A monument on the grave of Maran HaRav Yisroel Salanter,
ztk"l, will be put up in two months, at the beginning
of bein hazmanim. Preparations for this important
historic event are presently underway. It will be attended
by prominent delegations from the Torah worlds of Eretz
Yisroel, Europe and the United States.
As reported by Yated Ne'eman, the precise place of
the grave of the gaon of Torah and mussar,
Rabbenu Yisroel Salanter, was located a few weeks ago in the
cemetery in Kaliningrad, formerly Koenigsburg. Determination
of the grave's location was the result of numerous efforts,
including a search of archives throughout the world for
maps, lists of cemeteries, ancient documents, historical
photographs and aerial photographs.
The news of the discovery of the grave of HaRav Salanter,
founder of the Mussar Movement and one who brought about a
his'orerus to Torah and yir'oh in past
generations was received with much excitement by the Torah
world. Intensive efforts were launched to erect a monument
and tombstone on the site, as well as to accommodate the
masses seeking to visit the grave, but have yet to be able
to fulfill their dream.
At the request of rabbonim, roshei yeshiva and public
figures from Eretz Yisroel and abroad, it was decided to
postpone unveiling the monument and the accompanying events
until the coming Menachem Av. The aim of the event is to
revitalize the local Jewish community, corresponding to the
great vision of HaRav Yisroel Salanter. It will be attended
by marbitzei Torah and mussar, rabbonim
and public figures from the Jewish world from all over.
Upon consultation with the gedolei haTorah vehayir'oh
in Eretz Yisroel and abroad who are guiding the tireless,
dedicated planning committee, it was decided to erect the
monument on Wednesday, 12 Menachem Av. Groups will leave
Eretz Yisroel for Europe on 11 Menachem Av and will return
three days later. During that period, they will tour former
Lithuanian Torah sites destroyed during the war, as well as
the cemeteries where many of our gedolei Yisroel are
buried.
Rabbonim and public figures say that the visit is
likely to have a profound influence on local government
heads, within the framework of efforts to convince them to
help rehabilitate many desecrated, deteriorating cemeteries.
The visit will also be instrumental in reviving Jewish
communities that were severed from Yiddishkeit during
three generations of Communist regime.
A special meeting will be held in Kaliningrad during the
visit. Its purpose will be to strengthen Yiddishkeit in the
area, and it will be attended by representatives of the
Jewish communities in the region.
These arrangements are the culmination of many years of
efforts to locate the grave of the great leader. Masses of
bnei Torah have so long wanted to visit his
kever, but could not up until now.
