Monday, the night of 16 Cheshvan, all of Beis Yisroel
marked one year since the loss of Maran HaRosh Yeshiva
HaRav Elozor Menachem Mann Shach, zt'l, and yesterday
thousands arrived from around the country to visit his
gravesite at the Bnei Brak Cemetery, pouring out prayers and
supplications for personal salvation and for Klal Yisroel
based on the pledge in his will, "If I am able to advocate on
your behalf I will do so, bli neder."
Calls were issued to the public to pray for rachamim
for Jews in Eretz Yisroel where Jewish blood is being spilled
like water. Since HaRav Shach's histalkus there have
been great problems in ruchniyus and gashmiyus,
and tragedies have befallen many families.
Thousands began to arrive at the gravesite already on Monday
night while gatherings were held at various heichalei
Torah and kehillos kedoshos (see sidebar) in his
holy memory, including shiurei Torah, sichos
mussar, Mishnayos learning and the recital of
Tehillim. Numerous masechtos and entire
sedorim of Mishnayos and Gemora that
thousands of avreichim across the country have been
learning throughout the year are currently being completed
and the twelfth monthly Shas cycle is scheduled for
completion on motzei Shabbos.
Degel HaTorah's Vaad Hachonoh took the initiative to handle
all of the logistic matters involved in accommodating the
thousands of visitors to HaRav Shach's gravesite on Tuesday.
Part of the cemetery was fenced in and arrangements were made
to ensure total separation from the cemetery entrance all the
way to the gravesite. In addition special candlelighting
stands were provided for both men and women. ZAKA set up
powerful floodlights Monday and Tuesday nights. A special
overhead awning has been installed over the gravesite and
will remain in place throughout the year.
At thousands of talmudei Torah, seminaries, schools
and kindergartens in Israel and abroad stories of the Rosh
Yeshiva's life were recounted at special school gatherings
and memorial ceremonies, along with shiurim and
special study programs and projects--some of which began days
ago.
At Chinuch Atzmai educational institutions throughout Israel
talmidim learned mishnayos and girls recited
Tehillim for the neshomoh of HaRav Shach, and
principals and educators delivered talks in memory of the
great departed figure whose fabulous chochmoh and
sublime hanhogos for decades shone light on the
educational institutions of Torah Jewry in Israel.
Specially arranged bus transports brought talmidim
from around the country to the gravesite, where a mass
tefilloh and the main azkoroh, with the family
in attendance, was to be held in the afternoon. Degel HaTorah
provided free buses from various parts of Bnei Brak to the
cemetery.
A hachnosas sefer Torah ceremony was also to be held
Tuesday night. According to the program, the writing was to
be completed at HaRav Shach's home on Ravad Street and a
procession to accompany the sefer Torah, written for
his neshomoh, to Yeshivas Rashbi at the corner of
HaShlah and Or HaChaim Streets.
