Baltimore, MD - Nov. 18, 2016 -  Friday morning, Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Vayeira (November 18, 2016) at Yeshivas Kochav Yitzchok, Torah Institute of Baltimore was electrified by the visit of Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Dovid Lau, shlita.

The Rav HaRoshi was greeted by the school’s senior administration and was escorted to the Beis Medrash where Grades 6 through 8 were assembled.  Rav Lau, who was on a tight schedule, was introduced by Rabbiu Eliezer Eisgrau, Menahel of the Cheder.  Rabbi Eisgrau noted the Rav HaRoshi’s personal yichus as the son of Rav Yisroel Meir Lau, former Chief Rabbi, and grandson of Rav Yedidya Frankel, both of whom spread Torah to countless individuals and brought many Jews close to Torah.  Rabbi Eisgrau told the talmidim that the current Rav HaRoshi, Rav Dovid Lau, follows the path of Avraham Aveinu, and Rav Lau’s illustrious father and grandfather, in his efforts to reach unaffiliated Jews and expose them to the beauty of Torah Yiddishkeit thereby causing Hashem’s name to become beloved in the world. 

When Rav Lau then took the podium, the talmidim and their rebbbeim were expecting a shmooz, an age appropriate message to Baltimore boys from the Chief Rabbi of Israel.  What followed was as unexpected as it was energizing.  The Rav HaRoshi (speaking in English) opened his remarks by asking all Sixth Graders to raise their hands.  He then asked, “What Gemara are you learning?”, and the boys responded loudly in unison, “HaKones” (the sixth perek of Maseches Baba Kamma).  Rav Lau then asked what Daf they were up to, and after the boys responded, he asked the boys to list four actions, discussed in that Gemara, which can indirectly damage som eone and for which Hashem would punish even though no claim for damages could be made in Bais Din.  The boys started calling out answers, listing the various actions discussed in the Gemara, clearly enjoying the impromptu challenge and putting huge smiles on the faces of Rav Lau, the rebbeim, and all assembled.  Rav Lau then pointed out to the boys that the lesson of this Gemara is that we must be extra careful with our actions so that we do not even indirectly hurt someone else.

Rav Lau repeated this with the Seventh Graders who are learning Maseches Makos.  Their challenge was to explain a Tosfos at the beginning of the Masechta, which, again, prompted the boys to call out the answer to the question posed.

Next, it was the Eight Graders’ turn.  After telling Rav Lau that they were learning Perek Kaitzad HaRegel (the second perek of Maseches Baba Kamma), Rav Lau also asked them about a Tosfos at the beginning of the Perek.  After the boys answered, Rav Lau took a Gemara and continued the discussion with them.

The Rav HaRoshi then summed up the morning’s presentation by exhorting the boys to always remember that Torah, like air, food and water, is the essence of our lives.  Chazal have told us that our Torah knowledge must be sharp in each person’s mind so that if someone would ask you a question, you could answer clearly and immediately.  A healthy person does not have to be reminded to breath, eat or drink, since those actions are the essence of life and come naturally.  So, too, must be our Torah learning.  It is the essence of our lives and must always be clear and fresh by learning well and constantly reviewing what we learned.

Like a magician who tells his audience to pick any card, number or word and proceeds to do amazing tricks, Rav Lau, who had no advance idea of what the boys were learning, fashioned his important message not with prepared remarks in a shmooz, but by involving the talmidim and bringing out the lesson from the boys’ own answers.  Rav Lau later told the Menahel that he had a prepared shmooz, but when he saw the boys he decided to do something different.  Besides, Rav Lau said, he enjoyed actually learning with them more than delivering a speech!

The Rav HaRoshi, his unique style and broad Torah knowledge made a deep impression on all assembled.  It was a morning that will not soon be forgotten.