Many thousands gathered at the yahrtzeit chizuk rallies held throughout the country this past week in memory of R' Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz attempting to fill the tremendous spiritual gap left by the passing of one of the major Torah disseminators of this past generation who established cadres of talmidei chachomim and bnei Torah during seventy years of his life through extraordinary exertion.
The central rally took place in the Lederman beis medrash, headed by HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, among other distinguished Torah personalities. HaRav Nissim Karelitz said: "We all must rouse ourselves to remember what we learned and saw by him — earnestness and emes in every thing."
Some of the comments made by other gedolei Yisroel at the various gatherings:
HaRav Gershon Eidelstein: "When pain is felt over the lack of Torah, we merit special siyata deShmaya beyond the norm." HaRav Yaakov Eidelstein: "He was a model for the entire generation representing a life of Torah, and even those who did not know him would do well to study the example of his lifestyle. Due to our sins, we sadly lost him."
HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch said: "His speech, deeds and actions were motivated by the sole thought of fulfilling the will of Hashem."
The Admor of Sanz said: "I continually witnessed the glowing reception he gave to every person, the greatness of his middos and his purity and wholesomeness in chessed and yiras shomayim, aside from his asceticism, righteousness and outstanding greatness in Torah."
And his son, HaRav Moshe David Lefkowitz, said: "He indentured his entire life to serving Hashem through toil in Torah study, yiras Shomayim, and self improvement. It is our obligation at this time to strengthen ourselves to withstand all the trials and temptations threatening to infiltrate the halls of Torah."
