On the second yahrtzeit of Antwerp Gavad HaRav Chaim
Kreiswirth zt"l, a series of events were held in his
memory and le'ilui nishomoso.
At his beis medrash in Jerusalem's Har Nof
neighborhood, which was named Derech Chaim after his
petiroh, a mishnayos siyum was held during
Sholosh Seudos on Shabbos Parshas Vayechi with his family and
talmidim in attendance. The siyum was conducted
by his son HaRav Dov Tzvi, the rov of the beis
medrash, who spoke emotionally about his late father,
stressing the joy of Torah he constantly felt. He also spoke
of his special hanhogos while learning. Although he
was proficient enough in the Talmud Bavli and
Yerushalmi to recite them word for word, when he
learned it was as he were seeing the words for the first
time, with all the fondness and pleasure of the initial
encounter.
The special gathering was wrapped up by HaRav Binyomin
Finkel, who had been close to HaRav Kreiswirth and told
stories of his fabulous hanhogos: gladdening the
hearts of orphans and widows, dedicating his talent and
genius to the pursuit of chesed and understanding what
the needy lacked. He also spoke about HaRav Kreiswirth's
prayers, saying he would bring forth the words like one
counting precious stones and was totally engrossed in the
siddur, totally absorbed in his labor of the heart,
like a son speaking to his father.
A halochoh shiur was given between Kabbolas Shabbos
and Ma'ariv by his son-in-law, HaRav P.
Zelivansky, rosh Kollel Kodshim, which was founded by
his father-in- law. He explained the custom of gathering on
the yahrtzeit to sit before the niftar just as
talmidim sat before him during his lifetime, reviving
his memory as if he were still alive, and then, when they
review his divrei Torah they connect to the essence of
his soul and therefore "the lips of tzaddikim speak
from the grave."
On motzei Shabbos a large Melave Malka was held at
Beis Medrash Hagodol Ahavas Chaim in Yerushalayim's Kiryat
Tzanz neighborhood, where HaRav Kreiswirth served as
nossi. A siyum of Shas learned by his
talmidim and relatives for his neshomoh was
held. The actual completion was conducted by his son. HaRav
Rabinovich spoke of HaRav Kreiswirth's love for every single
Jew, which stemmed from his love for Our Father in Heaven.
Divrei chizuk were delivered by his brother-in-law,
HaMashgiach HaRav Shlomo Wolbe, who spoke of the wretched
financial state the Torah world is now in and the constant
decrees against the holy yeshivas, ending with a prayer that
the niftar serve as a meilitz yosher Above for
the Torah and yeshiva world, just as he took care of them
during his lifetime.
HaRav Kreiswirth's mechuton, HaRav Lefkovitz, rov of
beis knesses Heichal Moshe in Bnei Brak, spoke in the
family's name saying everybody felt his closeness and concern
for each and every individual and the great hakoras
hatov felt by them and all those close to him who went in
the light he shed for years.
The closing speech was delivered by Rav Avrohom Y. Lazerson,
one of the heads of Chinuch Atzmai, who described the
deceased's concern for the poor of Jerusalem and the city's
chesed institutions. He said Jerusalem lost two great
men of chesed, HaRav Kreiswirth and his loyal
assistant R' Yechiel Michel Gutfarb.
On Sunday large crowds visited HaRav Kreiswirth's grave at
Har Hamenuchos to pray and pour out their hearts before
Borei Olom on the difficult state of affairs in
Eretz Hakodesh and to ask for salvation for Klal
Yisroel and individual Jews. HaRav Kreiswirth's son-in-
law HaRav Zelivansky spoke of the deceased's fabulous
middos and exceptional humility, which he acquired
from his father, HaRav Avrohom Yosef. He also issued a call
to follow in his path and learn from his fabulous ways and
unique hanhogos.
