Shas Yid.”

Shas Yiden in Other Centers?
          The great success of the establishment of the Shas Yiden kollel in Bnei Brak, at the request of Rav Chaim, with a minyan of outstanding talmidei chachomim, is having an incredible chain reaction. The impact of being able to master the entire Shas and to know it by heart is attracting many talmidei chachomim.

          There have been many requests to open the Shas Yiden Program in Yerushalayim, as well as in other Torah centers. This development is extremely exciting as one of the aims of Shas Yiden is to foster a desire to master the Talmud far and wide, and to establish the frameworks for this to happen. However, as with any such program, philanthropists who wish to see the growth of expansive Torah scholarship are needed, and who will undertake a commitment to support each of the proposed programs.

Tribute to the Avreichim, their Wives and Families
          A separate Siyum Hashas celebration was held on Thursday, and which was attended by the avreichim, their wives, their children and their respective parents. The Nasi of Shas Yiden, Rav Eisen, paid special tribute to the wives of the avreichim.

          “It is certainly not easy to run homes with large families while your husbands are engaged in such an aggressive and ambitious program. Your encouraging them as they devote themselves to completing their learning and chazoras (totaling some 40 daf a day) and compiling notes and answering the questions of the syllabus, is incredible. You should be aware that their hatzlocha and zechus is yours, too. May Hashem shower all His brochos on you and all your children”, which was followed by a resounding Amen by all present.

          Each of the ladies was then presented with a personal gift and an envelope. There was much singing and dancing celebrating their simchas Torah, and that evening the avreichim were back into the folios of Talmud Bavli.

In Honor or In Memory
          A Yissachar-Zevulun pact at Shas Yiden enables a person to acquire the zechus of the entire Shas in just one year. In Yoreh De’ah #246 it states that through such a partnership, it is considered as if he learned it all himself. This has become an opportunity to honor family members and individuals. It also serves as a source of comfort for people to obtain such a zechus for their dear ones during the year of mourning – a siyum of the entire Shas can be completed on the yahrzeit!

         For further information on Shas Yiden, the Yissachar-Zevulun pacts, sponsorships or to donate, visit the Shas Yiden website: www.shasyiden.com or contact: 718-702-1528, 1274 49th Street, #562, Brooklyn, NY 11219.

As if the spectacular Siyum Hashas by the avreichim of Kollel Shas Yiden on Sunday night Rosh Chodesh Kislev – attended by Gedolei Eretz Yisroel and hundreds of others – was not enough, the following Tuesday evening all the avreichim went to the home of Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a.

What followed was what can only be described as a dream for any ben Torah. The Nasi of the Kollel was invited to sit alongside ‘Reb Chaim’ as he spoke to the avreichim in Torah and flung questions at them from throughout Shas. Each was answered instantaneously, affirming that each avreich is indeed a Shas Yid. The more he questioned them and heard their answers, the face of Gaon Hador creased into a warm smile and his face appeared to glow. He and his son expressed their enjoyment in the give and take with these young talmidei chachomim. Those present were amazed – whoever heard of Reb Chaim spending time fahrhering in such a fashion and then signing a note of haskoma on the spot?

          When he concluded, ‘Reb Chaim’ turned to the Nasi and commented in loshon hakodesh in his proverbial terse fashion “Heim yod’im tov – yafeh me’od.” (They know it well – very good.)

          During the introductions, ‘Reb Chaim’ spoke to the youngest of the chabura, just 15 years old, and asked him how many times he had completed Shas. When the young man responded that this was his second siyum hashas, Reb Chaim reminisced how he had completed Shas for the first time at his barmitzvah. The evening at ‘Reb Chaim’ is an encounter that each avreich will never forget, and which affirms the mission and approach of this singular kollel in Klal Yisroel.

          In the aftermath of the glorious public siyum Hashas another five avreichm who had applied and successfully sat for exams and a farher on 450 blat have been accepted to the kollel. Already so many are looking forward to next year’s siyum Hashas of Kollel Shas Yiden.

Shas Yiden Siyum Hashas with Gedolei Yisroel

          The Keter Rimon hall in Bnei Brak was exquisitely and festively adorned for a most unusual gathering of Gedolei Torah to mekadesh malchus shem shomayim. All came to give public honor to Toras Hashem at the Annual Siyum Hashas of Kollel Shas Yidden, as well as the chassanim of the Torah – the avreichim.

          The podium with the kollel logo was flanked by two large emblems proclaiming – ‘The Conclusion of the Shas’ and the other ‘The Beginning of the Shas’. The hadran was made by the Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a, the head of the internationally acclaimed Mif’al Hashas, and the new cycle with Brochos was begun by Hagaon Harav Chaim Perez Berman, shlit”a. The kaddish was recited by Hagaon Harav Abish Halevi Eisen, Rosh Yeshiva Shaar Hashomaim in Yerushalayim.

          As these ‘formalities’ were concluded, the entire hall broke out in singing and dancing – most in their places and the avreichim danced towards the dais and were joined by the Nasi of the kollel, Hagaon Harav Avraham Eisen, the Pozna Rov, shlit”a. The families of the avreichim and other well-wishers, literally hundreds, filled the hall. At the same time there was an air of decorum and dignity – as befits a true simcha of the Torah.

Entire Shas Every Year!

          The dais was a virtual who’s who of the Torah world – rosh yeshivos, Chassidishe rebbe’s, poskim and rabbonim. Everyone felt the occasion to be a momentous one – not just because it was a Siyum Hashas, but that it was being celebrated by each avreich who concludes learning the entire Talmud Bavli every year!

          Each avreich completes an average of 8 blat a day, exams on 225 blat every month, and an overall exam on the entire Shas as preparation for the annual siyum. At Kollel Shas Yiden each avreich has virtually instant recall and context of every part of Shas, b’al peh!

          Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshiva Slabodka, originally from the United States commented that while he knew of the term shas yid when growing up, he never knew of anyone in Boro Park who was regarded as such. Perhaps there may have been a few in Williamsburg, but the phenomenon was virtually unknown. And here in Eretz Yisroel is a kollel of some twenty avreichim who are true Shas Yiden!

Totality of Torah

          The first speaker, who made a special effort to attend despite ill-health, was Maran Hagaon Hagadol Harav Gershon Edelstein, shlit”a, one of the Rosh Yeshivas of Ponevez. He gave inspiring divrei brocha to the Chassanim – the avreichim of Kollel Shas Yiden – among them some of his own talmidim. Hagaon Harav Berel Povarsky, shlit”a, also a Rosh Yeshiva at Ponevez, spoke about kinyan haTorah and the need to acquire Torah in its totality. Lavish in his praise, the Rosh Yeshiva said that this is being achieved on an ongoing basis by the avreichim of the kollel.

          Most poignant was the speech of the Sanzer Rebbe. His close involvement in the study of Shas made him most appreciative of the achievement of each of the avreichim. It was nothing short of phenomenal, he said. However, he gave everyone a sense of just what a Herculean a task has been accomplished and continues through the unceasing effort and commitment by the Nasi of the Kollel, Harav Avraham Eisen. Without a committee, full-time workers or fundraisers, Harav Eisen has carried it all alone. The thousands and thousands of pages of Shas that have been studied in this kollel are an incredible legacy for him. He felt that such achievements are vital in a time when Torah and its institutions are under siege.

          The Rebbe also said that “while there are many mosdos of Torah in the world, I don’t think that one where the avreichim complete the entire Shas every year and are tested on what they have studied has ever existed.”

Hershey Friedman – Guest of Honor

          The Guest of Honor was Reb Hershey Friedman of Montreal, Canada. He is a man who has not only shared his material success with Torah institutions around the world, but one who has a warm and understated manner that has endeared him to all. He addressed the gathering and spoke about the unique partnership that there is between those who support Torah and the scholars themselves. He spoke about Yaakov’s encounter with machanaim – the two encampments of angels – those of the Holy Land and those of the Diaspora. He suggested that the two camps become one when those who can from the Diaspora (the Zevuluns) support the Torah of those in Eretz Yisroel (the Yissachars). He expressed his appreciation for the Nasi and the remarkable program of the kollel.

          The keynote address was given by Harav Noach Isaac Oelbaum of Queens who riveted the audience with his eloquence and substance and his encouragement for the continued achievement of the kollel that is restoring the glory of the Torah in a most unique and comprehensive manner. He had attended many functions and gatherings in the Torah world, but doesn’t recall being together and experiencing so much Torah under one roof, especially with young, outstanding talmidei chachomim.

          The Viznitzer Rebbe was full of praise and encouragement for the avreichim and had special words for the Nasi, describing the kollel as a singular institution in the Torah world. He remarked that he was taken by the modesty and humble bearing of the avreichim who sought no glory for themselves in their achievement but rather as a commitment in the service of their Creator and privilege to be able to learn Torah unabated.

          Harav Avraham Eisen gave a powerful message of the aim of the kollel and reiterated his opening of the door to other avreichim who could withstand the demands of the kollel regimen. He delighted the audience with anecdotes that illustrated his points, especially one involving the Ponevezer Rov emphasizing that learning and knowing Shas was not the privilege of the few but rather for those who commit themselves and their energy to do so.

Presentations

          Each of the avreichim was acknowledged and was presented with an illuminated certificate of achievement and a set of leather bound volumes of the Levush. Their wives were each presented with a stunning large leather bound edition of Tehilim personalized for each with a suitable inscription of thanks and appreciation for their commitment and support in shouldering the burden of running their homes and caring for their children.

He is approaching his 17th birthday and the Shas Yiden illui, Yehuda, decided to celebrate his entry into his 18th year by completing shas for the 4th time! Even more remarkable is that he completed this cycle of Talmud Bavli – from Brochos to Uktzin – in just 4 months – averaging over 500 daf a month!
“It is hard to believe that we witness such a phenomenon in our generation,” has been a comment by a number of roshei yeshiva across Israel. The Nasi of Shas Yiden, the Pozna Rov of Flatbush, Hagaon Harav Avrohom Eisen, shlit”a, flew to Israel to for the occasion. Yehuda is the son of Harav Dovid Schwimmer, a rav in Beit Shemesh (a Viznitz-Monsey chosid), where the first Shas Yiden kollel is located.
At its last public annual siyum hashas this unique program was described by the Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a, the nasi of Mif’al Hashas, “In Jewish history, there has never been such a Torah institution where all the scholars studying there know shas b’al peh (by heart).” The Pozna Rov established the program a few years ago by gathering a group of outstanding Torah scholars. Requirements for acceptance was to have a broad knowledge of the Babylonian Talmud with proficiency in all Rashi and Tosafos.

In the Tradition of the Gedolei Torah
The pace of study is reminiscent of the ways of the great gaonim – eight daf of Gemara each day, four on Erev Shabbos and four on Shabbos. At the end of every month each scholar has a vigorous oral and written examination to verify their mastery of that month’s 225 daf of Gemara!
After their previous siyum hashas, the Shas Yiden scholars were taken to the home of Sar Hatorah, Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a, who spent over a half an hour shooting questions at them from all over shas in which they showed pansophic proficiency. It was clear that Reb Chaim derived much pleasure from the back and forth and, as a result, made a point of personally attending last year’s siyum hashas where he began the new cycle. He blessed the nasi of Shas Yiden, the Pozna Rov, for maintaining an institution of the gedolei Yisroel of the upcoming generation.

At Harav David in Nahariya
Last week, all the Shas Yiden scholars travelled to Nahariya, for the siyum. It was sponsored by none other than Ha’admur Hamekubal Rabbi David Abuhatzeira, shlit”a, in his personal Bet Knesset next to his office. The youngest member of the Shas Yiden, celebrated his own private completion of the shas. This was a study regimen that he took on himself over and above the 8 daf-a-day of the Shas Yiden program, and the Pozna Rov felt it important to fly in from America to honor this singular achievement.
Rabbi David, as he is affectionately called, is an avid supporter of the Shas Yiden program, and he presided over the siyum and showered accolades and words of appreciation regarding the program and its scholars.
“The entire world,” he said, “rests on this kollel program and the gaonim that are learning there. In no place in the world do scholars study and cope with such a Torah study load.
“Whoever supports this kollel program [of Shas Yiden] hastens the final redemption. The Mashiach will come in the merit of the Torah that you are studying,” Rabbi David declared.
However, the scholars of Shas Yiden do not have the luxury to sit back and enjoy the echoes of the wonderful siyum. They are all due to complete their annual cycle of the shas after the upcoming Succos.

The learning of Torah, especially the Shas, is getting more and more devotees across the Jewish world –Daf Hayomi (Shas in seven and a half years), Amud Yomi (fifteen years), chaburas in shuls, increased attendance in yeshivos, shiurim – a virtual renaissance after the devastation of the Holocaust. However, nothing rivals, in quantity and quality, the Shas Yiden project based in Bet Shemesh, Israel, under the leadership of the Nasi, Hagaon Harav Avrohom Eisen, Pozna Rov, and the Rosh Hakollel, Hagaon Harav Moshe Isaac Samet.
For the eighth year in a row, last Wednesday evening there was a Siyum Hashas by each of the twenty-one avreichim hage’onim. As they are each committed to a minimum of 5 chazoras on each blatt learned, it was a “Siyum x5”.

In the Home of Sar Hatorah
It was the second time that the annual siyum was held in the home of Sar Hatorah, Maran Hagaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a, in memory of his late Rebbetzin, Batsheva Kanievsky, a”h. Just prior to the siyum, as he has done for the last three years, for a half an hour Rav Chaim peppered them with questions from all over shas. As he has done in the past, Rabbi David Abuhatzeira, shlit”a, sent along two cases of wine from Naharia fo Lechaim at the siyum.

The siyum was made by the Rosh Hakollel and then Harav Chaim asked the Nasi to make the hadran and to begin Brochos. Harav Chaim was overjoyed at this simchas Hatorah and made a lechaim using a becher specially engraved for the siyum, and then broke out with the song mah ohavti sorosecha. All joined in, dancing as they sang. It was an intimate and moving experience with the Sar Hatorah. As the chabura was leaving, Harav Yitzchok Shaul Kanievsky remarked to the Rosh Hakollel: I am envious of you, they are all serious talmidei chachomim. My father has tested many others on Shas, but none of them knows Shas as do your Shas Yiden.”

On to Two Additional Farhers by Gedolei Torah
From the home of Harav Chaim, when all felt uplifted and energized to begin the cycle of studying the Shas again, all the avreichim hageonim, together with the Nasi and Rosh Kollel, made two more stops. These were at the homes of Maranan Hageonim, Harav Gershon Edelstein, Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevez and Harav Dov Landau, Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka. The Shas Yiden were received with great kovod. At each stop, the avreichim were asked questions from all over Shas and there was a lively give and take, which the gedolim and avreichim all enjoyed.

Both gedolim were lavish in their praise for these special and true Shas Yiden. Rav Gershon commented: “They are all tamidei chachomim of distinction who study Torah with such sweetness and ‘geshmak’. I have been to many siyumim in my life, but I have never been to such a Siyum Hashas celebrated twenty-one talmidei chachomim at one time.” Rav Landau marveled that “they are beki’im (fully proficient) throughout Shas and with great depth.”

‘Google-Shas Avreichim’
The unique Shas Yiden system and curriculum enables their remarkable achievement. On average, their monthly written tests cover 225 blatt, half year test on 1350 blatt, and annual test 2711 blatt. In addition, each has also mastered the Shas by heart.
As the reputation of Shas Yiden continues to grow, so has there been a steady increase of Rabbonim and even gedolim calling in with questions all over Shas and receiving ‘instant answers’. Two of the avreichim are now in the process of committing all the Rashis on Shas to memory and another, all the Tosefos. Their prowess has people referring to them as ‘Google-Shas Avreichim’ or the ‘Reb Chaim’s of tomorrow’.
The ages of the avreichim range from 40 down to 18. Last year, the youngest, Yehuda Schwimmer from Bet Shemesh made a personal siyum, which was personally hosted at Rabbi David Abuhatzeira in Naharia, and attended by all the avreichim. Rabbi David commented: “This bachur will be a light for the world.” Then Rabbi David declared: “The whole world rests on these avreichim geonim!”
There are numerous outstanding talmidei chachomim wishing to join the program so that they, too, can master Shas. Aside from the rigorous acceptance test and trial period, funds are needed to sponsor these additional avreichim.

Tribute to their wives
In a separate Siyum Hashas celebration attended by the avreichim, their wives and their respective parents, the Nasi of Shas Yiden paid special tribute to the wives of the avreichim. “It is certainly not easy to run a home with a large family while your husbands are engaged in such an aggressive and ambitious program. Your encouraging them as they devote themselves to completing 8 blatt a day with another 4 chazoras (i.e. 40 blatt a day) and compiling notes and answering questions of the syllabus – their hatzlocha and zechus is yours, too. May Hashem shower on you all His brochos – to you all and your children”, which was followed by a resounding Amen by all present. Rav Eisen then presented each of the ladies with a personal gift and an envelope.