Turning a New Page

By Gedalia Guttentag, Vienna
Photos: Dirshu archives

For a few hours last week in Vienna, the glories of the first Knessiah Gedolah a century ago seemed within touching distance as Dirshu celebrated the massive uptake of the Amud, heir to the Daf Yomi program that was launched within these very halls

Close your eyes amid the ornate, gold-leaf splendor of Vienna’s Sofiensaal concert hall, and a century falls away. The year is 1924, and the historic venue is preparing for Agudas Yisrael’s first Knessiah Gedolah. Inside the large auditorium, cigar smoke curls as chassidim rub shoulders with yekkes, and Hungarian delegates take their place alongside representatives from Eretz Yisrael. Outside, the occasional car passes through Vienna’s elegant streets, which are temporarily painted black and white by the masses of chareidi Jews.

One after another, Torah legends enter the hall. The Tchortkover Rebbe is princely as he arrives with his attendant. Crowds part to let through Rav Meir Dan Plotzki, author of Kli Chemdah. Next is the Sfas Emes’s son-in-law, Rav Yaakov Meir Biderman, followed by German Agudah leader Moreinu Reb Yaakov Rosenheim, in his distinctive bow tie and spitzbard.

The crowning moment comes as a diminutive figure walks in quickly with his head down. The Chofetz Chaim, destined to play a historic role in this great assembly by backing Rav Meir Shapiro’s call for the establishment of the Daf Yomi program, enters the hall and heads for the dais.

For a few hours last Monday afternoon, those near-mythical scenes — brought to life with the recent discovery of black-and-white newsreel footage of the event — seemed within touching distance.