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NEWS
HaRav Alter Eliyohu Rubinstein, New Chief Rabbi of
Antwerp
By Betzalel Kahn
At an impressive crowning ceremony in Antwerp the local
rabbinate made HaRav Alter Eliyohu Rubinstein, until now the
rov of Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo neighborhood, the new
gavad of the city, replacing HaRav Chaim Kreiswirth
zt"l who was niftar more than two years ago.
Thousands of Antwerp residents gathered in Austin Shul, a
large, old beis knesses, to participate in the event.
Talmidim from all of the city's talmudei Torah
stood in the street, in two rows, carrying flags. When the
new gavad reached the entrance to the beis
knesses he blessed all the boys.
Inside, a packed crowd was waiting to receive him, including
gedolei Yisroel who traveled to Belgium especially to
take part in the occasion. HaRav Aharon Leib Steinman sent
his son HaRav Moshe; the Admor of Tzanz sent his son HaRav
Yechezkel Shraga; and the Admor from Vishnitz, the new
gavad's brother-in-law, sent his son HaRav Yisroel.
During the course of the event letters were read out loud,
including blessings from Maran HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv,
HaRav Shmuel Wosner, the Admor of Gur, the Admor of Belz and
HaRav Y.T. Weiss, gavad of the Eida haChareidis in
Jerusalem.
After the heads of the kehilloh handed HaRav
Rubinstein the appointment writ they asked him to sit on the
rabbinate chair. The eager crowd began to sing "Yomim Al
Yemei Melech Tosif" and the Community Chairman gave the
rov a new tallis. After reciting Bircas Tzitzis
he added Bircas Shehechiyonu and then began his
first droshoh, in which he delineated his path of
leadership in the city.
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