HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of the
Philadelphia Yeshiva and a member of the American Moetzes
Gedolei HaTorah, was the guest of Yeshivas Elad and the
city's Torah community. He came to Elad to help fortify the
yeshiva, headed by HaRav Chaim Pas, and to share his vast
Torah knowledge with its students.
At a stirring reception held in his honor, words of greeting
and blessing were delivered by HaRav Pas. He cited the
Meshech Chochmah on the verse, ". . . and Moshe was
eighty and Aharon eighty-three years." HaRav Pas asked why
the Torah stressed their age. He answered that Meshech
Chochmah explains that since elderly people, particularly
elderly talmidei chachomim, bear so great a communal
burden, the Jewish people tend to rely upon their guidance,
trusting their knowledge more than any signs or wonders.
HaRav Pas concluded by saying that he does not presume
himself to be one worthy of the task of opening a new
yeshiva, especially in a new location where technical
problems often cause delays. "However, the gedolei
haTorah, HaRav Aharon Leib Steinman and HaRav Shmuel
Auerbach, joined by HaRav Elya Svei and HaRav Shmuel
Kamenetsky and other gedolim, have charged me with
this mission. The reason they ascribe so much importance to
this endeavor is that Maran HaRav Eliezer Menachem Shach
shlita fervently wants Elad to take the form of a
Torah city. Since every step we have taken until now has been
with the guidance of the zekeinim, the community
trusts that the yeshiva will continue to be built through
their efforts. As a result, we have merited the visit of one
of the leaders of the American Torah world."
HaRav Kamenetsky spoke with deep emotion, citing the words of
Rashi in Devorim, who explains in the name of the
Sifrei: "Moshe Rabbeinu, who reproved the Jewish
people only prior to his death, was emulating Yaakov, who
reproved his sons only prior to his death. `Reuven, my son,'
Yaakov said, `the reason I didn't reprove you all these years
was so that you would not leave me and go.' Yaakov's words
require explanation. Why chastise someone for a sin for which
he has already repented?
"The explanation of the Ran on the issue of Mei Merivo
casts light on this question. In his explanation, he
discusses the phenomenon of an entity that once had a
particular type of form, but lost it, only to regain it
later. He says that the procedure whereby that entity regains
its lost form is much simpler than the original one. This is
why a fetus is taught the entire Torah, although he forgets
it as soon as he is born. What value is there to teaching
Torah to the fetus if he will subsequently forget it? The
answer is that those first lessons, in his mother's womb,
render him more capable of studying the Torah in this
world.
"The same is true regarding sin. Why chastise someone for a
sin of which he has already repented? The reason is that one
who has committed a sin finds it easier to commit it again,
even if he has repented. As a result, he requires intensified
chastisement, even after he has done teshuvah.
"The Netziv discusses the fact that half of the tribe of
Menashe was given a large portion in Ever Hayarden,
even though it hadn't asked for it. He explains that Moshe
Rabbeinu planted gedolei haTorah in the generation so
that they would illuminate the dark parts of the land. In
order to persuade them to settle in Ever Hayarden, he
offered them a larger portion. Moshe's behavior on this point
should serve as an example for future generations, teaching
them the importance of striving to live in Torah
environments. How important then is this place -- Elad --
since it will be illuminated by bnei Torah, who will
determine its character."
After these opening remarks, HaRav Kamenetsky delivered a
penetrating halocho shiur on the topic of
Shirtut. Following the shiur, he met with some
of the students.
The Elad yeshiva was founded two years ago in the Ganei Hadar
neighborhood of Petach Tikvah, before any buildings in Elad
itself were finished. Upon the counsel of HaRav Arye Leib
Steinman and HaRav Elya Svei, it was decided to open the
yeshiva even before the first apartments were occupied in
Elad itself, in order to firmly ground the city as a mokom
Torah.
At the end of his visit, HaRav Kamenetsky expressed his
amazement over the hasmodoh of the bnei
yeshiva.
HaRav Kamenetsky was accompanied on this visit by his son,
HaRav A. Kamenetsky, a ram in Yeshivas Beis Yisroel.
He was also accompanied by HaRav Z. Gartner, a Torah author
from Ramot and HaRav A. Gittman, author of Zichron
Eliyahu.
