The Telz yeshiva in Europe
Thomas Koktes, Mayor of Telz, Lithuania, found a propitious time to visit Israel. Yeshivas Telz is beginning construction of a yeshiva ketana (high school) in Ramat Shlomo whose building will be a replicate of the yeshiva which once graced the Lithuanian city and still houses its ruins. The visiting mayor asked to be given a tour of the present Telzer yeshiva and was duly impressed by this Torah center which is a direct extension of its parent yeshiva in Europe which existed until the rise of the Nazi regime.
In the course of his tour in Jerusalem, the visiting mayor asked to meet with his Jerusalem counterpart, Moshe Leon, and met him in his office, accompanied by HaRav Sorotzkin who is building the new yeshiva. He was given a special gift which included the signature of the Jerusalem mayor.
During the visit, the two mayors discussed the complex historic restoration which includes exact details. Mayor Leon told of the city's efforts in immortalizing the heritage of Telz in Jerusalem, from the varied municipal aspects. The Lithuanian mayor surprised his counterpart in revealing his own plan to restore the original Telz yeshiva edifice which is presently in ruins at the outskirts of his city and turn it into a historical memorial.
Moshe Leon thanked his deeply, even promising to come and visit when the project was completed.
"There is a sincere desire from the part of the city of Telz to restore the illustrious heritage of those of our people who were murdered by the Nazis and see to it that this site merit the honor due," said Moshe Leon. "Concurrent to the efforts being invested here in Jerusalem to carry on the work being done here in Jerusalem to continue this heritage, we ask that the city of Telz itself preserve that legacy for the coming generations, and show respect to the champions of Torah who grew within the walls of the yeshiva."
The sacred yeshiva of Telz carried on its heritage, producing many illustrious students. It was established in 5640 (1880) by HaRav Eliezer Gordon zt"l, and led by the other roshei yeshiva, HaRav Yosef Yehuda Leib Bloch and HaRav Shimon Shkop. The yeshiva stood for sixty years until in 5701, when the Germans invaded the city and laid it in ruins.
In recent years, the rosh yeshiva of Ateres Shlomo, HaRav Sholom Ber Sorotzkin, great-grandson of the holy founders, traveled several times to Telz in the attempt to unearth relics of the lives of the great Torah leaders who grew within the walls of the holy yeshiva.
In one of the famous documents, HaRav Sholom Ber can be seen bursting his way into the locked building. Over the years, friendly relations have grown between him and the local mayor, which led to this blessed and moving enterprise.
