Torah is endless.
Klal Yisroel has been intimately intertwined with Hashem’s Torah ever since it was given to them over three thousand years ago at Har Sinai. Throughout the ages, the Jewish nation has delved into the deepest depths of the Torah and has lived by its dictates. Through persecution, pogroms, crusades and holocausts, the relationship between Am Yisroel and Toras Hashem has been steadfast. The worn pages of Mishnayos, Gemaros and other Sifrei Kodesh have always been the refuge of Yidden in all situations.
There is hardly an area of Torah that isn’t studied in-depth around the world.
Except one.
For many centuries, for a variety of reasons, one seder of Shas was neglected: Seder Taharos. Perhaps due to its not having any Talmudic commentary- Bavli or Yerushalmi – on its Mishnayos, perhaps due to its laws not being relevant nowadays that we, sadly, do not have a Bais Hamikdash, this pure and deep body of Torah is virtually unstudied and unknown by a majority of Klal Yisroel, including Torah scholars who have a strong grasp of the other areas of Torah.
Seder Taharos, referred to by Chazal as “Da’as”, due it’s being comprised of topics that are in the highest realm of purity and true unadulterated divine knowledge, languishes alone and unstudied in a lonely corner.
This true and sad fact was extremely bothersome to the late manhig and mechanech, Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz Zatzal, who made it his life’s mission to rectify this wrong. Rav Michel Yehuda, with his quintessential Emunah in the imminent arrival of the Geulah felt that this body of Torah must be rejuvenated and Klal Yisroel’s Talmidei Chachamim must delve into its depths and reveal its practical aspects to the rest of the nation.
Indeed, Rav Michel Yehuda hand-picked a dedicated group of Yungeleit and opened a special Kollel for them, Kollel Taharos, where they would devote a large majority of their time and skills to open up this heretofore closed area of Torah. Additional Kollelim were opened in other areas, and today, there are already 18 Kollelim across Eretz Yisroel, with over 400 Yungeleit, who are devoted to the Seder of Taharos. The subject is not just studied; each and every Mishna, one by one is analyzed and developed, and many Seforim are published for the benefit of others who want to be able to study these important topics. Where just a few years ago there were hardly any Seforim available on many of the Mishnayos of this Seder, today, thanks to Kollel Taharos, many understandable and useful volumes are already in print.
Rav Michel Yehuda Zatzal, the beloved rebbi of Klal Yisroel and the recognized leader of the Bnei Hayeshivos, undertook this mission with seriousness, and he encouraged others as well to devote their time, energy and resources to further this exalted mission.
In fact, in his Tzava’ah, his last will and testament, he promised to be a heavenly advocate on behalf of those who joined in this mission of restoring Seder Taharos to its rightful place amongst the other 5 Sedarim of Shisha Sidrei Mishnah. In his holy words, He promised to be partners with him “L’netzach U’lechayei Olam” – forever and for all eternity.
On Thursday, May 12, the Chicago community heard Rav Shimon Galay, as he addressed a parlor meeting to benefit Kolel Taharos at the home of noted Askan R’ Yehoshua Davis. On Monday May 16, the Cedarhurst community heard Rav Galay at a parlor meeting at the home of the philanthropist, R’ Yaakov Gade, co-hosted by R’ Shimshi Gross, renowned philanthropist from Canada.
The final event on this tour will take place today, Tuesday, May 17, in Lakewood, NJ, at the home of noted askan Rabbi Meir Gelley. The rosh yeshiva of BMG, Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, will also be in attendance at this event and will also grace the event with Divrei Bracha.
Be a part of the revolution of purity, and merit the pure advocacy in Shomayim, of Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz Zatzal.
{Matzav.com}
