DAF YOMI JAX

BY: Rabbi Aharon Yosef Green

As I reflect on another year with the Etz Chaim Daf Yomi group, I remain deeply inspired by the unwavering commitment, passion, and determination of its members. While there are countless moments that reflect this spirit, one in particular stands out.

This past Simchas Torah, after our annual communal lunch, someone approached me with a question: “Are we going to make up the Daf Yomi shiur later this afternoon?” I was stunned. Simchas Torah is an exhilarating but exhausting day. After an early start to davening and a long, festive meal, we were leaving shul late in the day with just a short break before Mincha. Honestly, I expected everyone would welcome the idea of resuming the daf the next day. Still, I half-heartedly said I’d ask the others if they were interested.

To my surprise—and admiration—every single person enthusiastically said yes.

That moment encapsulated what makes this group so special. The consistency, the dedication, the love for learning—day in and day out, no matter the occasion—continue to inspire me.

On behalf of the entire group, I want to express heartfelt thanks to our wives and families. Their support and shared commitment to Torah learning make it possible for us to devote time each morning to connect with Hashem’s eternal wisdom.

None of this would be possible without the visionary leadership of Rabbi Fisch, who founded the Etz Chaim Daf Yomi shiur over twenty years ago and has remained its guiding teacher ever since.

I’m also deeply grateful to Meir Cohen and Avi Zaguri, true pillars of the group, for organizing and leading numerous community siyumim that publicly celebrate our shared accomplishments and the beauty of sustained Torah learning.

We remember with love and respect Dr. Edward Joseph z”l, a long-time gabbai at Etz Chaim and one of the original members of the Daf Yomi group. Even after moving to River Garden, Dr. Joseph continued learning with us via Zoom, helping to plant the seeds of what the group has become today. May his memory continue to be a source of blessing.

As we look ahead, I ask Hashem to grant us the strength, joy, and unity to continue learning His Torah—together, in good health, and with deepening connection.

Shanah Tova U'Metuka,
Aharon Yosef Green