By Reuvena Leah Grodnitzky for COLlive
This week, Yagdil Torah released a Kol Koreh signed by 18 Lubavitch Rabbonim from around the world. The Kol Koreh is a declaration that discusses the great importance of Torah learning, the precedence that it holds over most other matters, and the effects that it has on one’s life both materially and spiritually.
The declaration also serves as a request to the entire community to further the campaign to support Torah study.
The Kol Koreh is a project of Yagdil Torah, an organization that works to strengthen Torah study among Lubavitcher Chassidim. Together with prominent Rabbonim, Yagdil Torah compiled the Kol Koreh in order to emphasize the importance of Torah study, which Chazal say always needs strengthening.
The Kol Koreh’s two main emphases, ‘kvius itim’ – setting significant fixed time for study, once by day and once by night, and the necessity of Torah study whenever one is not occupied in matters critical for one’s livelihood, were affirmed by the numerous Rabbonim who signed the declaration.
The declaration urged members of the community to fix regular shiurim in nigleh and chassidus, both in public and private. It went on to encourage Anash to add beyond the shiurim of Chitas and Rambam, because the Rebbeim clearly stated that these institutions were meant only as an addition to the already fixed shiurim in nigleh and chassidus.
Signed are Rabbonim and Mashpiim: Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi – Kfar Chabad, Israel; Dovber Bell – Montreal, Canada; Moshe Bogomilsky – Brooklyn, NY; Menachem Mendel Gluckowsky – Rechovot, Israel; Yoel Kahn – Brooklyn, NY; Pinchas Korf – Brooklyn, NY; Boruch Dov Leshes – Monsey, NY; Nisan Mangel – Brooklyn, NY; Yosef Yitzchok Ofen – Yerushalyim, Israel; Avraham Osdoba – Brooklyn, NY; Avraham Boruch Pevzner – Paris, France; Levi Yitzchok Raskin – London, England; Shlomo Segal – Brooklyn, NY; Yehuda Leib Shapiro – Miami, FL; Dovid Shochat – Toronto, Canada; Aaron Yaakov Schwei – Brooklyn, NY; Tzvi Hirsh Telzner – Melbourne, Austraila; Yehuda Yeruslavski – Kiryat Malachi, Israel.
The Rabbonim were very thankful to Yagdil Torah for its efforts to increase Torah study among Anash, and emphasized the importance of this type of constant encouragement.
“If I can have any part in the strengthening of Torah study, it would be my privilege [to sign the declaration],” said Rabbi Ofen, a Mashpia in Israel.
Those who signed the declaration also stressed its role in improving Torah study in the community.
“It is necessary to come out clear and to the point about the necessity of Torah study,” said Rabbi Telsner, a Rov in Australia.
In order for the Kol Koreh to be successful, the Rabonim and Mashpiim declared that it must be followed by even more ways to make Torah learning accessible.
“[As a result,] Yagdil Torah is presently preparing to enter high gear in publishing more inspirational Torah materials and increase its Torah programming,” said Rabbi Levy Browd, Yagdil Torah founder and director.
Yagdil Torah considers the Kol Koreh to be a powerful tool in assisting Anash to implement changes in both their attitudes and lives. The goal is for community members to view Torah as an integral part of their existence, to attempt to learn Torah more qualitatively and quantitatively, as well as to promote its study among others.
● Print the Kol Koreh in your Shul or Mossad – HERE
● Read the Kol Koreh in Hebrew – HERE
● For more information about Yagdil Torah, visit YagdilTorah.org
