HaRav Edelstein addressing the gathering through closed circuit
More than twenty thousand high school and seminary girls attended hespedim and chizuk rallies organized by Batya. The remarks of maranan verabonon emphasized the special lessons from the life of HaRav Chaim Kanievsky for bnos Yisroel and also the dangers of modern communications technology and academic study as it impacts the kedushah of women and the Jewish home. The events took place at the Arena stadium in Jerusalem, and girls from all over Israel attended.
HaRav Meir Kessler, the rov of Modi'in Illit, said, "Chazal say that during a hesped, the soul of the departed is present. Why is it summoned from its place on high? Because we seek to continue the struggles that it began! Maran zt"l waged a holy war against the damages of technology and academia.
"Everyone here can testify about herself or a friend, that whoever is exposed to this instrument is not the same bas Yisroel as they were before. More than once we see people who are unfortunately not with us any more, even if they still continue to dress the same way.
"Maran zt"l wrote with deep concern about the dangers of the Internet, of the homes it destroys and casts people into the deepest pits. Even when it is permitted out of necessity, it is strictly for work and under the guidance of a rov.
"We see all the time so many people so attached to their personal idols. Everywhere one can see people, not guided by yiras Shomayim, glued to their rectangle to the exclusion of anything else. They are attached to their smartphone up until their final breath.
"The problem if the Internet is that even those who do not reach the disgusting depths, still turn into `killers of time' like the goyim, busy over their heads in shtuyot and jokes, with content full of empty emotions, instead of dealing with the truly important matters."
HaRav Yisroel Meir Druk, rosh yeshivas Tiferes Yisroel and a close talmid of Maran Sar HaTorah zt"l, said that Yirmiyahu says that there is shever bas ami, the public and community loss, as well as the eivel yachid, the personal loss experience by each individual.
"I asked him how we can achieve purity of the heart and to want only rotzon Hashem. He said that the medrash compares the human being to a flask full of oil. Every drop of water that is put in, sinks to the bottom and the oil rises to the top. Every drop of water causes oil to be displaced. The oil is wisdom — Torah and mitzvos. The more the empty vanities of the world are brought in, the more oil is displaced.
"Our job is to minimize our contact with the vanities of the world. We are not only talking about the treif Internet, but even the content that is not objectionable, every drop of emptiness of the world, displaces the oil from the flask. We must avoid anything that is not necessary for parnossoh and study. That way our oil will be preserved.
"This was Rebbe Chaim's secret. He did not know and was not interested in anything besides Torah. He never went into the kitchen besides bedikas chometz. He used to say that he always prayed that he would forget everything and just remember Torah.
"Another lesson we can learn from him is his kibbud av vo'eim. He never tried to analyze what his parents said. It was enough that they said it and he followed what they said without any questions or calculations. Now, in Pesach vacation, is a time to follow in his footsteps in kibbud av vo'eim, which is one of the most important mitzvos.
"We have much to learn from his middos. He greeted everyone pleasantly and with a smile. But I saw how much he wept privately for all the tzoros of Klal Yisroel."
HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch conveying his message
HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch said, "In seforim it says that when a godol hador leaves the world, there is a special shefa that allows everyone to grab things that the departed promoted and excelled in. Everyone can acquire those things.
"Certainly the main Torah learning is for boys and not girls. But girls can also go in the ways of HaRav Chaim zt"l, to know their purpose in this world and to be mischazeik in that. Their purpose is to fulfill the mitzvos that are especially theirs and to serve HaKodosh Boruch Hu.
"What can girls do? They can undertake to lead a life of Torah, to build a house of Torah, to minimize this world. They can build a home of Torah and be prepared to sacrifice for Torah. A life of tznius. There are so many things that are contrary to tznius and they should all be discarded. They can live a life dedicated to others and not themselves. Tznius and chesed — this is what girls can do.
"This is certainly a great thing for him zt"l and will cause his neshamah to rise higher. Everyone owes Maran zt"l, girls too. All the time that he spent in the world, he brought the shefa of the Shechina to the world. All of Klal Yisroel benefited from that and everyone owes him a debt of gratitude.
"May all those be strengthened in all the things that are for a bas Yisroel to do in her life."
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