The 29th European Yarchei Kalloh concluded in the English
seaside resort of Bournemouth in an atmosphere of sadness,
yet exhilaration.
"Sadness" because a full week of yeshiva learning had come
to a conclusion, and "exhilaration" because such a rare
level of limud haTorah had been reached, yet come to
an end.
As HaRav Chaim Peretz Berman, one of the outstanding
maggidei shiur, said to this writer: "I have seen
many yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel, but never one with such a
level of hasmodoh and longing to shtieg in
limud haTorah and yiras Shomayim [as we saw
here]."
A ba'al habos from London said to me: "It was
reminiscent of my best times in Yeshivas Ponevezh."
The Yarchei Kalloh was attended by some 250 ba'alei
battim from all over Europe. England supplied the
largest contingent. The renowned HaRav Berel Povarski of
Ponevezh served as rosh yeshiva, setting the tone of the
seder halimud throughout eight days of concentrated
learning. Through his own shiurim and daily
shmuessen, he continuously stressed the concept that
Torah study is the "be all and end all" of a true ben
Torah.
Daily shiurim were given by HaRav Boruch Pines and
HaRav Chaim Peretz Berman, both from Bnei Brak; a halocho
shiur by Rav Dovid Heller from Lugano (now New York) and
Rav Simcha Bamberger, who gave the daily Daf Yomi
shiur.
Addresses were also given by Dayan Dovid Grynhaus of the
Kedassia Rabbinate in London and Rabbi Ellinson, rav of Ohel
Torah in Manchester.
Separate shiurim for women were given by Rabbi
Pessach Eliyahu Falk of Gateshead as well as other esteemed
rabbonim.
Several speakers paid special tribute to Mr. Alex Lowenstein
of Zurich, founder of the European Yarchei Kalloh 29 years
ago. Rav Povarski also paid special tribute to the memory of
Mrs. Masha Lowenstein, o"h, who was active in the
technical aspects of this Torah venture in its nascent
stages.
Special tribute was paid by Rav Povarski and other speakers
to the organizers of the Yarchei Kalloh, Mr. Michael
Lobenstein and Mr. Jacob Schonberg. Ever since the Yarchei
Kalloh moved from Switzerland to England, they have handled
all the necessary preparations, insuring its tremendous
success, he noted.
