Starting Strong: Opening Shmooz for Early Winter Zman 5785
Rav Yaakov Pielet, our Rosh Yeshiva, opens the Early Winter Zman 5785 with an inspiring shmooz on the power of an early start. He speaks about the rare opportunity to deepen both personal learning and our collective connection to Torah, especially in challenging times. Rav Pielet encourages each of us to pursue our unique strengths in learning, while also uniting in shared goals, emphasizing the role of Torah as a protective force for our community. With heartfelt words, he reminds us of the need to go beyond our comfort zones, embrace the wisdom of our Torah leaders, and keep in mind those serving in the army, as we dedicate this zman to growth and resilience.
Early Start of Winter Zman (00:01 – 01:34)
Rav Yaakov Pielet highlights the unique זכות of beginning the zman early. With this early start, he encourages each בחור to engage in קבלת עול לימוד, immersing in מה שלבו חפץ—learning according to one’s personal desire. This zman provides space for both עבודה פרטית on individual סוגיות or other personal learning projects.
Unity in Learning (01:35 – 02:29)
Rav Pielet emphasizes the power of joining together to learn the same סוגיא, fostering a stronger קנין in certain עניינים. He reflects on last year’s tragic incident, urging talmidim to build lasting unity through shared learning.
Torah’s Protection (02:30 – 05:32)
The core message of Rav Pielet’s shmooz is the שמירה that Torah learning provides to כלל ישראל. He mentions how even secular Israelis are beginning to recognize the protective power of Torah, sharing a powerful story about a חילוני who bought groceries for a חרדי family out of respect for their dedication.
Listening to Gedolei Yisrael (05:33 – 07:15)
Rav Pielet urges talmidim to be attentive to the words of גדולי ישראל, stressing the importance of following their specific guidance and being part of the ציבור. This is a rare opportunity to connect with the wisdom and protection offered by our Torah leaders.
Empathy for Those in the Army (07:16 – 11:17)
He speaks about the many families who have loved ones serving in the army, with constant worry for their safety. He recounts a story of a soldier’s self-sacrifice, reminding us of the importance of הכרת הטוב for those protecting Klal Yisrael.
Pushing Beyond Comfort Zones (11:18 – 14:07)
Finally, Rav Pielet calls on each bochur to go beyond their comfort zone in learning, creating a powerful קידוש השם. This zman is an opportunity to earn unique זכויות and to strengthen the protective merit that Torah study brings during these critical times.
Recents