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IN-DEPTH FEATURES
Following a grueling schedule that would be difficult for a
person much younger than he, HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman
spent two full weeks on the road, mostly in the United States
but also including stops in Europe on the way home to Eretz
Yisroel, where he arrived early Friday, erev Shabbos
parshas Chayei Soroh. Wherever he went, HaRav Shteinman
spent time with the local rabbonim, mechanchim, and
regular Jews in a very successful attempt to give a boost to
Torah life.
All the stops were demonstrations of kovod haTorah, as
the ninety-year-old Torah sage was greeted with awe and
admiration for what he represents: a long life dedicated to
Torah and avodas Hashem. But this should not be taken
as minimizing the immediate benefit that young and old
enjoyed, in the personal advice and general words of
chizuk that the Rosh Yeshiva gave out so
generously.
The trip also served to strengthen the bonds between the
Torah communities of Eretz Yisroel and chutz la'aretz, worlds
that are far in space but close in spirit. The journey
certainly underlined the fact that is constantly stressed by
the gedolei hadoros, that the Jewish people is made
one primarily by its shared Torah.
By Invitation
HaRav Shteinman undertook the trip after HaRav Shmuel
Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Philadelphia, and HaRav
Aharon Feldman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in
Baltimore, paid him a visit three months ago, bearing a
letter signed by roshei yeshivos in the US asking him to come
to strengthen the Torah and yeshiva world there.
HaRav Shteinman's first stop was Lakewood, where he spent two
nights. Thousands of local residents lined the streets to
receive one of the must illustrious guests the city has ever
hosted. Estimates were that more than ten thousand greeted
the Rosh Yeshiva.
Thousands of talmidim and avreichim took part
in a reception held at the yeshiva's main beis
medrash. The rosh yeshiva, HaRav Malkiel Kotler,
delivered a brief welcome, and HaRav Shteinman gave the first
of dozens of talks he would deliver in the following two-and-
a-half weeks. He expressed his thanks to HaKodosh Boruch
Hu for the zchus to come and strengthen the Torah
world, particularly in a place like Lakewood, New Jersey,
which has built the world's largest Torah fortress.
HaRav Shteinman then held a closed-door meeting with the
yeshiva's rabbonim and roshei yeshiva in the home of
Rebbetzin Kotler, the widow of HaRav Schneur Kotler. After
the meeting HaRav Shteinman went to the home of HaRav Malkiel
Kotler, where he stayed while in Lakewood.
The next morning over one thousand participants arrived for
tefillas Shacharis berov am, after which HaRav
Shteinman served as sandak at two brisos.
Following a visit with the mashgiach HaRav Mattisyohu
Salomon, HaRav Shteinman returned to the beis medrash
where he gave a shiur and a mussar talk on
kvod Shomayim. Both the shiur and the talk were
relayed live to large screens in other halls.
After Minchah he went to a gathering of all of the
talmidim of the yeshivos ketanos. At a later
assembly for educators and the heads of the city's Torah
institutions, participants had an opportunity to ask their
questions on chinuch.
Friday morning HaRav Shteinman set out for Monsey, stopping
to visit the Admor of Square in the town of New Square in the
morning and the Admor of Vizhnitz-Monsey in the afternoon.
He spent Shabbos Lech Lecho at the home of Rabbi
Shimon Glick, one of the generation's leading backers of
Torah and pillars of tzedokoh. Hundreds of town
residents attended the Shabbos tefillos held in a
specially erected tent at the home of the Glick Family. On
Shabbos afternoon HaRav Shteinman gave a shiur on the
parsha.
On motzei Shabbos thousands of Monsey residents participated
in a chizuk gathering at the town's main hall. HaRav
Don Ungarisher, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Beis Medrash Elyon,
spoke, noting that HaRav Shteinman had the merit to be in the
presence of maranan the Brisker Rov and the Chazon
Ish, zechuson togen oleinu.
HaRav Eliyohu Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas South
Fallsburgh also spoke as did HaRav Shteinman himself, who
spoke about the obligation to strengthen Torah study by
adding hours of toil in Torah.
Madison, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Washington
On Sunday morning 9 Cheshvan, HaRav Shteinman stopped in
Madison, New Jersey to address Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef
(RJJ) on his way to Philadelphia.
As he approached Yeshivas Philadelphia, over a thousand
bochurim, avreichim and local residents were on hand
to greet him.
An enormous banner reading "Boruch shecholak meichochmoso
liyerei'ov" hung in the yeshiva courtyard and hundreds of
yeshiva students burst out in loud song. At the entrance to
the beis medrash he was received by the roshei
yeshiva, HaRav Elya Svei and HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky.
HaRav Shteinman then spoke to the yeshiva about the need to
strengthen and improve Torah and middos, saying Torah
cannot be sustained without middos tovos and he who
does not work on his middos will be unable to achieve
success in Torah study.
From Yeshivas Philadelphia, HaRav Shteinman traveled to
Baltimore, where thousands of local residents lined the
streets for a whole mile, peering from balconies and roof
tops to catch a glimpse of Kvod haTorah. As soon as
HaRav Shteinman arrived, a gathering of local rabbonim and
educators was held focusing primarily on topics related to
girls' education.
HaRav Shteinman spoke powerfully about the obligation
incumbent on the Jewish mother to fully dedicate herself to
her children's education in Torah, stressing how in past
generations Jewish mothers derived honor from staying home to
educate yaldei Yisroel in holiness and purity. The
goal of bnos Yisroel is not to be highly educated in
secular studies, he said, and even if advanced studies in a
certain area are needed, certainly one should strive to limit
them as much as possible.
During the educators' meeting thousands of Baltimore
residents streamed into the main beis medrash of
Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, which was packed from wall to wall,
with people overflowing into the adjacent rooms. The
gathering opened with a talk by HaRav Aharon Feldman, the
rosh yeshiva and a member of Moetzes Gedolei Yisroel of the
US, who spoke about how the merit of tzaddikim
sustains the world. "And we have the merit to host, at
Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, HaGaon Hagodol HaRav Yehuda Leib
Shteinman, shlita, who has totally dedicated himself
to Klal Yisroel."
Taking the podium HaRav Shteinman called on his listeners to
devote themselves to Torah alone, saying that every
bochur should avoid turning his thoughts to any other
matter, for only through dedication to Torah study can one
achieve a kinyon in Torah. Following Ma'ariv,
HaRav Shteinman retired to the Rosh Yeshiva's home for
the night.
On Monday morning, hundreds of boys bearing signs reading,
"Moshe kibeil Torah miSinai umesoroh leYehoshu viYehoshua
lezekeinim," were waiting at the gates of Talmud Torah
Shearis Hapleitoh-Kochav MiYaakov when HaRav Shteinman
arrived for a visit. Addressing the talmidim, HaRav
Shteinman spoke of their obligation as tinokos shel beis
rabbon to study Torah in purity since the world is
sustained bezechus hevel pihem.
Later he went to Baltimore's Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim (TA),
headed by HaRav Tzvi Teichman, and Beis Medrash Umesivto
DeBaltimore, headed by HaRav Shlanger.
Before heading back to New York, HaRav Shteinman visited the
growing chareidi kehilloh surrounding Washington
D.C.'s Yeshiva of Greater Washington , headed by HaRav Aharon
Shraga Lopiansky. Today the kehilloh has become quite
large, and includes many government workers who drew closer
to Yiddishkeit thanks to the Torah institutions set up in the
city.
Speaking before the talmidim and kehilloh
members, HaRav Shteinman said, "The Torah exists through
HaKadosh Boruch Hu's promise, `Shelo sishokach mipi
zar'o,' and we are witnesses to the Torah revolution in
this place through one individual who carries out the task
of, `filling the world with knowledge of Hashem.' And you,
the members of the yeshiva and of the kehilloh, are
full partners in this revolution."
New York City
From Washington, HaRav Shteinman flew to New York City, where
he visited Yeshivas Shaarei Tzion in Queens, headed by HaRav
Shmuel Elishayov, Yeshivas Shaarei Torah-Grodna, also in
Queens, headed by HaRav Zelig Epstein, and Yeshivas Telz in
Riverdale, headed by HaRav Avrohom Osband.
A large tzibbur was on hand when he arrived at the
main beis knesses in Manhattan's Washington Heights
for Ma'ariv. Addressing the kehilloh HaRav
Shteinman spoke about the importance of preserving our
forefather's heritage according to tradition, with the
knowledge that each and every tribe in Am Yisroel had
its own unique attributes.
On Tuesday a large reception was held in Boro Park, where a
special meeting of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah was conducted in
the home of the Admor of Novominsk.
Wednesday night 12 Cheshvan, a large gathering was held at
Yeshivas Torah Vodaas in Flatbush, Brooklyn, in which
hundreds of prominent Torah educators from the greater New
York area took part. The gathering was opened by HaRav
Ehrenreich, a son-in-law of HaRav Schneur Kotler, who applied
to the Rosh Yeshiva the verse from the haftorah of
Parshas Lech Lecho, "Vekovei Hashem yachalifu ko'ach,
ya'alu eiver kaneshorim, yorutzu velo yigo'u yeilchu velo
yi'ofu." He said that the visit by the Rosh Yeshiva
HaGaon Hagodol R' Aharon Leib Shteinman shlita teaches
us, "to what extent man is obligated to work for the sake of
kvod Shomayim. `Yorutzu velo yigo'u, yeilchu velo
yi'ofu.' To act and do until one's power is spent. And
this is what we must learn about increasing kovod
Shomayim."
HaRav Yosef Rosenbloom spoke about the obligation of the
educator in our generation.
Following his talk, HaRav Shteinman answered questions posed
by the educators. In his concluding words, he spoke about the
terrible danger of treif studies, including university
studies, saying that this trend must be combated. He also
spoke out against the ambition to educate youth for
"tachlis." He said, "I've met rich people. They hadn't
studied much and they did not study towards `tachlis.'
Rather they merited siyata deShmaya."
On Thursday HaRav Shteinman visited Yeshivas Passaic, headed
by HaRav Meir Stern. At first he held a long conversation in
the Rosh Yeshiva's home on matters regarding Klal Yisroel
and the responsibility to help care for the klal.
At the end of the meeting they went into the beis
medrash, where HaRav Shteinman delivered divrei
chizuk and his'orerus to the talmidim.
On Friday he visited Yeshivas Zichron Moshe in South
Fallsburgh, where he spoke with HaRav Eliyohu Ber Wachtfogel,
the rosh yeshiva, in his home. After visiting the local
cheder, HaRav Shteinman entered the yeshiva, where
HaRav Yaakov Schneidman and HaRav Abba Gorelick spoke.
He spent Shabbos parshas Vayeiro in Monsey at the home
of philanthropist R' Shimon Glick. An enormous tent with 500
seats was erected in the yard of the Glick home to allow
Monsey residents to join their illustrious guest for the
Shabbos tefillos.
On Motzei Shabbos a gathering for teachers and other
educators from Monsey and the surrounding area was attended
by hundreds of educators and maggidei shiurim.
Boro Park
An estimated 10,000 Brooklyn residents took part in a
gathering to strengthen Torah learning held in an enormous
tent erected on 18 Avenue in Boro Park on Sunday, 16
Cheshvan. In the tent were 6,000 seats not including chairs
placed in the aisles. The event was also screened at four
locations nearby.
The speeches given by the Admor of Novominsk, HaRav Shteinman
and HaRav Mattisyohu Salomon all focused on the obligation to
strengthen Torah and yiras Shomayim and to devote more
time to Torah study.
The gathering was preceded by another gathering organized by
Agudas Yisroel of America at the Brooklyn Marriot, which drew
over one hundred well-known rabbonei kehillos, who had
an opportunity to ask HaRav Shteinman various questions on
kehilloh matters. He dealt with the questions at
length and warned the rabbonim not to cooperate with any of
those who seek to uproot religion.
On Monday morning HaRav Shteinman went to tefillas
vosikin at Yeshivas Long Beach followed by a talk to the
yeshiva members. Then the hundreds of yeshiva members
accompanied HaRav Shteinman and Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Yosef
Yitzchok Feigelstock to a meeting in the Rosh Yeshiva's
home.
From there HaRav Shteinman traveled to Yeshivas Darchei Torah
in Parkway, headed by HaRav Yaakov Bender. A crowd of
thousands—the yeshiva members, their parents, alumni
and area residents — was on hand when he arrived. After
delivering a long talk he went to the airport to catch a
flight to Chicago.
Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, Cleveland
Upon his arrival he spoke to approximately 1,000
cheder boys. After tefillas Minchah berov am,
Chicago educators gathered for a question-and-answer session
with HaRav Shteinman.
That evening, at a large gathering for all of Chicago's
chareidi population, the speakers included HaRav Shteinman,
HaRav Avrohom Chaim Levine, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Telz-
Chicago, and HaRav Osher Weiss, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas
Chasam Sofer and the rov of Kehillas Tshechenov in Ramot,
Yerushalayim. The next morning HaRav Shteinman addressed the
talmidim of Yeshivas Telz-Chicago.
Afterwards he flew to Toronto, where he stayed at the home of
HaRav Shlomo Miller, rosh kollel of Kollel Toronto and
one of North America's leading poskim. A large
reception was held, followed by a gathering for educators and
another gathering for yeshiva ketanoh talmidim.
At a general gathering held at the central Agudas Yisroel
shul in Montreal, both HaRav Miller and HaRav Weiss
spoke before HaRav Shteinman took the podium.
Flying into Cleveland the next day he was received at
Yeshivas Telz-Cleveland by hundreds of bnei Torah,
many of whom traveled there from Pittsburgh and Detroit.
After delivering a talk HaRav Shteinman went to the home of
HaRav Chaim Stein, where he met at length with the yeshiva
administration to discuss matters affecting the yeshiva.
The Long Way Back to Eretz Yisroel: Paris,
Before returning to Eretz Yisroel, HaRav Shteinman stopped in
Paris for a brief visit. HaRav Yitzchok Katz, rosh yeshiva
and head of Yad Mordechai Institutions, received HaRav
Shteinman upon his arrival in the early morning and escorted
him to Yeshivas Nishmas Yisroel. Police motorcycles cleared a
lane for the entourage through the morning traffic and the
packed beis medrash waited eagerly for his arrival for
tefillas Shacharis.
Afterwards a crowd gathering in the courtyard surrounded by
the Yad Mordechai Institutions on Rue Pave — the
school, the mesivto, the yeshiva ketanoh,
Yeshivas Avi Ezri, and the yeshiva gedoloh, Yeshivas
Nishmas Yisroel — where giant screens were set up.
Welcome banners hung from the walls around Rue Pave. Small
boys waved miniature flags and bochurim greeted HaRav
Shteinman with song as he appeared.
A Jew who learns Torah anywhere, said HaRav Shteinman,
sanctifies Sheim Shomayim in a place about which Odom
Horishon decreed it would be a place where Sheim Shomayim
would be sanctified through Torah learning and acts of
chessed.
"The gemora says that Odom Horishon decreed that there
would be a place of settlement in various places and later a
settlement emerged in each place. Why did Odom Horishon care
whether or not there was a dwelling place in that location?
He knew that he would not live to see them. The answer is
that he wanted to sanctify Sheim Shomayim. Odom
Horishon had just one sin. But to repair the damage he went
around designating places of settlement in which even one
Jewish tzaddik would pray and learn Torah.
"In the Rambam it says that [the dust for] Odom Horishon's
head came from the site of the Altar and the rest of his body
came out of the entire world. Therefore, parts of Odom
Horishon came from every part of the world. Since he sinned,
and his whole body and head participated in the
transgression, he wanted to do a tikkun in all of the
places from which [the dust was taken when] he was created so
that Sheim Shomayim would be sanctified.
"There are places where a Jew passed through only once. For
example there could be a huge castle that was built but it
was never used for a holy purpose. Then a Jew came along and
benefited from its shade. It was worth building the entire
castle, for that sanctification of Sheim Shomayim by
that Jew.
"In this place in Paris, as well, Sheim Shomayim is
sanctified. There are Torah institutions and chessed
institutions. Here Jews learn Torah. There are yeshivas and a
cheder. May HaKodosh Boruch Hu help them be
blessed and sanctify Sheim Shomayim in
ruchniyus and gashmiyus."
Since HaRav Shteinman rarely visits France, rabbonim and
roshei yeshivos arrived from around the country, including
HaRav Yehuda Toledano, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Rance, HaRav
Yitzchok Levy, rosh yeshivas Epinet, HaRav Reuven Meir, rosh
yeshiva of yeshivas St. Louis, and HaRav Schlesinger of
Strasbourg. Also on hand were ramim from Yeshivas
Nishmas Yisroel HaRav Ze'ev Kokis, HaRav Yehoshua Salomon,
HaRav Efraim Sternbuch, HaRav Yitzchok Simpoliansky and the
mashgiach HaRav Aryeh Leib Shapira.
After the talk he gave a second talk to the talmidim
of the mesivto at Yeshivas Avi Ezri. Since his visit
two- and-a-half years ago, the yeshiva has grown to over 60
bochurim as Torah study spreads to Jews in the area
who were previously severed from Jewish tradition. In his
talk HaRav Shteinman encouraged parents to send their sons to
yeshiva ketanoh from the age of bar mitzvah in order
to save them from being indoctrinated by French society.
HaRav Shteinman tested the bochurim from the
yeshiva ketanoh, who are studying maseches
Kiddushin, and spoke about the importance of starting
Torah studies at a young age. "When a child reaches the age
of three his father begins to teach him in kedushoh
and taharoh. Children begin learning sefer Vayikra
since it says that the pure should come and engage in
matters of purity. Therefore even though the child is very
small and does not understand yet, one begins to teach him
about purity. The reason is that the souls of children are
pure and without sin and the foundation must be purity. One
must begin learning Torah early in life. Other matters are
nonsense. He who wants his son to learn Torah must begin to
teach his son in kedushoh and taharoh . . .
"Boruch Hashem, here the children learn in
kedushoh and taharoh. May HaKadosh Boruch
Hu help all the children learning here to grow in Torah
and yiras Shomayim. May HaKadosh Boruch Hu help
everyone—the rabbonim, the bochurim and the
children."
Parting with the children he said, "May all of you be
lomdei Torah and true servants of Hashem." According
to HaRav Yitzchok Levinstein, HaRav Shteinman said he could
see that his previous visit had borne fruit.
Geneva
Afterwards he traveled to Geneva to visit the kollel
and schools set up and managed by Rabbi Refoel Harari.
Talmidim from the yeshiva ketanoh at Aix-les-
Bains—started one year ago following HaRav Shteinman's
visit there—arrived at the kollel with their
roshei yeshiva, HaRav Yitzchok Weil and HaRav Tzvi
Chaikin.
HaRav Shteinman then took a night-flight back to Eretz
Hakodesh, landing at Ben Gurion Airport at 2:00 a.m. Friday
morning, erev Shabbos Chayei Soroh.
This wrapped up a two-week long visit in the U.S., Canada,
France and Switzerland, where he strengthened Torah and left
impressions that will not soon be forgotten by the many
thousands who participated at one point or another.
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