Thursday night (29-30 Nisan) was an impressive event at which
the Uchesavtem organization awarded stipends to some of the
finest students of the country's yeshivos. It was attended by
maranan verabonon, roshei yeshiva, marbitzei Torah and
bnei yeshiva from the entire spectrum of chareidi
Jewry.
The Uchesavtem organization was founded with the blessings of
the gedolei Torah by a group of avreichim for
the purpose of encouraging the writing of chiddushim.
With the announcement of its scholarship fund, approximately
1300 outstanding chaburos were sent to its editorial
board. These chaburos were then carefully examined by
prominent roshei yeshiva, who decided which deserved
awards.
The gala event opened with ma'ariv, the massive
assembly of bnei Torah serving as a display of
encouragement and chizuk for those who toil over their
Torah studies -- budding Torah scholars who have merited to
probe Torah's depths and produce chiddushim.
The event was opened by HaRav Boruch Shmuel Deutsch, one of
the members of the presidium of the Uchesavtem organization,
who stressed the value of chiddushei Torah, explaining
that they become an integral part of those who make them.
In his speech, HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz said that the
main aspect of the mitzvah of kibbud haTorah is that
of studying with toil and exertion in order to understand the
depth of the Torah. He then explained that Hashem grants
those who toil in Torah a special siyata deShmaya to
overcome the spiritual difficulties of the street culture. At
the end of his speech, HaRav Lefkowitz read the following
letter of Maran HaGaon, HaRav Yosef Shlomo Eliashiv
shlita:
"To the esteemed participants in the rally for the
strengthening of those who toil in Torah, sponsored by the
Uchesavtem fund, headed by the rabbonim hageonim
shlita: I hereby extend my blessing to the rabbonim
hageonim who head the fund, and to the bnei Torah
who have sent it their essays and chiddushim. May it
be Hashem's will that they continue to grow in Torah and
yiras Shomayim, and that all who assist them see
blessings in their efforts."
HaRav Shmuel Auerbach, who spoke next, spoke about the
sanctity of these days of preparation for kabolas
haTorah and about the need to toil in Torah while
maintaining a frugal lifestyle, factors which enable one to
savor Torah's sweetness and pleasantness.
In his speech, the rosh yeshiva of Grodno, HaRav Tzvi
Dov Karelenstein, cited the Chazon Ish who, in his
Igros explains that the depth of Torah shebe'al
peh is revealed only after one has exerted himself
diligently in Torah study, and that achievement of this is
not dependent on one's aptitude but rather on the extent of
one's toil and exertion.
At the end of HaRav Karelenstein's speech the moderator,
HaRav Tzvi Roth, read the names of the winners and invited
them to receive the award from HaRav Y. Toledano. The awards
were given separately to avreichim and yeshiva
students.
Among the avreichim, first prize was awarded to Rav
Michael Cohen, of the Mirrer yeshiva kollel, second
prize to Rav Moshe Shraga Eichler from Kollel Mishkan Shraga
and third prize to Rav Shlomo Zalman Knoblich, Kollel Heichal
HaTalmud.
The following yeshiva students received awards: Shmuel Bunim
Ehrenfeld of Yeshivas Ponevezh, Shlomo Bombach of Yeshivas
Atteres Yisroel, Shlomo Ginsberg of Yeshivas Rabbenu Chaim
Ozer, Chaim Gershuni of Yeshivas Even Yisroel, Shalom Zefrani
of Yeshivas Tushia-Tifrach, Yinon Chori of Yeshivas Me'or
HaTorah, Yaakov Levi of Yeshivas Be'er HaTorah, Avrohom
Yeshayahu Solomon of Yeshivas Chevron, Shimon Sofer of
Yeshivas Brisk, Avrohom Kleinman of Yeshivas Grodno-Ashdod
and Reuven Koplick of Yeshivas Or Yisroel.
