On leil shishi the eighteenth of Kislev, an
extraordinary event took place in Yeshivas Heichal Hatorah,
in Har Nof, Yerushalayim with the dedication of the main
beis hamedrash in the name of the late Reb Binyomin
Schimmel z'l of London.
One of the several ideas that were repeated in the course of
the evening was that the bonds that are forged between
rebbe and talmid and among friends through
learning Torah together, remain and even grow stronger, with
passage of the years. This would account for the very special
atmosphere that prevailed among the crowds of past and
present talmidim who clearly felt that the yeshiva's
celebration was also theirs.
HaRav Simcha Kook, rav of Rechovot, led the recital of
Tehillim perek 122. Immediately followed the
unveiling, and then HaRav Kook and the many other
distinguished guests joined the rosh yeshiva, HaRav
Tzvi Kushelevsky, members of the Schimmel family and the
bochurim, avreichim and visitors in the joyous and
stormy dance that erupted spontaneously on the bridge leading
to the yeshiva, which was shaking from the force. Among the
guests were HaRav M. Y. Schlesinger, rosh yeshivas Kol
Torah, the Bostoner Rebbe HaRav Levi Yitzchok Horowitz, his
son HaRav M. Horowitz, rov of the Boston Shul, HaRav Y. M.
Karno, rav of the Mishne Ugemora Shul, and HaRav S.
Bergstein, rosh yeshivas Maor Hatorah in Har Nof.
The crowd then moved into the beis hamedrash for
ma'ariv. Among the guests who graced the top tables
were HaRav M. Chodosh, rosh yeshivas Or Elchonon,
HaRav M. M. Farbstein, rosh yeshivas Chevron Givat
Mordechai, HaRav C. Sarna, rosh yeshivas Chevron
Geulah, the mashgiach HaRav N. Kaplan, HaRav Y.
Karlinsky, rosh yeshivas Be'er Avrohom, HaRav D.
Farbstein, ram in Yeshivas Ateres Yisroel, HaRav B.
Moskowitz, rosh yeshivas Medrash Shmuel, HaRav M.
Goldstein, rosh yeshivas Shaarei Yosher, HaRav S.
Freshwater, rosh yeshivas Chayei Olom, London, HaRav
M. S. Steinmetz, rav of the Vishnitz Shul in Har Nof, HaRav
S. B. Leizerson and the staff of Heichal Hatorah's yeshivos,
both ketanoh and gedoloh.
The Rosh Yeshiva opened his remarks by quoting the gemora
(Menochos 53), which says, "Yedid (Shlomo Hamelech) the
son of Yedid (Avrohom Ovinu) should come and build Yedid (the
Beis Hamikdosh) for Yedid (Hakodosh Boruch Hu)
in the portion of Yedid (Binyomin) and let Yedidim (Yisroel)
have atonement there." He explained that the term
"Yedid" denotes a special type of relationship, where
the two parties go hand-in-hand and are constantly together
(unlike regular friendships that have their ups and downs).
It is especially applicable to the relationship between
Hakodosh Boruch Hu and Klal Yisroel that was
apparent in the Beis Hamikdosh.
The Rosh Yeshiva then explained the wonderful parallels
between all who are termed Yedid by the gemora,
showing how they are all rooted in the yearning for a
constant bond with Hashem: the builder Shlomo Hamelech, who
desired wisdom that comes directly from Hashem more than any
other blessing, his ancestor Avrohom Ovinu, who brought the
Shechinoh down into this world, the Bayis
itself, whose very essence was the Creator's love of His
nation, Hakodosh Boruch Hu, who loves Klal Yisroel
immeasurably, Binyomin, who could not bear the prospect
of not having the Mikdosh in his portion and Klal
Yisroel, who live constantly hand-in- hand, as it were,
with Hashem.
HaRav Kushelevsky then applied this statement to the
evening's celebration, showing how the very same parallels
fit the occasion. R' Chaim Schimmel is a yedid of
Torah who always has a vort on his lips. He is the son
of R' Binyomin, a yedid whose superlative love and
respect for talmidei chachomim merited his raising
entire families of yirei Shomayim. The beis
hamedrash he is dedicating in his father's name is
also a yedid, for in the absence of the Beis
Hamikdosh, the only realm where Hashem's love for His
nation is still expressed is within the daled amos of
halochoh. This beis hamedrash is also in the
portion of Yedid, in Yerushalayim ir hakodesh,
and it too, is for yedidim, for the wonderful bnei
hayeshiva, whose sole interest is to learn Torah.
Thunderous singing greeted the arrival of HaRav A. Y. L.
Steinman, who honored the gathering with his words of Torah.
HaRav Steinman described how people used to come to
Yerushalayim in order to consume their ma'aser sheni
and how they would be influenced during their prolonged stay
by the single-minded atmosphere of avodas Hashem that
prevailed there due to the presence of the Beis
Hamikdosh. Although we have no mikdosh today,
HaRav Steinman showed that even in its absence, Yerushalayim
is still called "Hashem's House" (Tehillim 122:1) and
thus, a degree of this unique atmosphere still remains.
Today, Hashem's houses are the yeshivos, he said, and the
heart of every Jew ought to be filled with joy at every
further house of Hashem that is established.
HaRav Shlomo Freshwater, one of the foremost marbitzei
Torah in London, mentioned his family's and his own
strong and longstanding connections to the Schimmel family.
He delighted the gathering with his profound elucidation of
the words of the Yesod Veshoresh Ho'avodoh (Shaar
Hacollel, perek 15).
He then spoke about R' Binyomin Schimmel, portraying some of
the wonderful traits that made him especially worthy of the
title yedid and of having a beis hamedrash
dedicated in his name.
The last speaker, R' Chaim Schimmel, stressed that while the
dedication of the beis hamedrash in his late father's
name was in principle an act of benevolence, it was most
particularly an act of Torah support. Thus, the evening's
main celebration was over the resultant strengthening of
Torah.
He cited the Rosh Yeshiva's role as the spirit and leader of
the yeshiva and he noted that the more powerful factor in his
relationship with the talmidim is his tremendous love
for them, rather than their fear of him. He then went on to
explain the suitability of the name chosen for the beis
hamedrash, Binyomin Yedid Hashem. He concluded by wishing the
Rosh Yeshiva further extensive dissemination of Torah in the
beis hamedrash.
When all the speakers had ended, there was further dancing,
with the assembled joining hands and making their way right
around the beis hamedrash. Following this, the
bochurim continued very lively and spirited singing
and dancing.
