The renovated beis medrash of Makva, in the south of
Hungary, will be rededicated in a special ceremony next
month. It was once the beis medrash of the Ohel Moshe,
HaRav Moshe Vorhand, zt"l, and the Ateres Moshe, Rav
Moshe Nosson Lemberger zt"l. The ceremony will be
attended by Makva chassidim and former residents of the city
who, led by the current Admor of Makva, will arrive from all
over the world.
Ten years ago with the collapse of the Iron Curtain in East
Europe, Makva's Worldwide Committee began to negotiate with
the Hungarian authorities regarding returning the old Makva
beis medrash, built approximately 130 years ago, to
the Makva kehilla.
After extensive efforts of the Committee, the Hungarian
government decided to designate the shul a "preserved
historical site." In recent years, renovation and restoration
of the shul and all of its wings, has been taking
place. A gala chanukas habayis for the beis
medrash will take place on Tuesday the 17th of Sivan
(28.5.02), the Admor's yahrtzeit, to mark the
completion of this work.
The beis medrash was once a large mokom Torah
housing famous yeshiva. Based on the approach of the Chasam
Sofer to Torah study and founded by the Ohel Moshe, hundreds
of students studied there daily.
Former residents of the city and students of the Ohel Moshe
still recall the blessing he gave them prior to the outbreak
of the Holocaust. Two weeks before he parted from them, he
promised that no harm would befall whoever continued to
pursue Torah's paths in the traditional manner. His blessing
was fulfilled and most of those he blessed were saved from
the Nazis.
The dedication of the new ohel over the grave of the
Ohel Moshe, will also take place on the 17th of Sivan. The
construction of the ohel began this year, and is
expected to be completed in time for the yahrtzeit.
The new facility will benefit those who visit the grave
throughout the year.
The grave of the Ohel Moshe is known as a place of
segulah and yeshu'oh for those who visit it. In
his last will and testament, the Ohel Moshe said: "I will
surely help whoever comes to my grave and sheds tears,
expressing his desire to do teshuva. I promise that
whoever assists in the tikkun of my neshomoh,
even if he isn't my student -- how much more so if he is my
student -- won't depart from this world without doing
teshuva sheleimoh."
The worldwide committee of Makva is organizing a large and
very special trip to Hungary, as well as an exciting series
of events which will begin on the day of the yahrtzeit.
Registration is currently underway for the trip. This
registration will take place in all Makva centers in
Brooklyn, London, Antwerp and Israel.
In light of the security situation in the Middle East and
Europe, the heads of the Worldwide Committee made special
arrangements with the Police Chief of Makva, to take steps
including posting special guards at the beis medrash,
the hotel and the cemetery during all of the events, and to
safeguard all the visitors.
Special, low-priced charter flights to kivrei avos all
over Hungary have been reserved by the committee. They will
leave from the United States, Europe and Israel.
