The event marking the official launch of Dirshu�s Kinyan Sheviis program at Rav Chaim�s home was attended by numerous Gedolei Yisroel who joined Rav Chaim in encouraging the program. They included HaGaon HaRav Sariel Rosenberg,�shlita, Av Beis Din of Rav Nissim Karelitz�s Beis Din and Rav of the Ramat David neighborhood of Bnei Brak, HaGaon HaRav Shmuel Eliezer Stern,�shlita, Av Beis Din of Shaarei Hoarah and Rav of Western Bnei Brak, HaGaon HaRav Issamar Gerboz,�shlita, a Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva Orchos Torah, HaGaon HaRav Boruch Dov Diskin,�shlita, a Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva Orchos Torah and numerous others.

The ten-month program combines the learning of�Mishnayos Maseches Sheviis�with the commentaries of Rabbeinu Shimshon, the Rambam,�and�the Rambam in�hilchos�shemittaand�yovel. Participants in the program will then learn Rav Chaim�s�sefer�Derech Emunah�on�hilchos�sheviis, which is akin to a�Mishnah�Berurah�on the laws of�sheviis. There will be ten monthly tests covering virtually all the�halachos�of�sheviis.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky wrote a detailed letter on 26�Sivan�of this year, where he specified the tremendous benefits of the program. He writes:

�It is well known that keeping the laws of�sheviis�brings the�geulah�closer and saves us from all�tzaros. Maran, the Chazon Ish,�zt�l, writes that when one actually observes the�halachos,�he merits these things but the only way to properly observe these�halachos�are by learning them well. The�Gemara�at the end of the first�perek�of�Kiddushin�tells us that learning brings to actually keeping these�halachos�in a practical way. Even those who do not own fields are considered as if they fulfilled the�mitzvah�when they learn the�halachos.

�There are many instances in the�Gemara�[where we see] that in order to urge�talmidim�to properly learn the�amoraim�tested their�talmidim�on what they learned� The Dirshu organization has merited to encourage and urge�talmidei chachomim�through their testing programs. Now, in advance of the upcoming�shemittayear, they are strengthening themselves in this even more. I have therefore joined with them [in this endeavor.] May we be�zocheto the�geulah�sheleima�bimheira�b�yameinu�amein.

Chaim Kanievsky