On motzei Shabbos, parshas Beha'alosecho, HaRav
Yisroel Goelman was invested as rav of the illustrious
Sha'arei Tvuno community of Ramot Alef. The stirring ceremony
took place in the Magen Avot hall in Jerusalem's Ramot Alef
neighborhood.
A number of weeks prior to the ceremony, a delegation of
community members, along with their new rav, visited the
gedolei Yisroel, who warmly blessed them and praised
their choice. They visited HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, HaRav
Aharon Leib Steinman, HaRav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg, HaRav
Shmuel Auerbach, HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, HaRav Chaim
Kanievsky, and HaRav Nissim Karelitz.
The ceremony, which was headed by gedolei haTorah,
roshei yeshiva and rabbonim from various neighborhoods
in the city, was attended by Ramot's chareidi community as
well as many residents from other parts of Jerusalem. A wave
of excitement overcame the throng when HaRav Goelman entered
the hall in the company of HaRav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg,
HaRav Zeidel Epstein and HaRav Chaim Shaul Karelitz. As they
entered, the entire audience stood up and sang, "Yomim al
yemei melech tosif." HaRav Scheinberg, rosh
yeshiva of Torah Ohr, blessed HaRav Goelman and expressed
his hope that Hashem help him lead his community according to
the true light of Torah. As HaRav Scheinberg spoke, his eyes
filled with tears of emotion, for HaRav Goelman is one of his
most outstanding disciples. "Yisroel asher becho
espo'er," HaRav Scheinberg said in reference to HaRav
Goelman.
HaRav Chizkiyhu Mishkovski then read the blessings of HaRav
Aharon Leib Steinman. [See box.] He was followed by HaRav
Shlomo Neiman, the rav of Ramot. In his address, he said that
the function of the rav is to instruct, to teach, and to
impress upon the nation that it must fulfill the Torah
without compromise. Concomitantly, he said, the task of the
community is to obey the instructions of the rav on all
issues, even those not directly related to halocho.
HaRav Yitzchok Ezrachi, one of the roshei yeshiva of
Yeshivas Mir, spoke about the outstanding character traits of
the new rav, whom he has known for many years. HaRav Ezrachi
said that the fact that HaRav Goelman was appointed to this
particular position indicates that the community is aware of
his unique traits. The appreciation the community accords
their spiritual leader enables him to accomplish his tasks,
he noted.
The letter of appointment, signed by both the gedolei
Yisroel and neighborhood rabbonim was then read. When it
was handed to HaRav Goelman by a group of prominent members
of the community, all burst out into joyous song.
HaRav Osher Weissfish, the rav and moreh tzedek of
Achuzas Brachfeld and one of the original founders of the
Sha'arei Tvuno community, opened his remarks with a letter
from HaRav Nissim Karelitz: "The Sha'arei Tvuno community of
Ramot has merited a rav who is an outstanding talmid
chochom, worthy of leading the community along the path
of Torah. May the rav and the community succeed in
consummating their aspiration to increase kevod
Shomayim and to strengthen the pillars of Torah,
yirah and chessed in our Nation."
He then spoke about the necessity to appoint a rav to guide
the community, citing blessings by community members.
Additional words of brocho were delivered by HaRav
Zalman Goodman, a ram in Yeshivas Ohr Elchonon and one
of the neighborhood rabbonim; HaRav Menachem Mendel Fuchs,
the rav of Kiryat Shomrei Hachomos in Ramot Daled; HaRav Tzvi
Charlin, rosh kollel of the Yoreh De'ah Kollel of
Torah Ohr.
At the end of the ceremony, HaRav Goelman delivered an
address in which he praised the illustrious community which
he has known during the last eight years, during which he has
served as the head of an evening kollel in the beis
medrash and delivered shiurim in the neighborhood.
He cited the unity, chessed and vatronus among
the members of the community. "It is clear that the rav, too,
aspires to cling to these good traits and to lead his
community in the Torah way. It is clear, too, that he wants
to establish yeshivos and botei medrash in the area so
that the voice of Torah will resound day and night, and the
glory of Torah be elevated." He closed by thanking his
mentors and family for having helped him grow in Torah.
At the end of the ceremony, the blessing of HaRav Shmuel
Auerbach, rosh yeshiva of Maalos HaTorah who was
unable to attend, was conveyed. The evening ended with a
prayer to the Borei Olam that the community succeed
and merit much siyata deShmaya. The throng then broke
out into fervent dancing to the strains of music from a
special ensemble.
