One More Round

We’re now at a point in the year when the number 101 takes on a spiritual connotation. In the world at large, that number might trigger a mental association with Dalmatians, but for observant Jews dogged by forgetfulness, it has another significance entirely.

With the words “Mashiv haruach umorid hageshem” newly present in our Shemoneh Esreh since Succos, the more absent-minded among us turn to the halachically-sanctioned device of repeating the words from the paragraph “Atah gibbor” through “Mashiv haruach” 101 times. This saves the mnemonically-challenged from a never-ending loop of self-doubt and repeated tefillos for most of Cheshvan.

It was only a few short weeks ago, however, that I got a glimpse of the truly transformative power of the big One-O-One.

It began with an email forwarded to me by my dear friend Rabbi Dovid Newman. Although most renowned for his Vhaarev Na program of Gemara learning and review for yeshivah bochurim, Reb Dovid is a true Torah entrepreneur, constantly dreaming up new, innovative ways to light the fire of ahavas haTorah under his fellow Jews of every age and background.