Beis Knesses Makor Chaim in Sao Paulo was filled to capacity
when about 2,000 of the city's chareidi residents turned out
to receive HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman. Two rows of talmud
Torah talmidim decked out in white shirts kept singing
and singing — Vechol asher ya'aseh yatzliach,
Ashrei mi she'amolo baTorah and Yomim al yemei
melech tosif — until the rov of the kehilloh
began to speak.
The audience had its eyes glued on the mizrach when
HaRav Shteinman began to speak, with an interpreter providing
simultaneous translation. After his talk they approached one
by one to greet the Rosh Yeshiva and receive a
brochoh.
In the evening a gathering of local rabbonim and select
avreichim involved in kiruv work was held in
the home of HaRav Yitzchok Dishi, mara de'asra of
Mekor Chaim. During the course of the meeting committees were
formed to strengthen Jewish education, Shabbos, kashrus and
family purity in the local community. HaRav Shteinman
delineated the goals of each of the committees but in a
detailed address to the rabbonim of the city he stressed that
while all of the activities to buttress the walls of
observance and outreach are important, "only setting up
places of Torah and bringing in Torah study be'iyun
will save the kehilloh from the dangers of the period
and the environs. Torah learning bebekius is not
enough. Only Torah study be'iyun will bring the
members of the community to enjoy Torah, will strengthen
spirituality and religious life and will reach out to those
far away [from Jewish tradition."
The next morning tefillas vosikin was held at Beis
Knesses Abir Yaakov, located in the Beis Chinuch School and
led by the Chief Rabbi of Sao Paolo, HaRav Eliyohu Valt.
After the tefilloh and an introduction by HaRav Valt,
HaRav Shteinman addressed the many local residents who had
arrived to take part in the tefilloh.
On his way to the airport the Rosh Yeshiva visited the local
yeshiva gedoloh, where dozens of bochurim
study. He also paid a visit to Kollel Binyan Olom headed by
HaRav Yeshayohu Leib Neuman, where the avreichim spend
the evening hours giving shiurim and doing outreach
work. Despite his tight schedule, HaRav Shteinman addressed
the kollel briefly and engaged them in pilpul
on the sugyo they were studying.
He also visited Yeshivas Ohr Torah, a Chassidic yeshiva
headed by the av beis din of Sao Paolo, HaRav Meir
Avrohom Ilovitz. Following a short speech the members of the
yeshiva escorted him on his way singing, Zechus ovos yogen
oleinu. Afterwards he visited the beis medrash of
the Admor of Ratzpert.
Dozens of Sao Paolo residents, headed by HaRav Valt and HaRav
Dishi, accompanied HaRav Shteinman to the airport terminal.
R' Eliahu Majtlis told Yated that HaRav Shteinman left
in his wake a very profound feeling of ahavas Yisroel
and an appreciation of the importance of Torah
learning.
A 16-hour flight brought the Rosh Yeshiva back to Eretz
Yisroel, where a delegation of roshei yeshivos, rabbonim and
public figures greeted him on the tarmac. Crowds also
gathered at the entrance to Bnei Brak and beside his home to
receive the Rosh Yeshiva upon his safe return home Friday
morning at the end of his two-week tour of North and South
America.
