Nissan 5781
Telshe Yeshiva: The First Tekufa • אוזר ישראל בגבורה 1956-1964
1965-1980
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1981-2000
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1941-1955
Ferrying Torah across the Atlantic At the Broadway Central Hotel in New York in 1941, HaRav Elya Meir Bloch, zt”l, announced his plan to open a branch of the Telshe Yeshiva in the United States לך כי שלחך, Go, for you have been sent by Hashem,” proclaimed Reb Elya Meir. “I am not fleeing Europe. Rather, I have been sent by Hashem with a purpose.” These words uniquely describe the essence of Telshe Yeshiva’s founders. That sacred mission of selfless commitment to further kevod Shamayim continues to define Telshe Yeshiva to this day. As we approach the eight-decade milestone of Telshe Yeshiva’s harbotzas haTorah in America—80 years since Reb Elya Meir uttered those words—we recount the numerous Tekufos HaYeshiva, each
uniquely reflecting this mission. In this volume, as well as those to follow, we offer highlights of Telshe’s historic journey, conveyed in the words of esteemed talmidei hayeshiva who witnessed and absorbed the greatness of Telshe’s giborim firsthand. On the 7th day of Cheshvan, in 1941, Telshe Yeshiva opened its doors at the Feigenbaum home in Cleveland. HaRav Elya Meir and HaRav Mottel, zt”l, were without their families. Yet, they were armed with a vision for all time: to introduce the American youth to a new derech hachaim and expose them to authentic limud HaTorah just as it had been taught and studied back home.
"Take the Keys And Close the Yeshiva" Page 4
Strength through Love Page 6
בשליחותו מתחלה ועד סוף Page 10-11
for
A Vision Generations 1941 • 1955
Cleveland News article with rare photo of Reb Elya Meir surrounded by a group of his first Talmidim
Day and night the study goes on as if nothing has happened between here and Telshe. It is the perfect gesture of contempt by men who, after being chased halfway around the world by the Hitler scourge, say It doesn’t matter.
"We and the ancient Hebrew teachings will be here long after Hitler is gone.” That was the defiant testimony of a secular reporter in the Cleveland press, writing about the founding of Telshe in America. The message was unmistakable. The torch of Torah will remain aflame. In 1940, the Russians occupied Lithuania and began a relentless persecution campaign against Telshe Yeshiva. In Tammuz, they ordered the main building of the Yeshiva vacated. On the very last night, a mishmar in the Yeshiva continued until dawn. The following morning, as the Communist soldiers came to hurry the bochurim from the building, they read from the sefer Torah in the beis midrash of the Telshe Yeshiva for the last time. After davening, HaRav Elya Meir approached the aron kodesh to remove the sifrei Torah. The talmidei hayeshiva broke out in tears. Reb Elya Meir lifted his
hands and called out with a choked voice, “Ribbono Shel Olam, this is the third time that it has fallen to my lot to remove the sifrei Torah from the Yeshiva. Once during the lifetime of my grandfather, Reb Leizer, when a fire broke out; again, during the first World War; and now, this third time. I ask, that just as You helped me return the sefarim to the aron kodesh of the Yeshiva before, grant me once more the zechus to return the Torah to its place.”
Seen at a Yeshiva dinner, Reb Elya Meir, Reb Mottel and Reb Gifter with Rabbinic and lay leadership of Cleveland
2 | HaGevurah / The First Tekufa 1941-1955
The Rosh Yeshiva’s tefillah was answered, but not as he had meant it. Over a year later Reb Elya Meir placed the sifrei Torah into the aron kodesh in the Telshe Yeshiva—in a private home in Cleveland, Ohio. The founding of Telshe Yeshiva in America shared none of the joy that would accompany such a momentous occasion. Families, friends, and, of course, most of the fellow talmidim, stayed behind in Telz where perishing al kiddush Hashem would be their tragic fate. But what the new founding undoubtedly did define, was the gevurah and the eternity of tomorrow. With determination and tenacity, the
minyan of students and the modest faculty set out to sow the seeds of Torah in a most unnatural habitat. Undeterred, and with singular focus, they set out to rebuild what could never truly be rebuilt, and rekindle what could never be extinguished: the fire of Toras Telshe. The embodiment of this gevurah was without question the great Roshei HaYeshiva Rav Elya Meir Bloch and Rav Mottel Katz Zt”l. Despite their unimaginable personal turmoil, having left their families behind to perish in the Holocaust, They implemented the same demanding schedule of the Eastern European Yeshiva, and not allowing for American “progress” to derail the revered mesorah of Telshe.
The Aron Kodesh in the Main Bais Hamedrash upon completion in 1966
Telshe Yeshiva / Nissan 5781 | 3
"Take the KeysAnd Close the Yeshiva" Reb Elya Meir’s conviction was so unyielding that he was willing to close down the yeshiva over it. Here’s a powerful firstperson account related by Reb Shmuel Yaakov Shoenig, a”h, first published in the Jewish Observer: Shortly after the Yeshiva was founded, one of the bochurim decided that we take off a Saturday night seder and “go out” for some innocent distraction. The next day, Reb Mottel told us that there would be no shiur. Sunday night was the regular shmuess time in the Yeshiva. Reb Elya Meir gave the shmuess, and I squirmed in my seat for three hours while he gave us scathing mussar. He told us that they had no intention of opening a Yeshiva to cater to the whims of American society... He spoke of the Roshei Yeshiva they had left behind in Europe, whose “shluchim” they were; they would never agree to such a Yeshiva.... He told us that when Moshe came down from Har Sinai and saw the Golden Eigel and the people cavorting around it, he smashed the
4 | HaGevurah / The First Tekufa 1941-1955
Luchos, for the Jews were not worthy of Torah. And the Ribbono Shel Olam said to him, “yasher kochacho—More power to you for having broken them.” Whoever does not have the courage to close a yeshiva when it departs from its goals has no right to open one in the first place. It was better, he said, to destroy it now than to let it continue, for a yeshiva without a foundation would ultimately crumble on its own. At the end of the three hours he shouted at us, “Take the keys and close the Yeshiva! Tomorrow you will go home!” We were stunned. The next day we didn’t know what to do, so we followed the regular schedule and went down to the shiur room. There sat the two Roshei Yeshiva—Reb Elya Meir and Reb Mottel. Reb Elya Meir said, “If you think I didn't mean what I said last night, you’re mistaken. You can all pack up and leave for home.” We did not move. He looked around and then broke the dreadful silence. “There is only one condition under which we will let the Yeshiva stay open. If each of you will give us a tekias kaf—your hand and your solemn word that you will go no place where you have the slightest doubt we may disapprove—we will continue the Yeshiva. If not, you can all leave today.” He then turned to each of us. It took a bit of agonizing, but each of us finally gave our word—which was never broken. That was when we first began to understand “Telshe.”
The actual Ketzos, which Reb Elya Meir later gifted to one of his prominent Talmidim Reb Reuven Fischer
The Torah Will Triumph The leaders of the fledgling Yeshiva that started in the private home of Yitzchak and Sarah Feigenbaum at 985 East Boulevard in Cleveland were under no illusions about the monumental obstacles in their path, and how slim their chances for success were—b’derech hateva, that is. They knew that Hakadosh Baruch Hu, the Ozer Yisrael B’gevurah, would ensure the continuance of Torah, even in forgotten Cleveland, Ohio. In the years after WWII, Rav Gifter and Reb Elya Meir we’re in a seforim store in New York. Reb Elya Meir asked for a Ketzos Hachoshen, and the storekeeper brought out a dusty old copy telling them, “This is one of the last few Ketzos Hachoshens in America, and likely the last one ever sold. It will never be printed again; Torah learning is over.”
An ad published by the Yeshiva in 1950 requesting people to donate seforim to the Yeshiva. Torah continues!
Reb Elya Meir said nothing, and after leaving the store he turned to Rav Gifter. “The man is right. According to any historical and logical standards, Torah will not be rebuilt again. The Ketzos will not pass a printing press again. But the Torah does not follow any laws of nature. Torah comes from a higher Source and its perpetuance cannot ever be tamed in the ways other studies can. No matter how bleak things look today, the Torah is certain to rebound and once again be the pride and joy of Klal Yisrael.” These Torah giants did not only believe it; they were determined to help make it a reality, and would dedicate the rest of their lives to this higher calling.
Telshe Yeshiva / Nissan 5781 | 5
Strength
through Love
Rav Mottel walking on 105th street accompanied by Reb Yosef Meisels. Reb Elya Meir is seen behind.
The talmidim of the early days speak with awe about the revered faculty of their day. There is no doubt that they were demanding and expected the most out of their students, but their love and respect for each bochur was boundless and infectious.
A farewell party for Aryeh Stern, brother of Woli Stern. Later, Rav Gifter came and addressed the gathering with a very moving Drashah.
Woli Stern (Sao Paulo), a Talmid HaYeshiva from 1947 to 1949, got to experience this personal warmth upon his arrival in Cleveland. Phone communication was expensive in those days, and Woli had not been in direct contact with anyone from the Yeshiva in the days prior to his arrival.
of those Sedorim remain with me so vividly until today,” recalled Mr. Stern. “Reb Elya Meir conducted the Seder with utmost royalty. The Torah, accompanied by the Rosh HaYeshiva’s musical talent, continued until 4:00 in the morning.”
When he showed up, he was surprised to learn that it was Pesach bein hazmanim at Telshe Yeshiva and the bochurim had all returned home for Yom Tov. The Rosh Yeshiva Rav Elya Meir, invited the young, Woli to join him for his personal Sedorim at his home. “The memories
in their learning, he believed that they too would ultimately succeed. Shabbosim and Yomim Tovim, such as Purim, were times that we encountered Reb Elya Meir’s full persona, his beautiful voice and his great middah of simchah elevated the minds and hearts of his talmidim.
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Years later, Mr. Stern adds: Reb Elya Meir truly loved all his talmidim, including those who were perhaps not so engaged
Shlomo Slonim
(Yerushalayim), another talmid of that era, shared two stories that show how the Rosh Yeshiva aimed to mold students into mentchen with attitudes appropriate for a ben Torah. Reb Elya Meir once
rebuked us on how we ought to rise when a Rebbi enters a room. ‘Mipnei seiva takum,’ explained the Rosh Yeshiva, that while it does not say “ta’amod,” that one must stand up entirely, he must rise in a manner which actually displays kavod. It is not enough to simply twist in one’s seat. Reb Elya Meir made it clear that he was not demanding this for his own kavod, rather, he expected that the bochurim understand and appreciate this for themselves. The bochurim once complained that the bread served in the Yeshiva was not fresh. Reb Elya Meir, in his signature style, addressed this at the end of a shmuess with the following. “In a family, the mother will purchase fresh rolls for her children, while she will often eat the bread from yesterday, so that it will not go to waste.” Turning to the talmidim, Rav Elya Meir exclaimed, “Mrs. Margolis is de mama fun der Yeshiva, ob’er Mrs. Margolis ken nisht esen der broit fun tzvei hundret bochurim.” (Mrs. Margolis is the mother of the Yeshiva, but Mrs. Margolis cannot eat the bread of 200 bochurim!)
Talmidei HaYeshiva in the Yeshiva Dining Room, in the 105th Street building
ecstatic individuals. Reb Elya Meir was mesmerizing and perfect in every way. The Rosh HaYeshiva’s dress was always immaculate. He had a command presence and radiated real malchus. Reb Mottel always had a warm smile on his face and naturally drew the talmidim close to him. Of course, behind the externals, we knew our Rebbeim had suffered great losses, but their drive and powerful sense of mission concealed their pain.
Reb Yehudah Schwartz remarks: It was 1946 when I arrived in Telshe Yeshiva. We had all recently learned of the vast destruction of European Jewry. While the details were still trickling in, Rabbinic survivors of Europe were envisioned as misplaced and broken people. Yet, upon arriving in Telshe, I found the Roshei HaYeshiva to be the most fascinating and
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A Mission For Klal Yisrael
The old/new Yeshiva indeed saw great siyata diShmaya and success. Within a few short years, it counted over 150 talmidim on its rolls, most of them American boys newly introduced to the world of Telshe. The goal, of course, was not exclusively the future of these students; it was the future of American, and even global, Jewry. Under the banner of the "Vaad li'hafotzas Torah" the Rosh Yeshiva looked beyond the Yeshiva itself. Locally, the Roshei Yeshiva immediately recognized the need for a Hebrew Day School in Cleveland, and guided their Talmidim to assume roles in establishment of the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland. Reb Nochum Zev Dessler, and others assumed Chinuch and leadership positions which would result in the Chinuch of thousands of Talmidim and Talmidos. Bochurim were recruited as well to knock on doors of Cleveland parents to encourage them to avail their children a proper Jewish education. The aforementioned, Reb Yehudah Schwartz, a Telshe alumnus, vividly recalls Dr. Joseph Kaminetsky, z”l, of Torah Umesorah,
coming to Telshe Yeshiva and proclaiming, “Forty-five Jewish children in Minneapolis are waiting to enter a Hebrew Day School, yet they have no one to teach them.” The Rosh Yeshiva called in a group of Talmidim and explained that considering the situation, “We must close the Gemara” and shoulder this responsibility. They were dispatched together with Rav Chaim Tzvi Hollander, z”l, to lead the institution. “The Roshei HaYeshiva personified this sense of responsibility for the Klal and subsequently ingrained it into all of us talmidim,” Rabbi Schwartz asserts. He continues: I recall that we once had a meeting with the Jewish Federation of Minneapolis scheduled on Chol Hamoed. We were concerned—as we had not shaved for a few days—that our look might have a negative effect on the outcome. We wrote to Reb Elya Meir requesting if it might be permissible to trim. The Rosh Yeshiva replied by citing the sources for not shaving on Chol Hamoed and emphasized that our appearance represents the “glory and beauty of a ben Torah.” He concluded by quoting the Navi and said, “Alu v’hatzlichu, rise and succeed!” Indeed, we went ahead with our meeting and were most successful.
Rav Nochum Zev Dessler speaks at the new Dormitory dedication 1964.
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Torah Acadamy of Minneapolis letter addressed to Rabbi Gifter, head of the Vaad Lehafotzath Torah
Torah’s Eternal Home Lobby of 706 105th Street
The Yeshiva that began in a modest house would continue to remain a proud home of Torah and yiras Shamayim. Soon the growing student count necessitated a move to a larger facility and a suitable space was found nearby, on East 105th Street.
In the lobby of the new building, a large plaque memorialized the past Roshei HaYeshiva of Telz: HaRav Leizer Gordon, HaRav Yosef Leib Bloch, HaRav Chaim Telzer and HaRav Shimon Shkop, zt”l. Telshe, while looking forward to the future, always looked back to the forbearers who had paved the way. In fact, Reb Elya Meir almost never went through a shiur without referencing “Der Tatta,” Rav Yosef Leib, the inspiration of Mesoras Telshe. If the names on the wall could open their eyes and look around, they would surely recognize the atmosphere surrounding them. Telshe had survived, and was thriving again. Hitler was gone, but with divine gevurah, Telshe remained. The Rosh Yeshiva, was preoccupied with a myriad of responsibilities. He was a strong voice for Agudas Yisrael, and involved with numerous Klal activities. Yet his pure love and commitment
for Torah learning never waned. This passion was infused into the hearts and minds of the impressionable young students who were fortunate to call Telshe home. The following was recorded by the late Rav Chaim Dov Keller zt"l, who went on to become the Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe Chicago:
“Rav Mottel Katz and Rav Mordechai Gifter once visited Reb Elya Meir in the hospital toward the end of his life. He turned to them and said “Miyom Amdi Al Daasi – From the time that I arrived at my full senses, I never missed my kabbalah to learn at least an hour each day. There was just one exception: the day when I was wheeled into the operating room before dawn and did not regain consciousness till after the stars came out. But now I feel that to learn would be a question of pikuach nefesh. I will not permit myself to forego learning unless you pasken for me that I may.” Their psak was, of course, self understood. I realized his boundless love of Torah from my last visit with him. My final impression of my Rebbi was not of the helpless, terminally ill man I encountered. After some conversation, I mentioned an observation I had made – on a Ketzos Hachoshen. As soon as I mentioned the Ketzos, the Rosh Yeshiva underwent a remarkable change. His eyes lit up, his face evinced its old warmth, a smile crossed his face, and his voice became strong and clear – as if the old Reb Elya Meir had been revived. “ I made the same observation in one of my shiurim,” he said, before proceeding to discuss the Ketzos with a lebedigkeit which so entranced me that, to my everlasting regret, I could not concentrate on his words.” The original plaque from the lobby of 105th street. Note: The Telzer Rav and members of the Hanhala of Lita are not featured as the hope was they were still alive.
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מתחילה
יחותו ועד סוף Purim 1940’s
The legacy of Harav Elya Meir Bloch zt”l continues to manifest to this day in the harbotzas haTorah of Telshe Yeshiva, as well as in the avodas hakodesh of the thousands of Telshe talmidim across the globe. Reb Elya Meir established Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland on very firm principles, and although his physical tenure at the helm of the Yeshiva was short, Chazal teach us (צדיקים במיתתם קרויים חיים (ברכות יח. His ideals and mesorah have remained a guiding light for the Hanhalas HaYeshiva and Talmidei HaYeshiva throughout the ages.
HaRav Avrohom Chaim Levin as a bochur
The original box of iconic Telshe Chanukah Candles
10 | HaGevurah / The First Tekufa 1941-1955
Rashi (כז: )שמות וwrites with regard to Moshe and Aharon, הם בשליחותם ובצדקם מתחילה ועד סוף. Reb Elya Meir would explain that oftentimes people embark on a worthy initiative with only the most noble intentions. However, as they become increasingly involved, their pride and personal interest become their primary motivation. Moshe and Aharon, explained Reb Elya Meir, were different. They remained impartial messengers of Hashem all the way through - indeed, m’tchila v’ad sof. This thought appropriately encapsulates the life of Reb Elya Meir Bloch zt”l. Following this example, Telshe Yeshiva has always been driven by a deep sense of purpose, one with a primary focus of furthering kvod shomayim, and without ulterior motives. Each ben Yisroel was created with a purpose: to accomplish and achieve greatness, for the sake of Hashem. This fundamental element of chinuch was imparted to us by the Rosh Yeshiva zt”l and is likewise taught and conveyed to the talmidei Yeshiva of today.
ועד סוף
בשלי מתחילה Reb Elya Meir arrives in Eretz Yisroel for the Kneisia Gedola 1954 accompanied by Gershon Adler.
There are numerous hanhagos that remain sacred elements in mesoras HaYeshiva, which Reb Elya Meir cemented into the very fiber of Telshe Yeshiva. The sense of order that makes up the day in the Yeshiva; the sensitivity to an Elul Zman and the preparation it mandates; Tefilas Yom Kippur Koton prior to Chodesh Elul—with talis and tefilin, the “tzura” of tefila throughout the year; and, of course, the nusach for the Yomim Noraim. The idea that one can only achieve shleimus by thinking beyond himself, and doing l’maan Hashem for the klal, are all examples of the elements which make up the illustrious heritage of our founding Rosh Yeshiva zt”l. Chof Tamuz, the day which the kedoshei Telshe perished al kidush Hashem, was established by Reb Elya Meir as a day of zikaron and tefillah with the recitation of Selichos. More than just a Yom Hazikaron, this day also highlights the significance of mesorah, and the importance of looking back to our forebears for inspiration. As our talmidim today grow in Torah and yiras shomayim, they recognize that אלא מוחזקת ועומדת לי,לא אני תחילת הקדושה )ב:הקדושה ואלוקותו עליי מימי אבותי (רשי שמות טו Reb Elya Meir established the Yeshiva as a continuation of the mesorah of his father Harav Yosef Leib zt”l. Our roots were laid down ages ago, and today, we remain a link in the continuous mesorah of unparalleled greatness.
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