Yeshivas Ateres Yisroel, located in the Bayit Vegan
neighborhood of Jerusalem, has taken another step to promote
its niche in the new religious city of Elad. After developing
its new Ramat Meir neighborhood of Elad for alumni, and a
kollel, it is preparing for the opening of its Ateres
Yisroel Yeshiva Ketana branch this coming Elul.
The news of the branch opening in Elad was enthusiastically
greeted by admirers of "Ateres." Ateres Yisroel yeshiva is
known for its combination of boosting the inner potential of
its students (gadlus ho'odom) with fiery Torah study
and a unique camaraderie between the staff and students. A
pilot group of approximately 20 youths were carefully
selected to form shiur alef from applicants from Bnei
Brak, Petach Tikva and Elad.
Last week, the group was brought to Jerusalem to receive
HaRav Eliashiv's brochos and for orientation towards
the new year.
Accompanied by HaRav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi the rosh
yeshiva, HaRav Chaim Walkin the mashgiach, Rav Benzion
Ezrachi, the executive director, Elad council head Rabbi
Yaakov Asher, and councilman Rabbi Moshe Cohen, the group of
young students were warmly welcomed by HaRav Eliashiv. After
praising the accomplishments of the yeshiva's heads, he
blessed each student individually to develop into a talmid
chochom, and grow in yiras Shomayim.
Rav Eliashiv listened with satisfaction to Rabbi Asher's
description of the growth of Torah institutions in Elad.
Rabbi Asher has gone out of his way to welcome the various
Ateres Yisroel institutions to Elad and find a suitable
location for them.
Earlier, HaRav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi welcomed the youths
and spoke to them about the fundamentals of success in Torah
study and yeshiva life. He challenged them to set a high
level of hasmodoh and dedication to Torah study for
the new yeshiva.
Rav Efraim Kashash spoke about how great a zchus it is
to found a new place of Torah. He related that when he once
visited the mashgiach, HaRav Meir Chodosh, ztvk"l,
he asked what was the role of a mashgiach in a
yeshiva ketana. Rav Meir told him, "To make the
students grow great in Torah study and yiras
Shomayim."
When asked how to make them grow great in yiras Shomayim,
HaRav Meir said, "Through prayer, by infusing the concept
of `Shivisi' -- feeling they are always standing
before Hashem -- and emphasizing proper interpersonal
relations, which are a prerequisite to Torah."
Other members of the Elad yeshiva staff include Rav Yair
Levinger and Rav Uri Dickman.
The Ramat Meir neighborhood was developed by Ateres Yisroel
after alumni requested a fitting memorial in the name of the
yeshiva's beloved mashgiach, HaRav Meir Chodosh. The
neighborhood will eventually contain 150 housing units, and
buyers will be chosen by a rabbinical board whose goal is to
maintain a yeshivish atmosphere suitable for bnei
Torah. Potential home buyers are expected to come from
yeshivos in which HaRav Meir Chodosh propounded the
"gadlus ho'odom" philosophy, such as Ateres Yisroel,
Chevron, Or Elchonon and the Mir. The project is planned to
have a high standard or finish and landscaping, and projected
completion is in a year and a half. After the kehilla's
formation, HaRav Boruch Mordechai will occasionally come
to spend Shabbosim and deliver his popular sichos to
the kehilla and yeshiva.
