not afraid to make difficult commitments to Yisro before marrying Tziporah . Moshe knew that the Torah would influence Yisro and change him to the point that he would not follow through on the demands he had placed upon his future-son-in-law .
Rav Moshe reflected on how the Torah emanating from Yeshiva Darchei Torah changed an entire neighborhood . The Far Rockaway / Five Towns community is filled with bnei Torah , with many distinguished rabbanim leading their respective shuls , and with over a dozen kollelim . He expressed his hakaras hatov to the Yeshiva ’ s rebbeim , to its parent body , and to his dear parents .
As the guests enjoyed their dinner , they were treated to a fascinating documentary on the Yeshiva ’ s history and the heartfelt singing of Shloimy Daskal and Lev Voices , followed by a video featuring Darchei alumni who are impacting Klal Yisrael throughout North America , Eretz Yisrael , and elsewhere .
Next on the program was a siyum haShas in honor of this milestone dinner , a combined effort of Darchei talmidim from fourth grade and up , alumni , parents , and grandparents . The hadran was said by Rav Reuven Feinstein , who has a close relationship with Rabbi Yaakov Bender and the Yeshiva , and who kindly graced the dinner with his presence . The dancing and singing following the hadran , as beis medrash and mesivta bachurim joined hands in front of the dais where they faced the Yeshiva ’ s entire faculty of rebbeim , was electric and uplifting , and could have gone on and on , but the program had to continue .
Darchei parent and alumnus Chesky Newman then introduced another gadol of our generation , Rav Elya Brudny . For the past twenty-five years , every Tuesday — the day when he does not deliver a shiur at the Mirrer Yeshiva — Rav Brudny visits Mesivta Chaim Shlomo and Beis Medrash Heichal Dovid , where he speaks in learning with the bachurim and farhers the mesivta classes . On special occasions , Rav Brudny also visits the younger divisions of the yeshiva , such as when he speaks to the middle school about their “ middah of the month .”
Rav Brudny began with the words of the song with which the siyum dancing had ended : Ashrei ha ’ am shekachah lo , ashrei ha ’ am sheHashem Elokav . “ Having a kesher with this mamleches haTorah , this is my hergesh tonight : Ashrei ha ’ am shekachah lo , glicklach is the nation that has a yeshiva where Torah is so pure and learned with such simchah , from the youngest grades to the oldest .” Rav Brudny went on to say that in every mesivta class with which he interacts , he can sense the reinkeit , the simchah , the shleimus .
What is the source of such hatzlachah ? The Rosh Yeshiva quoted the pasuk , v ’ Toras chesed al leshonah , on which the Gemara comments that this refers to Torah lishmah . Torah that is rooted in chesed is Torah lishmah . “ At Darchei Torah ,” said Rav Brudny , “ the foundation is chesed — and from that beautiful Torah branches grow .” Darchei ’ s policy , under the direction of Rabbi Bender , has always been to be all-inclusive . While the typical Darchei talmid is a metzuyan , the Yeshiva opens its doors to those with learning challenges , the physically disabled , children from single-parent homes , and others who have difficult personal situations and need special attention and sensitivity .
Rav Brudny and Rav Bender have been close friends for some sixty years . Rav Brudny related that at the sheva berachos of Rav and Rebbetzin Bender , the Mashgiach of Mir , Rav Tzvi Hirsh Feldman , said that “ Yankel Bender is not a baal chesed — he is an institution of chesed .”
Rav Brudny closed with a heartfelt berachah and introduced the final speaker of the evening , the Rosh HaYeshiva , Rabbi Yaakov Bender .
Rav Bender opened his emotional address by expressing his hakaras hatov to his rebbetzin , saying , “ Sheli v ’ shelachem , shelah .”
He then cited the Gemara that says that Rav Yehoshua ben Gamla saved the Torah from being forgotten from Klal Yisrael . Until his time ,
11