The Man with the Plan

Rabbi Nochum Stilerman, the legendary fundraiser who raised over $400 million for various causes over the last 50 years, has now made the tools of his trade a public offering: how to internalize discipline, make a rigorous regimen into routine, and actualize dreams.

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veryone at the 12^th Siyum HaShas in MetLife Stadium heard Rav Yissocher Frand tell the story. Soon batei midrash the world over were abuzz with the tale.

An older talmid chacham Rabbi Nochum Stilerman had developed a personal study program for himself and sought Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel ztz”l’s endorsement for it. The program would have had Rabbi Stilerman completing two tractates of Talmud (Brachos and Pesachim) and the Sefer Tehillim by his next birthday his 71^st. Rav Finkel however sent Reb Nochum back to the drawing board.

“But what about the rest of the Torah?” the Rosh Yeshivah demanded. “Draw up a plan to finish kol haTorah kulah!” Reb Nochum went home and drew up a five-year plan to finish 12 masechtos (all of Seder Moed) all of Tanach and the sefer Mesilas Yesharim. He brought a detailed printout to Rav Nosson Tzvi who reviewed it and said “But you’re not finishing Shas!”

“Rosh Yeshivah” Reb Nochum protested “to finish Shas according to this program I’ll need many many years.” “Go print out a learning program for the whole Shas ” Rav Nosson Tzvi insisted. “As well as Tanach the Shulchan Aruch and the machzorim of the Shalosh Regalim.” The Rosh Yeshivah himself intended to be Reb Nochum’s chavrusa for learning the machzorim.