The rov of Shomrei Hachomos in Jerusalem's Ramat Shlomo,
HaRav Alter Eliyohu Rubinstein, was recently selected to
serve as rov of Antwerp, Belgium in elections held by the
city's Vaad Hakehillos.
HaRav Rubinstein has served as a rov and moreh horo'oh
for 30 years, first at Heichal Tzvi of Chassidei Tzanz in
central Jerusalem and for the past decade as the rov of
Shomrei Hachomos.
In his youth he was a talmid of the Admor of Tzanz-
Klausenberg and later he had the privilege of learning from
HaRav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt"l and HaRav Yosef
Sholom Eliashiv ylct"a who gave his blessings for the
appointment and wished HaRav Rubinstein success in expanding
Torah and horo'oh in Europe.
Antwerp has had a chareidi community for over 120 years.
Today there are dozens of botei medrash, yeshivas and
kollelim and hundreds of bnei Torah, Chassidim
and anshei maaseh.
For the past 50 years the kehilloh was led by HaRav
Chaim Kreiswirth, who built up Torah and chessed for
all of chareidi Jewry. The inauguration ceremony is scheduled
to take place a few weeks from now before Antwerp's Jewish
residents and rabbonim, rabbonim from other parts of Europe
and even special guests from Eretz Yisroel who will fly in to
take part in the happy event in the venerable community.
Last week HaRav Rubinstein visited the homes of gedolei
Torah in Eretz Yisroel, where he received brochos
from HaRav Eliashiv, HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, HaRav
Shmuel Halevy Wosner, HaRav Michel Lefkowitz, HaRav Nissim
Karelitz, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, the Admor of Vishnitz, the
Admor of Belz, HaRav Yitzchok Tuvioh Weiss, HaRav Moshe
Sternbuch, the Admor of Tzanz and the Admor of Boyan,
shlita.
