Thousands gathered to participate in an assembly in memory of
HaRav Moshe Hager, rosh yeshiva of Seret-Viznitz,
zt'l. The beis medrash was too small to contain
the many people who showed up including many rabbonim,
roshei yeshivos and dayanim and led by the
Sereter Rebbe, shlita.
The director of the mosdos in Ramat Viznitz, HaRav
Elchonon Leibowitz, in the name of the Rebbe shlita,
announced that the Mosdos Torah Vechesed will henceforth be
called after Hagaon Hatzaddik Rabbi Moshe Hager zt'l --
Rosh Yeshivas Seret Viznitz. The Talmud Torah Seret Viznitz
in Ramat Viznitz will be called "Tiferes Moshe," since he
passed away on the sefirah day of Tiferes
Shebinetzach (and "Netzach" is Moshe). The
marriage assistance fund will be called "Birkas Moshe" which
also recalls his father, R' Boruch zt'l. These
mosdos signify the mesiras nefesh of the Rosh
Yeshiva for the mosdos of Torah and chesed.
Also the mosdos of Shotz-Viznitz will now be called
"Ohel Moshe" in remembrance of the Rosh Hayeshiva.
In addition to all this a kollel has been opened in
New York where the Rosh Yeshiva was for the last five months
of his life, and it is named "Ner Moshe" after him. In the
future they hope to build more mosdos in his name and
memory.
Rav Eliezer Grossman, one of Ramat Viznitz's residents,
opened the evening with the saying "Chochom shemeis, hakol
kerovov." He described the Rosh Yeshiva as a person who
lead the mosdos for the past thirty-five years in
ruchniyus and gashmiyus and was right hand of
his older brother the Sereter Rebbe shlita.
HaRav Moshe Sternbuch, Vice President of the Eida HaChareidis
in Jerusalem, described the Rosh Yeshiva in a sorrowful voice
as the special person of the group and said that his presence
will be missed greatly by all. His shining face and
friendliness to every person meant that he was meis mitoch
sechok, simon yofe hu lo -- which symbolized his love for
every Jew, and all the deeds that he did and could have done
are all for his great zechus.
HaRav Zalman Leib Maizlish, rabbi of Seagate in Brooklyn NY
spoke, while the audience sat spellbound, about the awakening
to teshuvah we must have these difficult days. He
pointed out that the Rosh Yeshiva's life was solely for the
teaching of Torah and chassidus, despite all the
embarrassments and hardships while traveling around the world
for the mosdos and talmidim of the Yeshiva. His
humility and ahavas Yisrael, were midos which
he naturally inherited from his father, the Mekor Boruch
zt'l and carried on.
He was the life-force of the mosdos with his
brightness, glory and ahavas habriyos in his life of
noble kiddush Hashem as is characteristic of Bais
Viznitz.
HaRav Shmuel Alexander Unsdorfer, rabbi of Kehilas Divrei
Chaim Tzanz, Petach Tikvah and a mechutan of the Rosh
Yeshiva, spoke about the great loss and gap that was left on
the passing of the Rosh Yeshiva.
He mentioned his simcha during the whole time of his
illness. Even in the most difficult times he didn't give up,
and the whole time he was full of hope to Hashem for good
health. From his passing we were left with a huge gap, a
person of Torah, a person of chesed who did a lot for
Klal Yisroel (both the klal and the
prat). R' Shmuel begged everyone to wake up and see
what's happening lately and to do teshuvah.
