A group of "Top Formers" (high school seniors) consisting of
S. Rotenberg, AB Orshansky, R. Warents, M. Cohen, E.
Moscovich and Y. Marks from Gateshead Mechina returned home
from Eretz Yisroel having spent the best part of a week in
both Bnei Brak and Yerushalayim.
The trip was led by Rabbi Tzodok Elzas, their rebbe, who was
joined by Reb E. Fordsham, Reb D. Schleider and Mr. Y.
Dunner.
On arrival in Bnei Brak the boys `accidentally' met Rav Amnon
Yitzchok in ma'ariv. They had the zchus to
hear a shmuess from HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz
after davening the next morning, who explained to them
how Torah is our protection. After each boy received a
personal brochoh the boys went on to visit Yeshivas
Ponovezh, where they received brochos from HaRav Gershon
Edelstein, rosh yeshivas Ponovezh and met the rest of the
Hanholoh.
Following Mincha the boys proceeded to the homes of
HaRav Chaim Kanievsky and HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman who
both gave each boy a personal brochoh.
In Yerushalayim the boys visited Yeshivas Mir and were
spellbound by the enormity of this mokom Torah. The
boys then visited HaRav Gamliel Rabinowitz who arranged for
them to be farhered on the gemora they had
learned in school by HaRav Zundel Kreuzer who was impressed
with their knowledge. Divrei chizuk and personal
brochos were heard and received from HaRav Gamliel
Rabinowitz, HaRav Yaakov Hillel, HaRav Tuvia Weiss and HaRav
Nosson Tzvi Finkel. Following this, Ma'ariv was
davened in the shul of HaRav Eliashiv in his
presence.
After Friday night davening, the boys received
brochos from the Belzer Rebbe. Later they participated
in the Belzer tisch as well as tischen of the
rebbes of Toldos Aharon and Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok.
Following Mincha led by the famous Rabbi Meir Shuster,
Seuda Shelishis and Ma'ariv at the Kosel,
Melave Malka was held in a house overlooking the Har
Habayis. Reb Boruch Chait and Reb Yissochor Berry provided
spiritual and musical entertainment in the form of a
kumzitz.
With levels of inspiration at a high, the group then spent a
few hours to be remembered for the rest of their lives at the
Kosel singing devekusdika niggunim.
The week ended with a short trip to Meron, Tzefas and
Tiveria.
Both the leaders and boys returned to England, having been
greatly inspired by the brochos received from the
Gedolim and their visits to the Mekomos
Hakedoshim.
The boys would like to use this opportunity to thank Reb
Dovid Schleider and Reb Tzodok Elzas for the endless work and
effort they put into organizing this trip.
