Tens of thousands of Jews in Eretz Yisroel and abroad marked
the third anniversary on Sunday of the histalkus of
Maran HaRosh Hayeshiva HaRav Elozor Menachem Man Shach,
zechuso yogen oleinu, author of Avi Ezri.
Throughout the day and night thousands of men and women, led
by gedolei Yisroel and HaRav Shach's talmidim,
streamed in to pray at the holy ohel in Bnei Brak,
pouring out supplications and entreaties in the merit of
Maran, who promised to serve as a faithful advocate, as his
holy will reads: "Ve'im yihiyeh beyodi la'asos ulehamlitz
letovoseichem, e'eseh bli neder."
Members of the special Degel HaTorah committee led by Rabbi
Mordechai Blau coordinated all of the arrangements to
accommodate the visitors to the ohel and to preserve
standards of modesty for the thousands of people who streamed
in during all hours of the night and day. Through the efforts
of Degel HaTorah representatives lighting was installed at
the grave site for the benefit of visitors year-round. Degel
HaTorah General Secretary MK Moshe Gafni arrived at the grave
site in the course of the day to personally see to the
arrangements for tefilloh and to suggest improvements
for the benefit of the thousands of visitors. Special
drinking stations were set up by Vishnitz chessed
organization, Lehashkos Tzmei'ei Chassidecho.
At noon a special shiur on HaRav Shach's teachings was
given at Heichal Yeshivas Rashbi by Rabbenu's son-in-law,
HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman. At 2:00 p.m. thousands gathered for
a memorial ceremony and mass tefilloh at the
ohel, including the family members and thousands of
yeshiva students who arrived from all parts of the country on
organized bus rides between the sedorim, and
coordinated by Degel HaTorah. Thousands stood and poured out
supplications for Klal Yisroel and for individuals in
need of refuoh and yeshuo in the merit of
Rabbenu.
Following the recitation of Keil Molei Rachamim for
the soul of Rabbenu Elozor Menachem Man ben Ezriel, HaRav
Bergman ylct"a delivered a moving hesped, just
as he does every year.
Thousands took part Sunday night in memorial ceremonies in
chareidi areas around the country. At Torah halls and
educational institutions everywhere shiurim, mussar
talks, memorial tributes and divrei chizuk were
delivered in honor of and for the illui nishmas of
Maran, who built up and helped maintain the Torah world for
decades.
Anecdotes about Rabbenu were recounted at all talmudei
Torah, schools, seminaries and kindergartens. In Modi'in
Illit a large gathering held in memory of Maran was attended
by moro de'asra HaRav Meir Kessler and thousands of
boys from the city's talmudei Torah, who watched a
special audio-visual presentation called, "Machshovoh
Achas Shel Mussar," on Rabbenu's life.
Gatherings, memorial ceremonies and siyumim were held
in Bnei Brak, Jerusalem, Elad, Kiryat Sefer, Netivot, Yavneh,
Rechasim and other locations. In Paris a large gathering was
held in the 16th Arrondissement. In London a special
shiur was given by HaRav Aharon Dovid Dunner and in
Lakewood, New Jersey the roshei yeshiva of Yeshivas Lakewood
spoke at a memorial event.
