The annual Yarchei Kallah for Agudas Yisroel of America held
at the Renaissance Hotel in Jerusalem ended last week with
the 200 participants joining in a round of "Leshonoh
habo'oh biYerushalayim."
Each day began with a Daf Yomi shiur at 6:30 am given
by alternating maggidei shiur, including HaRav Naftoli
Prizant, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Toras Olom in Beit Shemesh
and a Daf Yomi maggid shiur at Tiferes Menachem of
Boyan, and HaRav Naftoli Gefen, a maggid shiur at
Yeshivas Kamenetz. All of the shiurim were held in a
large hall converted into a beis knesses/beis
medrash.
Daily halochoh shiurim were given by HaRav Yitzchok
Zilberstein, rosh kollel of Kollel Beis Dovid in Holon and
rov of Ramat Elchonon in Bnei Brak, HaRav Osher Weiss, av
beis din of Kiryat Tshechnov in Jerusalem and rosh
yeshiva of Yeshivas Chug Chasam Sofer, HaRav Mordechai Shlomo
Steinmetz, a dayan and moreh tzedek in Kiryat
Vishnitz in Jerusalem's Har Nof neighborhood, HaRav Yitzchok
Berkowitz, rosh kollel of Kollel Linas Hatzedek, and
others.
Late in the morning the participants spent two hours learning
bechavrusa to prepare for the iyun shiur given
alternatively by HaRav Michel Zilber, rosh yeshiva of
Yeshivas Zevhil in Jerusalem, HaRav Boruch Dov Povarsky, one
of the roshei yeshivas of Yeshivas Ponovezh, and others.
Several chizuk talks were given by various rabbonim
and admorim, including the Admor of Tzanz, who noted the
participants' readiness to leave their business affairs aside
and leave home for a week to learn Torah in the holy city of
Jerusalem.
The Russian school Shema Yisroel hosted a luncheon at which
speakers included Rabbi Abba Dunner, director of the
Conference of European Rabbis, HaRav Pinchos Goldschmidt, the
rov of Moscow, and HaRav Yaakov Bleich, the rov of the
Ukraine. The chairman was R' Shlomo Nachman Mandel, the
director of the Canada Foundation. Among the guests were 24
rabbonim from Russia visiting Israel to take part in a
conference of rabbonim from the former Soviet Union.
At a dinner organized by Kollel America, speakers included
HaRav Gamliel Rabinowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Shaar
Hashomayim, and HaRav Zundel Kreuzer.
Another dinner was hosted by Shuvu after the Yarchei Kallah
participants took part at the chuppah and seudas
mitzvoh of Shuvu student Aharon Osdachok. The
chasunah was scheduled to take place at one of the
Shuvu institutions, but at the request of the Yarchei Kallah
guests it was held at the Renaissance Hotel instead to allow
them to take part in the simchah as well. It turned
out to be a truly joyous event with hundreds of guests from
the US dancing with the chosson and his delighted
family members.
The final dinner of the Yarchei Kallah was hosted by Agudas
Yisroel of America. During the course of the evening talks
were given by Rabbi Yehuda Meir Abramowitz, chairman of the
World Executive Committee, MK Rabbi Meir Porush, MK Rabbi
Yisroel Eichler, Rabbi Yonoson Rosenbloom, director of Am
Echad, and Rabbi Mordechai Green, director of Betzedek.
The closing speaker was HaRav Yaakov Hillel, rosh yeshiva of
Yeshivas Ahavat Sholom in Jerusalem. Concluding remarks were
offered by Yarchei Kallah Chairmen Rabbi Shlomo Gottesman and
Rabbi Gedaliah Weinberger. Parting words were then given by
Rabbi Shmuel Bloom, executive vice president of Agudas
Yisroel of America.
All of the Yarchei Kallah participants noted the fine work
the administration of Agudas Yisroel of America and its Torah
Projects Committee put into preparing the Yarchei Kallah, as
well as the excellent help and care on the part of the
Renaissance Hotel staff.
