In a Yerushalayim apartment house, a young lady in her thirties walks the steps ringing doorbell after doorbell. Doors open with smiles and friendly conversations. In a Bnei Brak yeshiva, a yungerman in kollel does the same with his chaburah. These scenes are repeated every day as 3,700 volunteers visit 70,000 participants. What are they up to?
They are part of Mishmeres Hasholom, a rapidly growing movement founded in 2001 by Mrs. S. Wertzberger, a Detroit native living in Yerushalayim. Having personally met the Manchester rosh yeshiva, Rav Yehuda Zev Segal zt”l, he gave her great chizuk to get involved in getting people to learn the two daily halachos of Shemiras Halashon. Together with an old friend, Mrs. S. Jacobs, they had a novel idea that caught on quickly. Instead of working along the lines of a central organization spreading the message of shemiras halashon through the usual networks of communities and media, why not utilize Israel’s unique geographical setup to do it person-to-person?
In Israel, it’s easy. Most people live in clusters of apartment houses and the neighborhoods are like large bungalow colonies. Besides for Mishmeres Hasholom having a strong presence in elementary schools with classroom curriculum, Mishmeres Hasholom has reached out to thousands of individuals who serve as community leaders in their own buildings of residence. The volunteers can easily go from floor to floor and house to house, spreading the message from neighbor to neighbor.
The movement organizes around one hundred rallies a year which are addressed by many of the country’s prominent rabbonim. Mishmeres Hasholom distributes various educational materials, including monthly newsletters in three editions and four languages to more than 70,000 members. It remains as “grassroots” as a movement can be.
Mishmeres Hasholom has been asked by many of its American sponsors to give Americans a taste of the power and inspiration at these types of events. Taking on the challenge, the first American Mishmeres Hasholom rally will soon take place. The rally will be exclusively for women and girls and will be addressed by two popular speakers.
Rabbi Eli Mansour is one of the most dynamic and respected rabbis and teachers in the Flatbush Syrian community. Filled with wisdom and humor, his presentations combine thought, inspiration and entertainment. He is also the co-author of an ArtScroll Haggadah and the author of its new Daily Halacha.
Rabbi Yechiel Spero will be traveling from Baltimore to address the rally. A popular columnist for the Yated and a member of its Chinuch Roundtable, Rabbi Spero is the author of eight “Touched by a Story” ArtScroll books. The “Maryland Maggid” is a brilliant storyteller who combines his tales with a message and a compelling presentation.
Divrei bracha will be delivered by Rebbetzin Vital Kalmanowitz, who has earned a large and loyal following as a brilliant mechaneches and speaker and is personally involved with the work of Mishmeres Hasholom.
The event will take place tonight at Ateres Chynka Hall in Brooklyn, NY. For information and reserved seating, call 845.425.0762 or email [email protected].
{Dovid Bernstein-Matzav.com Newscenter}
