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17 Cheshvan 5763 - October 23, 2002 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
One Year Since Histalkus Maran HaRav Shach
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Monday, the night of 16 Cheshvan, all of Beis Yisroel marked one year since the loss of Maran HaRosh Yeshiva HaRav Elozor Menachem Mann Shach, zt'l, and yesterday thousands arrived from around the country to visit his gravesite at the Bnei Brak Cemetery, pouring out prayers and supplications for personal salvation and for Klal Yisroel based on the pledge in his will, "If I am able to advocate on your behalf I will do so, bli neder."

Calls were issued to the public to pray for rachamim for Jews in Eretz Yisroel where Jewish blood is being spilled like water. Since HaRav Shach's histalkus there have been great problems in ruchniyus and gashmiyus, and tragedies have befallen many families.

Thousands began to arrive at the gravesite already on Monday night while gatherings were held at various heichalei Torah and kehillos kedoshos (see sidebar) in his holy memory, including shiurei Torah, sichos mussar, Mishnayos learning and the recital of Tehillim. Numerous masechtos and entire sedorim of Mishnayos and Gemora that thousands of avreichim across the country have been learning throughout the year are currently being completed and the twelfth monthly Shas cycle is scheduled for completion on motzei Shabbos.

Degel HaTorah's Vaad Hachonoh took the initiative to handle all of the logistic matters involved in accommodating the thousands of visitors to HaRav Shach's gravesite on Tuesday. Part of the cemetery was fenced in and arrangements were made to ensure total separation from the cemetery entrance all the way to the gravesite. In addition special candlelighting stands were provided for both men and women. ZAKA set up powerful floodlights Monday and Tuesday nights. A special overhead awning has been installed over the gravesite and will remain in place throughout the year.

At thousands of talmudei Torah, seminaries, schools and kindergartens in Israel and abroad stories of the Rosh Yeshiva's life were recounted at special school gatherings and memorial ceremonies, along with shiurim and special study programs and projects--some of which began days ago.

At Chinuch Atzmai educational institutions throughout Israel talmidim learned mishnayos and girls recited Tehillim for the neshomoh of HaRav Shach, and principals and educators delivered talks in memory of the great departed figure whose fabulous chochmoh and sublime hanhogos for decades shone light on the educational institutions of Torah Jewry in Israel.

Specially arranged bus transports brought talmidim from around the country to the gravesite, where a mass tefilloh and the main azkoroh, with the family in attendance, was to be held in the afternoon. Degel HaTorah provided free buses from various parts of Bnei Brak to the cemetery.

A hachnosas sefer Torah ceremony was also to be held Tuesday night. According to the program, the writing was to be completed at HaRav Shach's home on Ravad Street and a procession to accompany the sefer Torah, written for his neshomoh, to Yeshivas Rashbi at the corner of HaShlah and Or HaChaim Streets.

 

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