By Yechiel Sever
US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, accompanied by ranking embassy officials, visited the hallowed halls of Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem this week, sanctifying Sheim Shomayim.
The delegation was met at the main entrance to the yeshiva by the mashgiach, HaRav Aharon Chadash and the roshei yeshiva, HaRav Nachman Leibowitz and HaRav Binyomin Carlebach, who accompanied the ambassador throughout his tour of the holy yeshiva.
The ambassador and his entourage, accompanied by various rabbonim, were shown the botei medrash of the world's largest yeshiva, the main building and other yeshiva buildings, Beit Shalom and Beit Yeshayoh, which were brimming with thousands of bochurim and avreichim.
The students carried on with their intense studies without allowing themselves to be distracted by the VIP presence. At one point, when the ambassador sat beside a group of bochurim and inquired about the subject matter, they replied with a full explanation of the sugya they were engaged in.
Following the tour the delegation paid a visit to the rosh yeshiva, HaRav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel. The ambassador said he was deeply impressed to see thousands of students delving into Torah study and upholding the Jewish tradition passed down through the generations.
