HaRav Lando speaking
Heightened anticipation gripped Yeshivas Mir with the coming of HaRav Dov Lando for a historic visit to the yeshiva halls in order to participate in two unique events, where he delivered the keynote addresses.
His visit began in the Beis Yeshaya hall, attended by 400 prominent philanthropic figures who have come here from the U.S. for the week-long traditional Yarchei Kalla taking place at the yeshiva. HaRav Lando explicitly hailed those who bear the brunt of the upkeep of the yeshiva and of the Torah world. He said:
"Fortunate and blessed are you, honored patrons, who support Torah. You are doing great things; the entire world exists in your merit, and so all of Jewry, because the more Torah, the more Yiddishkeit, which uplifts all of Jewry.
"Blessed are you, supporters of this very sacred institution, Yeshivas Mir, the major place of Torah where bochurim and avreichim study today. Blessed are you for being partners in maintaining this place. May Hashem fulfill all of your requests for the good, both materially and spiritually, with nachas in everything, health, and delight in children and grandchildren devoted to Torah and mitzvos."
At the conclusion of his moving words, he received all of the participants in turn, granting them his personal blessings, to each one according to his request.
Another highlight of this historic visit was a huge rally of thousands of avreichim and bochurim studying in Yeshivas Mir, which took place in a huge area near the yeshiva, belonging to Pinsk-Karlin provided with stands. This moving event marked a siyum HaShas, Bavli and Yerushalmi, which had been studied in memory of the late Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, upon his eleventh yahrtzeit. It was presided by the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Arye Finkel, HaRav Ezrachi and other roshei yeshiva, and the Mashgiach HaRav Binyomin Finkel.
HaRav Dov addressed this assembly and said to the public at large:
"You are been privileged to study in memory of the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Nosson Tzvi, who was totally full of love for Torah and only Torah. You, here, completed the study of Shas, truly a masterful achievement.
"It is told that HaRav Yehoshua Leib Diskin once attended a siyum and said that Torah is compared to pearls and gold, the one possessing value not found by the other. Gold represents wisdom, which is of supreme worth. Pearls represent perfection, wholesomeness. One cannot say that half a pearl and another half a pearl are perfection. In other words, the two represent quantity and quality. You have studied, and studied even more, and may you merit to add on, more and more, in quantity and quality."
He also said: "There is a story which I have told over many times. Reb Moshe Deutch, a Jew from Bnei Brak, frequently visited the Chazon Ish. He was once asked to tell over a story about the Chazon Ish. He said, 'I have a very short story and a very long one. The Chazon Ish learned and learned and learned.' And that is what I want to say and wish for you: to learn, learn and learn some more."
The scene
