I sincerely hope I am proven wrong about this, but I believe this may be the beginning of the end for Reb Eli's MDY Daf Yomi shiurim.
As we wrote on October 13, 2026, a group of jealous "gedolim" who cannot even attract a minyan to their own uninspiring boring shiurim publicly attacked Reb Eli, mocking him and even referring to him as "Stupensky."
Ironically, these same "gedolim" (small "g" intentionally) who complained that the shiur made a mockery of the Gemara had no problem making a mockery of the Maggid Shiur with the largest audience in the Torah world.
I am convinced that virtually none of the tens of thousands of people learning through MDY had any issue with the AI-generated clips. Yet as of this writing, Reb Eli has suspended the production of AI drawings and videos while establishing a Vaad to oversee future content.
As Reb Eli announced:
"MDY will be stepping back from producing such videos for now while we work to establish a Vaad familiar with the sensitivities of all communities to oversee future content."
Some of these clips were humorous, but their primary purpose was educational. They helped the hamon am gain a clearer understanding of the sugya being learned.
Remember, participants are expected to cover an entire daf in under an hour. Most are working people with families and careers. Many had not opened a Gemara in years. Yet Reb Eli, through his approachable and engaging style, succeeded in drawing them in, keeping them interested, and inspiring them to continue learning day after day.
I have often argued that many Roshei Yeshiva are uncomfortable with knowledgeable baalei batim. A baal habayis who becomes a genuine talmid chacham challenges the traditional narrative that serious Torah scholarship belongs exclusively within the walls of the yeshiva.
The facts speak for themselves. Many of today's most successful disseminators of Torah are baalei batim. I challenge anyone to find a shul outside the yeshiva world where a baal habayis is not delivering a shiur, teaching a class, or sharing Torah regularly.
Some Roshei Yeshiva who routinely belittle baalei batim are now worried that their students may discover that it is entirely possible to earn a living and still become remarkably knowledgeable in Shas and Poskim. That realization threatens long-standing assumptions and established power structures.
As a result, the campaign against Reb Eli has begun. The AI clips were merely the opening target. They were labeled "litzanus," and pressure was brought to bear until they were removed.
את חטאי אני מזכיר היום.
When learning difficult sugyos, particularly in Maseches Yevamos with its complex family relationships, I often struggle to keep track of the various connections. Reb Eli's illustrations and AI depictions transformed topics that seemed confusing into material that was easy to follow. I found the same to be true in Maseches Chullin, where the images significantly improved both my understanding and my ability to teach the material to others.
I am convinced this will not end here. Once they saw how easily they could pressure him into abandoning this valuable educational tool, they will continue chipping away at the unique style that made MDY so successful. Little by little, they will try to remove the creativity, humor, and accessibility until the shiur becomes just another bland presentation.
Those rabbanim who played a role in this should remember that they are accountable for the consequences of their actions.
עתיד ליתן דין וחשבון.
People constantly ask why we are losing our youth. Now it appears that some rabbinic leaders are doing their best to ensure we lose our adults as well.
Shame on them.
