Agudas Yisroel 15th Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah Begins 

Agudas Yisroel of America’s 15th Yerushalayim Yarchei Kallah began this morning in Yerushalayim with more than 300 participants, a significant increase over past years, leading to the opening of a second banquet hall to accommodate the large overflow.

The first shiur given was a wide-ranging hakdamah shiur by Harav Asher Weiss, shlita, Av Beis Din, Darchei Hora’ah and Rosh Yeshivah, Yeshiva Darchei Torah, who has the distinction of speaking every year at the event. Harav Weiss discussed the halachic implications of Birchas Hamazon, the only brachah that is mid’Oraisa. He delineated the difference between the words achilah and seviah as they relate to the passuk “V’achalta v’savata” and focused on the resulting practical halachic implications.

He was followed by Harav Pinchos Friedman, shlita, Rosh Hakollelim, Belz, who carefully analyzed the importance of the fourth brachah of Birchas Hamazon. He spoke about the well-known historical background of this brachah, which acknowledges the great chessed of the Ribono shel Olem in allowing the harugei Beitar to be brought to proper Jewish burial.

Rav Friedman implored the participants to renew their efforts to have proper kavannah during Birchas Hamazon, thereby bringing upon themselves and their families the multiple brachos that are promised to those who accord Birchas Hamazon proper respect.

The evening closed with warm words of hisorerus from the Vizhnitzer Rebbe Harav Yisroel Hager, shlita. He praised Agudas Yisroel for bringing together such a large group of people for intense limud Torah lishmah over an entire week in Eretz Yisrael.

All the participants appreciated his warm divrei chizuk, including his emphasis on maintaining emunah and bitachon — not just when things are going well, but also during challenging times. Following his remarks, the participants eagerly approached the Rebbe for his brachah. 

This article appeared in print on page 6 of the January 20th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.