A number of months ago, the town of Yehud began to make plans
for the election of its Ashkenazic rav. Already then, HaRav
Chaim Kanievsky entreated HaRav Yonah Torchin to fill the
shoes of HaRav Nisan Torchin, HaRav Yonah's illustrious
father, and even influenced others do their utmost to ensure
his election. The elections will take place next month on 17
Elul, and many efforts are being made on HaRav Torchin's
behalf.
HaRav Nissim Karelitz wrote a warm letter in support of Rav
Torchin, and HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, HaRav Aharon Yehuda
Leib Steinman and HaRav Chaim Kanievsky have all urged his
election to fill the place of his father. HaRav Karelitz
noted that since he is worthy, al pi din he has
precedence in filling the position occupied by his father.
Fifty years ago, the Chazon Ish urged HaRav Nisan Torchin to
accept the position of rav and av beis din of Yehud.
The Chazon Ish was eager to establish a mokom Torah in
that settlement, and even dispatched a number of letters to
HaRav Torchin, in order to encourage him in the sacred labor
he had taken upon himself.
In a letter to HaRav Shmuel Greineman, the Chazon Ish,
praised HaRav Torchin for his outstanding dedication to the
yeshiva in Yehud. Constantly aided by the Chazon Ish, HaRav
Torchin spared no efforts on behalf of the yeshiva in his
community. During the many years in which he presided as
Yehud's rav, he did his utmost to strengthen Yiddishkeit
there, founding a talmud Torah, a mesivta
and a kollel where 100 avreichim currently
study, among them local ba'alei teshuvah.
After his petirah, his son Rav Yonah continued to
strengthen his father's institutions, and today is a rosh
yeshiva and rosh kollel in Yehud, and very active
in drawing youth closer to Yiddishkeit. He is also deeply
involved in the chessed enterprises of the city.
It is indeed hoped that he will be elected rav of Yehud. The
choice of rav has a great influence on the spiritual
development of the community for many years.
