The memory of Rabbi Irving M. Bunim z'l, was
perpetuated at a ceremony at Talmud Torah Nesivos Shlomo in
Yerushalayim's Har Nof neighborhood, in the presence of
gedolei Torah, rabbonim, heads of Chinuch Atzmai and
communal leaders. Members of the Bunim family, who flew in
specially from America, were also present.
The event was held in the entrance plaza of the beautiful
Talmud Torah building, which is named after HaRav Shlomo
Zalman Auerbach zt'l. Hundreds of the school's
students were present with their teachers, as well as a large
crowd of visitors. The Talmud Torah's principal, Rabbi Akiva
Gottleib, noted Rabbi Bunim's tremendous contribution towards
laying the foundations of Chinuch Atzmai. He also stressed
the importance of the school's work in providing an authentic
Jewish education, inculcating both love of Torah and of
practicing kindness, which has led many of its alumni to
serve as disseminators of Torah and yiras Shomayim.
Rabbi Avraham Yosef Leizerson, one of the heads of Chinuch
Atzmai, spoke on behalf of the organization. To begin with,
he noted that in perpetuating the memory of this great man,
Chinuch Atzmai is discharging a debt of gratitude to one of
American Jewry's outstanding figures. Over fifty years ago,
Rabbi Bunim responded eagerly to the call of the gedolei
Torah and put himself at the service of HaRav Aharon
Kotler zt'l, in setting this great educational project
to ensure that Torah was not forgotten, solidly onto its
feet.
He also praised Rabbi Bunim's son, Amos Bunim and grandson,
Rabbi Shimon Glick, who were in attendance, who follow in
their forbear's footsteps and continue his activities on
behalf of multitudes of Jewish children, in the merit of
whose Torah the world exists.
In his remarks, Rav Shlomo Lorincz, who worked together with
Rabbi Bunim in America to raise funds to enable Chinuch
Atzmai to survive, reminisced about the broad scope of his
colleague's activity, in which context he acted as a faithful
emissary of the gedolei Torah in America. He noted the
major role that Rabbi Bunim played in the spiritual
transformation of American Jewry.
HaRav Shmuel Auerbach began by mentioning what a merit he
considers it to encourage the Talmud Torah that bears the
name of his great father and stressed the great merit of the
family of Rabbi I. Bunim. He ended by extending his blessing
to the pupils, Klal Yisroel's future, to develop into sources
of pride to all.
Rabbi A.Y. Leizerson then read out a letter of greeting from
HaRav Michel Y. Lefkowitz.
"To his honor, my esteemed friend Rabbi Amos Bunim, and his
exalted family,
"Since I am unable to participate personally in this event,
which is being held to honor the memory of a man of virtue
and an old personal friend, who was devoted to my family
since the time we lived in the town of Volozhin, your dear
and honored father, who was outstanding in his deeds and his
fine character and esteemed with a good name, Rabbi Yitzchok
Meir Bunim z'l, I would like this message to serve as
my participation with you.
"How fitting it is to perpetuate this virtuous man's name in
Hashem's house, in a place where our holy Torah is studied in
holiness and purity by young pupils who have not yet known
sin, where future generations are educated are raised to
follow our Torah and heritage, which is our hope and our
future. He was one of the select few in our generation who,
with his recognition of the truth, clung to Torah and its
sages, the great scholars of the time zy'a. With great
dedication he was extremely active on behalf of the
institutions providing a pure Torah education in our Holy
Land and in establishing Torah in Klal Yisroel by
opening Torah centers in America. His memory endures as a
blessing in the tents of Shem, through the fiery love of
Torah that burned within his heart. It is fitting that his
name be perpetuated as a remembrance and a blessing.
"I extend my heartfelt blessing to his honor my friend R'
Amos, to his son-in-law, my friend R' Shimon Glick and to all
the members of the family, who follow in the holy footsteps
of their dear parents z'l, with strength and splendor,
with sense and wisdom. May Hashem be with you and may you
merit long lives and good years, in fine health, joy and
pleasure. May you always see abundant blessing and success in
all your pursuits.
"My blessing to the distinguished rabbonim, the heads and
directors of the Talmud Torah and to all the teachers who are
occupied with holy work is that Hashem accompany them and
bless their efforts with glorious results. May they educate
generations of talmidei chachamim who fear Hashem and are
outstanding in fine character, to honor you and all Beis
Yisroel."
HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshivas Slobodka, added his
blessings by expressing gratitude on behalf of the Torah
world and the American yeshivos in earlier times to this
great man, who was the principle address for matters
pertaining to the building of Torah and Jewish education and
for every holy project in materialistic America. Gratitude is
also due for his great contribution to ensuring the survival
of Chinuch Atzmai in the Holy Land.
Rabbi Meir Luria, one of the heads of Chinuch Atzmai,
expressed his organizations thanks to and its esteem for the
Bunim family, emphasizing the warm support extended by the
family towards the organizations survival during the recent
difficult period.
The closing address was delivered by Rabbi Amos Bunim, who
emotionally described his father's character and his standing
as confidante of maran, HaRav Aharon Kotler zt'l, to
whose calls he always responded, fulfilling every mission
that was entrusted to him. He also thanked the members of his
family and the heads of Chinuch Atzmai who found it fitting
to perpetuate his father's name in connection with the Talmud
Torah.
After the speeches Rabbi Bunim removed the screen from the
commemorative plaque, in the presence of the large crowd, as
they listened to the good wishes delivered by Rabbi Tzvi
Horowitz, spiritual supervisor of the Talmud Torah.
