What began as a personal challenge for Tzvi Finzel, the Daf Yomi distribution director, has grown into a community phenomenon that has taken Toronto by storm. *This evening, hundreds of Toronto’s Jews gathered for a landmark meeting with Rabbi Eli Stefansky, the man behind the MDY empire.* Against the backdrop of rising antisemitism in Canada, participants say: “The Gemara is our anchor and our identity.”
Four years ago, Tzvi Finzel made a decision: he would begin learning Daf Yomi through the shiurim of Rabbi Eli Stefansky (MDY). What started as a personal effort to maintain consistency in learning quickly evolved into a mission that transformed the face of Toronto’s Jewish community. This evening, about 400 Jews from Toronto were introduced for the first time to the initiative that has already captivated tens of thousands of Jews in Israel and around the world.
“It all started through word of mouth,” Finzel recounts. “There were five of us who simply refused to miss the shiur. Slowly the circle expanded, and today we are a community of dozens of learners who gather every week for joint viewing and in-depth study.”
Tonight, that phenomenon reached an unprecedented peak. Approximately 400 members of Toronto’s Jewish community attended a special event where they met Rabbi Eli Stefansky face to face for the first time—the teacher behind one of the most popular Torah classes in the world. Finzel’s goal is clear: to make Torah study an integral part of the modern Jew’s daily routine.
“Our target audience consists mostly of busy businesspeople,” Finzel explains. “The aspiration is to weave learning directly into their packed schedules. In the Diaspora, this connection to our roots and to truth is a sacred bond. Rabbi Stefansky is doing holy work here, and I feel an immense privilege to serve as the conduit that allows this to happen here in Toronto.”
The meteoric growth of Daf Yomi shiurim in Toronto is not occurring in a vacuum. Finzel points to a direct connection between the global security and social climate and the growing desire among Jews to reconnect with their identity.
“The atmosphere in Toronto lately hasn’t been good,” he shares with concern. “The antisemitism raging in Europe has reached us as well, and it’s impossible to ignore it. In a reality like this, connecting to Daf Yomi is no longer just about learning—it’s a necessity. It strengthens every Jew’s personal connection to Judaism and creates a believing, strong, and supportive community.”
Tonight, as the lights came on and Rabbi Stefansky stepped onto the stage, Jewish Toronto demonstrated that even thousands of kilometers from Jerusalem, the voice of Torah continues to resonate. “We are tremendously excited,” Finzel concludes. “All of us are waiting for the great light that this gathering will bring.”