The large annual Lev L'Achim conference, this year billed as
the "Tenth Annual Gathering," had a dramatic impact on the
avreichim who came together from various parts of the
country.
Gedolei Yisroel, roshei yeshivos and rabbonim came
together to support the holy work of disseminating Torah,
providing yaldei Yisroel a proper Jewish education and
other outreach work. Letters of support by Maran HaRav
Eliashiv and HaRav Yehuda Lefkowitz shlita were also
read aloud during the course of the event.
While HaRav Shteinman was delivering the keynote address,
HaRav Chaim Kanievsky arrived to offer his encouragement.
HaRav Shteinman was followed by HaRav Chizkiyohu Mishkovsky,
who called on the avreichim to take to heart the duty
gedolei Yisroel placed on every individual to take
part in outreach activity in various capacities. He concluded
with an impassioned call for the public to register to set a
regular study time with returnees to Yiddishkeit.
A separate gathering for women volunteers and organizers was
held at the adjacent Armonot Chen. In addition to the first
segment of the gathering, which was dedicated to guidance,
the remainder of the conference was shown via closed-circuit
television on giant screens set up in the women's hall.
Over 1,000 women who take part in Lev L'Achim activities
filled the hall to capacity, including hundreds of women who
attend home meetings in accordance with established
guidelines, coordinators who operate the 41 Shalhevet study
centers for girls, Lev Shomeia Banos counselors, Kav Lelev
volunteers who carry out extensive outreach work by phone and
the dedicated activists working out of all Lev L'Achim
centers — in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Netanya, Rechovot,
Petach Tikva, Hadera and Haifa.
Speakers included HaRav Yitzchok Ezrachi, one of the roshei
yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir, who discussed the importance of
kiruv activity and the enormous wages guaranteed to
those who devote themselves to these efforts for the sake of
Heaven, and HaRav Uri Zohar, who screened a film showing
young Jews taking their first steps in Yiddishkeit who
eventually become full-fledged bnei Torah taking their
place in the holy yeshivas.
