At a recent siyum at Rav Ozer Babad’s shul in Toms River, a clear message echoed through the room: the MDY movement is not only about completing masechtos—it is about building a life with Torah every single day.
Paltiel Schwarcz, Founder of The Click and founder of the Toms River MDY satellite location, told Achdus Magazine that what began as a community initiative quickly became a personal anchor as well.
“I started learning with Reb Eli back in Brachos,” Schwarcz shared. “When we opened the satellite location, I thought I was doing it for the klal. But I ended up being the biggest beneficiary. The Gemara becomes so much clearer when you’re watching together with a chaburah on a big screen. The concentration is stronger, the consistency is stronger—and it becomes part of your life.”
The satellite location now runs nightly at 9:10 p.m., with Maariv at 9:00, giving local MDYers a dependable place to stay connected to the daf in a focused, uplifting environment.
Rabbi Babad stressed that his shul is not simply “hosting” an outside program.
“This isn’t a host location,” he declared. “This is the place to be to learn. If you want real consistency and real growth, this is where it’s happening.”
Aaron Hirsch, a representative of Central Jersey MDY, underscored the unique camaraderie the nightly chaburah creates—especially for those who might otherwise learn alone.
“I encourage people to come and experience the camaraderie,” Hirsch said. “It’s a unique opportunity to meet others who might not otherwise encounter fellow MDYers nightly. And even if someone can’t join every night, they should try to come at least once or twice a week and experience it.”
Rabbi Babad also pointed to an inspiring example that, in his words, would have been “unheard of” in previous years. He shared that his 14-year-old son, together with boys in his class, recently made a siyum on Maseches Zevachim in their cheder—an accomplishment he attributed to the MDY clarity and method.
“Zevachim was a masechta people were scared of,” he said, “but Reb Eli made it learnable—almost as familiar as Megillah.”
Then Rabbi Babad shared a story that brought the message into sharp focus. He recounted how Reb Mordche Eisenshtat once saw Reb Godel Eisner, the rosh yeshiva, on a brutal forced march under the Nazis. At one point Reb Godel Eisner collapsed, and everyone knew what that meant—those who fell were shot. Reb Mordche cried out with all his strength: “Godel—stand up!” And in a moment that felt beyond nature, Reb Godel Eisner rose, found renewed strength, and kept running—saving his life.
Rabbi Babad explained that this is what a daily commitment to Torah gives a person.
“When Torah isn’t ‘when I have time,’ but it’s every day, it becomes the כוח that keeps a person standing,” he said. “The point isn’t only finishing. It’s building a life with Torah every single day.”
The Toms River satellite location has also become known for its warm atmosphere and community feel: hot soup nightly, pizza on Motzei Shabbos, and hot food on Thursdays. On Motzei Shabbos, the group watches two dafim—the Friday daf at 8:00 p.m., followed by the Shabbos daf at 9:00 p.m.
The invitation is open: come join—nightly, or even once or twice a week—and experience what it means when Torah becomes a true daily commitment.
