Yeshivas Beis Achiezer, Toras Chaim institutions and Ashkelon
residents were privileged to receive a special visit by HaRav
Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman who came to the yeshiva to
deliver words of chizuk and blessing.
For years HaRav Shteinman has heard about the glowing
reputation the yeshiva and other institutions run by city's
chareidi community have earned. He has served as an advisor
and guide to the yeshiva staff--who consult him on a variety
of matters--as a show of appreciation for the extraordinary
harbotzas haTorah at all of the Toras Chaim
institutions in Ashkelon, which are under the direction of
the Rosh Yeshiva and the rov of the chareidi kehilloh,
HaRav Avrohom Reisman.
The yeshiva was packed from wall to wall with hundreds of
listeners who overflowed into the aisles and the adjacent
courtyard. Among the prominent figures present were HaRav
Reisman, the yeshiva's ramim, the mashgiach
HaRav Yehoshua Cohen and Ashkelon Chief Rabbi Yosef Chaim
Blau. Also present were United Torah Jewry's city council
members Rabbi Yehoshua Bochnik and Rabbi Nissim Calfon, both
of whom also serve as principals of Chinuch Atzmai
institutions in Ashkelon, and a friend of the yeshiva active
in promoting Judaism in the city, R' Alon Goren. Mayor
Shabtai Tzur also came to ask for HaRav Shteinman's
blessing.
HaRav Pinchos Cohen, a ram at the yeshiva, opened the
event with a talk about the importance of and the benefit the
talmidim could gain from a visit by one of gedolei
Yisroel.
He was followed by HaRav Reisman who expressed his excitement
over the visit, saying it would give the chareidi community
in Ashkelon an important boost by broadening the bounds of
kedushoh and yir'oh. At this point HaRav
Shteinman arrived and was met by the sound of song echoing
through the halls, adding to the kiddush sheim
Shomayim of the event.
HaRav Reisman then gave Rav Blau the honor of giving an
introduction. Citing the gemora in Makkos about
the honor of a talmid chochom, the Mara Deasro said
that only in the merit of the talmidei chachomim do we
have the Torah since they teach us and show us the way.
As HaRav Shteinman prepared to speak, a hush settled on the
hall. He began with a reference to the mishnah in
Gittin that states, "Ashkelon is to the south," which
the Tosafos interpret to mean there were no bnei Torah
in Ashkelon. However today, he continued, "I am here in
Ashkelon and I see this is an impressive place of Torah, so
even though there remains plenty to rectify and buttress in
the city, through the holy yeshiva and the bnei Torah
who radiate their Torah, be'ezras Hashem there will be
a blessed influence on the environs as well, and [the city]
will grow stronger and stronger.
"Even when lomdei Torah are in the minority one need
not despair, for when HaKodosh Boruch Hu saw that the
tzadikim were few in number he planted them in every
generation. Therefore bnei Torah should feel that on
the one hand, even though they are a minority they are enough
to grow and strengthen themselves more and more in Torah and
yiras Shomayim. On the other hand knowledge of their
minority status carries an obligation; by strengthening and
elevating themselves as individuals it also strengthens and
elevates the klal, which is another reason to
strengthen oneself in Torah and yiras Shomayim.
"In our generation, after the dreadful Holocaust in which six
million Jews were killed, Rachmono litzlan--and today
there are also many tragedies and suffering--we have nothing
left but the Torah. It is incumbent upon us to continue
strengthening ourselves, particularly since the suffering
today is both from without, at the hands of Yisroel's enemies
who rise up to destroy us, chas vesholom, and from
within, at the hands of difficult decrees the government is
about to impose on lomdei Torah and on the sector of
chareidim ledvar Hashem. Without a doubt during such
times we must increase strength and courage in learning the
holy Torah and boosting yiras Shomayim, and through
this Hashem's wrath will subside from His nation and His city
and His inheritance, and then we will merit good decrees and
all of us will merit seeing Hashem's speedy return to Tsion
and may all of us be worthy and strengthened in Torah and
yiras Shomayim in order to receive Moshiach
Tzidkeinu."
After tefillas Ma'ariv berov am the talmidim
greeted HaRav Shteinman individually, each of them receiving
his blessing and personal advice.
At the conclusion of the visit members of the local
kollel also had the privilege of receiving his
brochoh. Throughout the year the avreichim are
active partners in the city's prodigious spiritual
enterprises, learning bechavrusa with talmidim
from the yeshiva and giving shiurim to baalei
batim in all corners of the city.
