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22 Sivan 5761 - June 13, 2001 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Preparations for Monument on HaRav Yisroel Salanter's Grave Underway
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

A monument on the grave of Maran HaRav Yisroel Salanter, ztk"l, will be put up in two months, at the beginning of bein hazmanim. Preparations for this important historic event are presently underway. It will be attended by prominent delegations from the Torah worlds of Eretz Yisroel, Europe and the United States.

As reported by Yated Ne'eman, the precise place of the grave of the gaon of Torah and mussar, Rabbenu Yisroel Salanter, was located a few weeks ago in the cemetery in Kaliningrad, formerly Koenigsburg. Determination of the grave's location was the result of numerous efforts, including a search of archives throughout the world for maps, lists of cemeteries, ancient documents, historical photographs and aerial photographs.

The news of the discovery of the grave of HaRav Salanter, founder of the Mussar Movement and one who brought about a his'orerus to Torah and yir'oh in past generations was received with much excitement by the Torah world. Intensive efforts were launched to erect a monument and tombstone on the site, as well as to accommodate the masses seeking to visit the grave, but have yet to be able to fulfill their dream.

At the request of rabbonim, roshei yeshiva and public figures from Eretz Yisroel and abroad, it was decided to postpone unveiling the monument and the accompanying events until the coming Menachem Av. The aim of the event is to revitalize the local Jewish community, corresponding to the great vision of HaRav Yisroel Salanter. It will be attended by marbitzei Torah and mussar, rabbonim and public figures from the Jewish world from all over.

Upon consultation with the gedolei haTorah vehayir'oh in Eretz Yisroel and abroad who are guiding the tireless, dedicated planning committee, it was decided to erect the monument on Wednesday, 12 Menachem Av. Groups will leave Eretz Yisroel for Europe on 11 Menachem Av and will return three days later. During that period, they will tour former Lithuanian Torah sites destroyed during the war, as well as the cemeteries where many of our gedolei Yisroel are buried.

Rabbonim and public figures say that the visit is likely to have a profound influence on local government heads, within the framework of efforts to convince them to help rehabilitate many desecrated, deteriorating cemeteries. The visit will also be instrumental in reviving Jewish communities that were severed from Yiddishkeit during three generations of Communist regime.

A special meeting will be held in Kaliningrad during the visit. Its purpose will be to strengthen Yiddishkeit in the area, and it will be attended by representatives of the Jewish communities in the region.

These arrangements are the culmination of many years of efforts to locate the grave of the great leader. Masses of bnei Torah have so long wanted to visit his kever, but could not up until now.

 

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