Chol Hamoed Shiurim Uplift, Inform, and Inspire

It was at once inspiring, uplifting, and informative. Over the past three days over fifty people tuned in to engaging shiurim about various Pesach themes. The shiurim were dedicated to the merit of the Rosh Kollel and all those ill in our community. Besides for the opportunity to hear in-depth Torah thoughts from illustrious Torah personalities, those in (virtual) attendance we’re privileged to hear the Rosh Kollel thank the community from his hospital room, and witness Rabbi Lieff do a special dance in the Rosh Kollel’s honor. The shiurim were delivered by Rabbi Yechiel Mordechai Gibber, R”M in Mesivta of Long Beach, HaRav Dovid Schustal, Rosh Yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoha In Lakewood, NJ, and HaRav Moshe Tuvia Lieff, Rav of Agudas Yisrael Bais Binyomin in New York (and Former Rav of Bais Yisroel in Minneapolis).

You can download, watch, or hear all of the shiurim by clicking on the links below.

HaRav Yechiel Mordechai Gibber Topic: אכילת מצה

HaRav Dovid Schustal, Shlit”a Topic: בל יראה ובל ימצא

HaRav Moshe Tuvia Lieff, Shlit”a Topic: ביטול חמץ (Followed by Inspiration starts at around 45 min. in)

To receive updates about classes, shiurim, and other learning opportunities please visit our Virtual Bais Medrash often or sign up for email updates. If you’d prefer to be contacted via WhatsApp, send me a WhatsApp message at 301.651.6985.

Remote Learning Opportunities

Dear Friends,

Over the past week we’ve been learning with tremendous intensity, remotely, but with the same diligence and fervor as always. As we enter the month of Nissan, the Kollel will be wrapping up the winter semester on Sunday, and all regularly scheduled chavrusos and classes will resume (hopefully in person!) on Sunday, April 26th. 

That said, now is not a time to relax our learning schedules. We recognize that many people may want help with preparing for the Seder or for Pesach, or may just want an hour to learn something with a Kollel Rabbi over the phone or video conference. We would like to offer our services to the community. If you would like a half hour or an hour with a Kollel Rabbi to learn about Pesach or whatever, please send me an email and we’ll try to arrange!

I'm Encouraged

I’m encouraged!

I’m encouraged by your spirit. I’m encouraged by your sacrifice. I’m encouraged by your faith!

I’m encouraged by the yungeleit who, despite being cooped up in apartments with their children all day, are still able to learn with eagerness and positivity!

I’m encouraged by the community members who have made it a point to keep their chavrusos over the phone!

I’m encouraged by those who continue to support the study of Torah in an extremely uncertain economic situation!

This is the greatest challenge most of us have faced, and we’re all trying to figure it out...but, from what I’ve seen so far...I’m encouraged.

We will continue providing appropriate learning opportunities to the community remotely. If you have any good ideas, let me know!!

On behalf of the entire Kollel, have a safe, healthy, and happy Shabbos!

Kollel COVID-19 Update

Dear Friends,
In keeping with the instructions of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and medical experts, the Kollel Bais Medrash will be closed until further notice.
Everyone should do their utmost to continue learning and davening despite this challenging situation.
May Hashem protect us and all of Klal Yisroel,

HaRav Chaim S. Gibber              
Rabbi Moshe Spiro        
Rabbi Avigdor Goldberger

Kollel COVID-19 Update

Dear Friends,

Considering the current coronavirus pandemic, here are some updates:

General community guidelines: The rabbanim in our community have published a letter with some current community guidelines. Please refer to it here.

Cleaning Enhancements in the Kollel

Our cleaning crew has assured us that they continually monitor CDC recommendations, and are currently cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces, including bathrooms, break rooms, and touch-points, to meet those standards.

Should I come to the Kollel?

We ask that anyone who is experiencing symptoms associated with this virus (fever, cough, shortness of breath), to stay home and contact a medical professional. Please don’t come to the Kollel.

If someone can’t attend their regular learning sessions, we encourage them to continue learning remotely. Please let your chavrusa know that you won’t be coming and arrange to learn over the phone or video chat.

We are preparing to hold our annual event, scheduled for May 26th, remotely this year. We will be undergoing our annual campaign as usual, but the event will be in an altered virtual form. Please stay tuned for more details.

We should all strengthen our commitment to davening and learning as a zechus in these uncertain times. If anyone would like to arrange for additional learning, whether in-person or remotely, please let us know.

May Hashem protect us and all of Klal Yisroel,

HaRav Chaim S. Gibber     Rabbi Moshe Spiro      Rabbi Avigdor Goldberger

The Business Breakfast: Amazon Primer

Our latest Business Breakfast explored the interface between the world of Amazon, and online commerce in general, and the Torah system of acquisition. Rabbi Yerachmiel Pickholtz of the Chicago Choshen Mishpat Institute explained how the Torah looks at ownership, in contrast to the conventional perspective, and how that affects order fulfillment and shipping in a very practical way.

When does the product actually belong to you?

When you click “Place Order”?

When it arrives on your doorstep?

When you bring it inside?

What if you receive a product that was ordered by someone else, or duplicate of your own order?

Is there a difference between Amazon and Ebay?

Also discussed was what may be written in online reviews, using someone else’s Amazon Prime benefits, and using a product that arrived on Shabbos.

Listen to the audio below for the full shiur.

Daily Learning Initiative

We launched a new Daily Learning Initiative in the Community, here is the introductory letter:

Dear friends, members of the Minneapolis Torah Community,

This week, we are celebrating a communal Siyum HaShas, a project that was inspired by the Chavrei HaSiyum program of Agudas Yisroel of America. Our community, together with the Torah world at large, has בלי עין הרע seen a great upsurge in לימוד התורה . The Siyum Hashas of the Daf Yomi and the start of the new cycle have effected a positive trend of Torah learning and כבוד התורה . This is an incredible opportunity for us as a community to give this commitment and positive attitude towards לימוד התורה permanence. We therefore encourage all members of the community to join the newly formed “ קביעת עתים Initiative.” This is a group of individuals who commit to concretize learning by committing to the following:

• Schedule at least 20 minutes of learning in their daily schedule

• Learning should be at a fixed time

• Learning should be done in person with a chavrusa, chabura, or shiur (whenever possible)

• Official commitment is from Sunday -Thursday. (Friday and Shabbos learning is also strongly encouraged)

• Initial commitment is through Shavuos and is בלי נדר

Join those who have already joined: Lev Bakunin. Dovid Biron, Dovid Bodner, Yehoshua Borenstein, Meir Chodos, Adam Crystal, Ari Dorfman, Aaron Dukes, Yaakov Nesanel Finkelman, Stewart Fishman, David Fredman, Arnie Frishman, Yonatan Ghermezian, Avigdor Goldberger, Uriel Gross, Shmuel Hechter, Aharon Helman, Dan Avi Israely, Avrum Kaufmann, Shlomo Kutoff, Tzvi Lichtman, Moshe Livshitz, David Lynn, Ron Mandelbaum, Yaakov Mandelbaum, Eli Markowitz, Michael Morris, Moshe Murray, DJ Paxton, Ed Rapoport, Meyer Roberts, Shlomo Rothstein, Sender Russell, David Schulman, Conrad Segal, Zevi Segal, Avi Shaver, Mark Sherman, Daniel Shertok, Harry Silver, Ephraim Silverberg, Mordechai Skapino, Shragi Smith, Yoni Spar, Moshe Spiro, Sidney Usem, David Weinberg, Michoel Weinberg, Pesach Weinberg, Yehuda Wolin, Avi Yardley, Moshe Zeffren…

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Community Celebrates Renewed Commitment to Learning

On Shabbos Parshas Yisro, the Minneapolis Jewish community gathered in what can only be described as a tremendous Kiddush Hashem. The weekend was full of inspiration from HaRav Mordechai Finkelman, Mashgiach of Ohr HaChaim in Queens, and culminated in a community Siyum Hashas and commitment to a new daily learning initiative.

Here are some pics, clips, and sounds of the weekend.

Let Them Eat Cake: January 1st Yarchei Kallah

It’s a complicated topic, and the stakes are high: What bracha is pizza? Hamotzi or mezonos? Do I need to wash and bentch? It depends on how much I eat? Ok, how much is that? And most of all, why?

So many questions! Rabbi Moshe Spiro shows us the way, with a lucid and comprehensive overview of the laws of Pas Haba B’Kisnin, those baked products that fall between Hamotzi and Mezonos. Hear the shiur below, and follow along with the sources here.

The Business Breakfast: The Damage is Done

In our latest Business Breakfast, we tackled a topic that can raise the blood pressure of those involved: Accidents, fender-benders, even double parking. Rabbi Gershon Schaffel of the Chicago Choshen Mishpat Institute presented, in his clear and precise way, a clear outline of the responsibilities on both parties, providing a measure of peace of mind. Hopefully it won’t be needed! Listen below to get the entire shiur.