Vayimaen 1-Year Anniversary | Rabbi Yechiel Spero

Throughout Klal Yisroel’s history, there have been moments when great individuals have started and launched memorable programs that have saved Klal Yisroel. Not just a program, but something transformative. R’ Yehuda HaNasi documented, he gathered all of Mishnayos, and he made תורה שבעל פה something that is written and accessible. It saved Klal Yisroel. A millennia later, the Ba’al Shem Tov started Chasidus. He felt the time was ripe. Klal Yisroel needed a spark, and it helped save Klal Yisroel. 100 years ago, a courageous Chasidishe Talmid Chacham started a Daf Yomi program. And Daf Yomi is something that has helped transform Klal Yisroel. It would take a shtempl, a stamp of approval from the Zaken and Gadol HaDor, the Chafetz Chaim, but you look around the world today and it's incredible. The Nazis tried to destroy Klal Yisroel, and R’ Aharon Kotler, the Ponevezher Rav and others launched the Yeshiva movement unlike any other in history. It transformed Klal Yisroel. השכלה tried to ensnare and take away our daughters, the Bnos Yisroel, and Sarah Schenirer began the Bais Yaakov movement. It transformed Klal Yisroel. And now we come to a moment in time, a moment where the Yetzer Hara is stronger than ever before, where everywhere you turn and everywhere you look we are tempted by the enemy. We're assaulted. And one year ago, began a movement, a movement of Vayimaen that would be able to look the Yetzer Hara directly in the eye and tell him, We can be stronger than you. We will not give in to temptation. We will not give in to you. We will rise above. We will hold on to our Kedusha. We will be an army that is able to lead us through the greatest Yetzer Hara of our times. And 50,000 individuals, like yourselves, have joined this army to become an army that is unique, unlike any other in history. And it's an anniversary and it's time to celebrate. And Chanukah is this week, and we look at the candle, that one tiny little candle that was lit by a few very courageous individuals, the Chashmona’im, who dared to fight against יוון and the influences of battles against Kedusha. And they said: No. Vayimaen. We will be strong. And that small, tiny little light, lit 2,500 years ago, shines throughout the world and into the deepest recesses of our Neshama. It is a time to celebrate because the Ribono shel Olam looks down at his children and he sees the army of Vayimaen. And it was unfathomable and unthinkable that such a movement could succeed, and yet it has transformed Klal Yisroel. We are ready to take on whatever the Yetzer Hara will throw our way, and we owe it to you. May we continue to fight strong. May we be zoche to all the תשועות, ישועות, and ניצחון במלחמות that will threaten our existence. May we be zoche to ביאת גואל צדק במהרה בימינו, אמן.