Thousands contributed to a kiddush Hashem through their presence at the annual Lev L'Achim conference, held Monday at Heichalei Malchut in Bnei Brak.
The enormous event drew gedolei Yisroel, dozens of roshei yeshivos and marbitzei Torah to advance the organization's outreach work and campaigns to enroll children at schools that provide a solid Torah education and at Torah-based schools.
Thousands of avreichim and bnei Torah came from all parts of the country to take part in the gathering, and gedolei Yisroel, through their presence, demonstrated the importance they attach to the organization's efforts to bring Jews back to their Father in Heaven.
Lev L'Achim directorate member Rabbi Menachem Schwartz, one of the founders of the Lev L'Achim center in Petach Tikva, opened the conference by citing the Chasam Sofer's interpretation of the verse, "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they will keep the way of the L-rd" (Bereishis 18:19). This appears to indicate that the prophecy to Avrohom was only given because he would command his descendants, which is not found in the case of any other prophet.
The Chasam Sofer explains that Avrohom Ovinu "did not really attain this level of prophecy, because he did not have free time alone with his thoughts since he was constantly busy teaching his disciples and bringing them under the wings of the Shechinoh. And because he constantly stirred himself to deal with people of limited understanding he did not have the time to be alone with his thoughts which would have allowed him to reach the level of this kind of prophecy." Therefore, writes the Chasam Sofer, "His reward will come from Me. For I will reveal to him all secrets and will not conceal anything from him."
Likewise, those who set out at the behest of gedolei Yisroel to learn with those of limited understanding and to bring them under the wing of the Shechinoh, concluded Rabbi Schwartz — going from one house to the next and jeopardizing their own spiritual progress — are promised reward from Borei Olom, Who will hide nothing from them.
Later HaRav Yitzchok Zilberstein presented answers to questions posed by outreach workers which he had discussed during Pesach with his father-in-law, Maran HaRav Eliashiv shlita, and his brother-in-law, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky.
The long lineup of speakers included HaRav Nissim Karelitz and HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman shlita, who delivered the closing address.
The other rabbonim gracing the dais were HaRav Chaim Pinchos Sheinberg, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, HaRav Shmuel Auerbach, HaRav Aharon Feldman, HaRav Gershon Edelstein, HaRav Yitzchok Scheiner, HaRav Nosson Tzvi Finkel and HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman shlita, in addition to a number of other prominent roshei yeshivos.
