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The Jewish Home | APRIL 28, 2022 Around the Community

The Jewish Home | APRIL 28, 2022 Pesach at Kulanu

We had a couple of exciting weeks at Torah L’Kulanu where students engaged in various activities to help Chag Pesach come alive!

Each class participated in an “Eichad Mi Yodea” project where they associated a number with a mitzvah pertaining to Pesach. They then created their own display boards along with an explanation of their topic. Students also engaged in a pre-Pesach preparation workshop where they participated in hands-on activities to learn how to make charoset, check lettuce, and measure the appropriate shiur for matzah and marror.

Our interactive model seder was a memorable event! It included a mock demonstration of the 10 makkot, including turning water to blood and throwing frogs. Some of our students acted out scenes from a Pesach play which gave them an opportunity to feel as if they were leaving Mitzrayim.

We thank Rabbi Trump who spoke to the students about Mechirat Chametz and acted as our Shaliach to sell Kulanu’s chametz.

We look forward to many more events here in Torah L’Kulanu!

The talmidos of the Ganger Early Childhood at TAG are excitedly preparing their sefirah charts to count up to Matan Torah

SKA Marine Biology Class Visits Aquarium

By Bella Frogel

Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls’ 11th grade marine biology class is terrific! Our trip to the New York Aquarium in Coney Island on Wednesday, March 30, is one of the many reasons why Mrs. Aviva Lifshitz’s class is so special. Marine biology is a super interactive class where we go on trips, create cool projects, and perform very interesting dissections.

At the aquarium, we saw a seal show and a wide selection of other marine species. Our amazing teacher, Mrs. Lifshitz, prepared a scavenger photo hunt for us; we had to find different species and phyla which we had discussed in class. It was so interesting to walk around the aquarium and recognize the species with which we were familiar. We also discussed the human impact on our local ocean and marine organisms.

Visiting the aquarium was such a wonderful way of learning more about marine biology without being in the classroom environment.

Thanks go to Mrs. Lifshitz and Ms. Kuperstein who accompanied the students.

The Jewish Home | APRIL 28, 2022 PHOTO BY GABE SOLOMON

Rabbi Simcha Hopkovitz, rav of the Young Israel of Hewlett, with James J. Vilardi, chairman of Sanitation District #1, to whom he sold the chometz this year

HALB Partners With Creative Response to Conflict

HALB is excited to announce that through a grant with the New York State Education Department, we are partnering with the organization Creative Response to Conflict to provide training to our staff in the areas of conflict resolution and social emotional learning. In addition, we will be training our fifth grade boys and girls in the area of peer mediation.

We are hopeful that with this training we can enhance our ability to address the conflicts that arise at times between students and enhance their social emotional learning skills.

Before Pesach, Mrs Priscilla Prutzman, founder of Creative Response to Conflict and a leader in this field for the past 50 years, ran a workshop with all assistant teachers grades 1-5. She was joined in this effort by Tara Fishler, Director of Learning and Development. The assistant teachers learned new skills in conflict resolution through role playing.

Over the next few weeks, the organization will continue training and mentoring our staff. During these days of Sefirat HaOmer when we focus on the improvement of our relationships bein adam l’chaveiro, we believe that with the assistance of the professional staff at Creative Response to Conflict, we will be able to enhance the social and emotional relationships of children at HALB.

Chai Lifeline Brought “Seder in a Box” to NY Hospital Patients

Over the course of the Pesach holiday, the New York-based Chai Lifeline distributed “Seder in a Box” packages to patients being treated in hospitals around the New York area. The international children’s health organization offers a variety of programs designed for children and families coping with serious illnesses and crises.

“Pesach is a holiday that is centered heavily around the concept of family, and particularly children. For that reason, we know that it is that much more challenging and isolating for those who are forced to spend the holiday in a hospital setting,” said Rabbi Simcha Scholar, CEO of Chai Lifeline. “If children and their caregivers can’t be home for the seder, we want to bring the seder to them. Our goal is to help these families by infusing some of the holiday spirit and joy into a very difficult circumstance, and most importantly, showing them that they are not alone.”

Chai Lifeline works with medical teams and social workers in dozens of hospitals around the U.S. and the world to identify families in need and design the packages based on their specific requirements. These needs can vary from dietary restrictions in response to the child’s conditions as well as those families who have specific kosher standards. Included within the “Seder in a Box” are all the traditional elements of the meal, such as matzah, grape juice, and Haggadahs, as well as magazines, books, and games so that children and parents are able to best enjoy the holiday despite the obvious emotional and practical challenges.

Additional support to thousands of Chai Lifeline families around the country this Passover include financial aid through the Evan Levy z”l Fund to help cover holiday expenses, grocery gift cards and assistance with household chores, meals delivered to families, and holiday activities and events for the children.

One family expressed their relief saying how the additional funds from Chai Lifeline will allow them “a feeling of release from the pressing burden of the everyday struggle we face with the condition of our beloved son, who is starting a new treatment of chemotherapy.”

“Over the years, we have been blessed to hear countless reports from families who describe a Pesach seder alongside their child’s hospital bed as a deeply moving experience,” Rabbi Scholar said. “We are encouraged to do everything possible to help as many families as we can with the hope that this will in some way speed up their child’s recovery and add to their holiday joy.”

Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel selling the chometz before Pesach to Duke Waters. Rabbi Dov Bressler, Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel, Rabbi Pinchas Chatzinoff, Rabbi Shaul Chill, and Rabbi Yisroel Blumenkrantz were present at the sale

Crohn’s & Colitis ID Card Now Available

Senator Simcha Felder and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin are pleased to announce that the New York State Department of Health has finally made the Crohn’s & Colitis ID Card available on their website: https://www. health.ny.gov/diseases/crohns_colitis/. The New York State Crohn’s & Colitis ID Card was developed as a result of a law sponsored by Senator Felder and Assemblywoman Paulin which provides people with these medical conditions a simple way to verify their condition and access their legal right to a restroom facility.

“Coping with an illness is hard enough, without added indignity. I am pleased that the Department of Health has finally made this card available on their website to help thousands of people easily utilize the protections they are legally entitled to,” said Senator Felder. “This card is a common-sense way to educate business employees of their responsibilities under the Crohn’s and Colitis Fairness Act, and prevent the need to explain or argue over qualifying conditions.”

“I’m thrilled that the NYS Department of Health is now issuing Crohn’s and Colitis Identification Cards to those with these medical conditions. These new ID cards are a way to alleviate the burden on people with Crohn’s and similar ailments, and make it easier for them to exercise their legal right to use the restroom,” said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. “Those who have Crohn’s and Colitis often have limited control over their physical situation and I’m so happy that Senator Felder and I were able to pass the Crohn’s and Colitis Fairness Act and help them in this way.”

“Only a few years ago the topic of Crohn’s and Colitis was taboo, nobody talked about it and people who were diagnosed felt like they suffered alone. Today, thanks to a lot of outreach and advocacy, things have changed drastically and members of our support group number in the thousands. Everyone with Crohn’s disease faces this problem once, twice, three times a month, some almost every day,” said Yoely Drummer, Founder and Executive Director of the Jewish Crohn’s and Colitis Support Group. “When I got involved in this cause back in 2013, I often I felt that I was alone. We had Assemblywoman Paulin supporting us all along, but we were missing our support in the State Senate. Then I met Senator Felder and he offered us his full support and took the Crohn’s and Colitis fairness act to the next level by improving the enforcement. This law means that we can all have an easier life. I’m thrilled to finally share this news with our members and begin focusing on new projects to advocate for.”

Originally enacted in 2017, the Crohn’s and Colitis Fairness Act allows access to employee-only restrooms by individuals with Crohn’s, Colitis, or other similar conditions, in any business open to the public during business hours, if there are at least two employees present at the time. In practice, however, these rights have proven hard to access. Businesses were unfamiliar with the new law and employees had no way of confirming an eligible medical condition.

Senator Felder and Assemblywoman Paulin’s legislation, which was signed into law in 2021, built on the Crohn’s and Colitis Fairness Act, by requiring the Department of Health to create a printable card that a person can get a health professional to sign, stating their rights under the Crohn’s and Colitis Fairness Act.

According to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, as many as 1.6 million Americans suffer from the chronic, incurable gastro-intestinal conditions that significantly affect the health and quality of life. Conditions causing debilitating urgency to use a restroom limit the lives of otherwise capable, contributing members of society. When public restrooms are not available, providing access to employee-only facilities is a small accommodation with an outsized impact.

“This simple card will make it easier for businesses to comply with the law and help make life a little easier for people with these common gastrointestinal conditions,” concluded Senator Felder.

Before saying Birchas Ha’ilanos, the talmidim of Ateres Eitz Chaim learned the reasoning behind the fascinating bracha we say once a year in the month of Nissan on the blooming of fruit trees. Afterwards, the talmidim enjoyed a delicious BBQ and had a competitive game of football.

Rav Chaim Walkin, mashgiach ruchani of Yeshiva Ateres Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel, visiting Yeshiva Darchei Torah, where his grandsons learn. Rav Walkin is shown here with Rav Chaim Ozer Bender and his second grade talmidim

Cross River Supports American Veterans Through Partnership with Heroes to Heroes Program

Cross River Bank (“Cross River”), a technology infrastructure provider that offers embedded financial solutions, announced its support of Heroes to Heroes, a foundation that offers spiritual healing and peer support for combat veterans of all faiths and backgrounds who are suffering from the post traumatic effects of their service time. Cross River team members in both New Jersey and Jerusalem greeted and thanked American heroes as they kicked-off and landed on their trip to Israel as part of their spiritual healing journey.

“With Cross River offices in New Jersey and Jerusalem, our employees were able to interact and take part in the healing process for true American Heroes,” said Phil Goldfeder, SVP of Global Public Affairs at Cross River. “We’re thrilled to support Heroes to Heroes, an organization close to our hearts on both sides of the ocean, in this momentous initiative to provide life-saving resources that have the power to impact American veterans for the better.”

Heroes To Heroes is a non-denominational 501(c)(3) organization, providing emotional and spiritual healing, suicide prevention, and peer support for veter-

The Cross River New Jersey team joined Heroes to Heroes before their departure to Israel at Newark Liberty International Airport

ans who suffer from Moral Injury. The three-year and beyond program begins with a 12-month curriculum for emotional strength where the veterans focus on building trust and connecting with their emotions as well as their family and peers. Following this period, the next “journey” takes the veterans on a 10-day trip to Israel where they can begin to find reconnection to spirituality, forgiveness, faith and peace into their lives.

“Cross River’s support allows us to save and change lives for the better. Twelve veterans’ lives have been changed and they have chosen life,” said Judy Isaacson Elias, Founder and President, Heroes to Heroes Foundation. “This outcome not only affects the veteran, but impacts the lives of family members, friends, and the community. Successfully returning veterans to civilian life is crucial to the future of our country.”

On March 21, 2022, Cross River hosted a meet and greet and sendoff for the veterans at Newark Liberty International Airport as they embarked on their voyage. At the end of the program, before leaving Israel and returning to the United States, the Cross River team in Israel attended a dinner with the participants, fortifying the bond and support between the veterans and Cross River.

“Thank you for this tremendous journey. It has helped me be closer to God and to appreciate the things I have in my life,” said Alberto Corales Santiago, a Hero from Bronx, NY. “It has taught me to be more merciful with others and to help other veterans in any way I can.”

Heroes to Heroes offers year-round services, such as coaching and peer support. Cross River plans to increase its assistance with volunteer engagement and sponsorships of their outings to continue to build on this meaningful relationship. Cross River is known for its financial inclusion efforts, and as a pillar in the community as a resource for support. The Company has been instrumental in bridging the gap between New Jersey and Jerusalem, working with the State and local organizations to strengthen existing economic ties, cultivate further investment opportunities in New Jersey and deepen cultural ties between United States and Israel.

The new 4th Precinct Commander, Inspector Boden, meeting with Village of Lawrence Mayor Alex Edelman and Lawrence Village officials at the April 7th Board of Trustees meeting Rabbi Pesach Lerner and Rabbi Nechemya Malinowitz of Eretz Hakodesh visited Gedolei Yisrael and Roshei Yeshivos during Chol HaMoed Pesach. They are pictured here with HaGaon HaRav Berel Povarsky, Rosh Yeshivas Ponovezh and member of Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Israel

YI of Great Neck to Install New Rabbi

In August 2020, Rabbi Yaakov Lerner, the original rabbi of the Young Israel of Great Neck (“YIGN”) synagogue, retired after 45 years of leading the house of worship, building it from the original membership of six families to one exceeding 300 families. Until that point, he was the only rabbi to ever lead YIGN.

Rabbi Shmuel Ismach, the assistant rabbi of YIGN for 15 years at that juncture, took over as rabbi in August 2020 – but, since the timing coincided with the onset of the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, Rabbi Ismach’s formal installation had to be postponed until now (a delay of nearly two years).

Due to his engaging personality, the ability to connect with a multi-generational audience, a vast knowledge of scholarly texts and contemporary culture, and exceptional public speaking and pedological skills, he has endeared himself to the synagogue and larger Great Neck community during his 17year relationship with YIGN.

With the onset of Covid, he was presented with a set of challenges that most clergymen were never prepared for. He responded with creativity and innovation and played the pivotal role for keeping the YIGN community united and engaged (even remotely) beginning in March 2020 while still serving as Assistant Rabbi. Thankfully, the recent weeks have seen a return to normalcy to synagogue attendance and programming participation.

Rabbi Ismach has been enhanced and complemented by his wife, Dr. Malka Ismach, throughout his tenure. She is an accomplished child psychologist and has partnered with Rabbi Ismach in many of his initiatives.

On Sunday, May 8, 2022, YIGN will hold its 47th Annual Dinner, at the event facility of the Chabad of Great Neck in Kings Point, which will serve as the means of both honoring Rabbi Shmuel and Dr. Malka Ismach, as well as the formal installation Rabbi Ismach as the synagogue’s “Mara D’asra” (the ancient Aramaic term for congregational leader).

The well-known scholar and educator Rabbi Menachem Penner will be conducting Rabbi Ismach’s installation at the banquet.

Rabbi Penner is the Max and Marion Grill Dean of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. He is also the Dean of Men’s Undergraduate Torah Studies Program at Yeshiva University. Rabbi Penner is the Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Holliswood, Queens.

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MTA Hosts Annual Yeshiva Fellowship Shabbaton

On Shabbos HaGadol, MTA hosted its annual Yeshiva Fellowship Shabbaton at the Kartrite Resort in the Catskills.

The event began with a fun Friday afternoon, where talmidim enjoyed the resort’s many amenities, including the indoor arcade. Talmidim then spent an inspirational Shabbos with their Yeshiva Fellowship Mashgichim, filled with lots of learning sedarim to spiritually prepare for Pesach, lively minyanim, inspiring divrei Torah, and delicious seudos. The Shabbaton ended with an epic musical Melave Malka. Throughout Shabbos, talmidim continued to motivate each other to achieve higher levels of learning and spirituality.

MTA Head of School and Senior Mashgiach Rabbi Joshua Kahn has been leading a pre-Shacharis chaburah for the past three years, which was mesayem the sefer V’a’Ani Tefillah during the Shabbaton. “It was truly meaningful to culminate 3 years of learning together during the Shabbaton,” said Rabbi Kahn. “The commitment of our talmidim who have been learning with me every morning before davening is inspiring and it was really special to share our accomplishment with the entire Yeshiva Fellowship.”

The Yeshiva Fellowship program is a unique initiative that provides MTA talmidim with additional opportunities to grow in Torah and to develop both communally and individually. Talmidim benefit from the personal guidance of a dedicated Mashgiach for each cohort and also participate in special trips, programs, Shabbatons, and Melaveh Malkas. With the participation of Rav Hershel Schachter, distinguished posek and RIETS Rosh Yeshiva/Rosh Kollel, and Rav Zvi Sobolofsky, esteemed RIETS Rosh Yeshiva, Yeshiva Fellowship talmidim take advantage of MTA’s relationship with the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS) at YU. This includes following a special halacha curriculum, participating in chaburos with RIETS Roshei Yeshiva, and a weekly Night Seder.

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HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlit”a, Marvels at His Late Brother’s Life’s Work

Not long after the passing of Rav Binyamin Kamenetzky, zt”l, almost five years ago, a treasure was found. Rav Binyamin, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva of South Shore, was known for his delightful oratory that matched every one of life’s occasions with a vort on the parsha or a homiletic thought, along with the extraordinary love he had for all Yidden.

The family thought that most of his drashos were lost to the ages, but they were wrong. After his passing, they found boxes and boxes filled with notes of Torah thoughts, ideas and drashos that Rav Binyamin had jotted down either after he spoke or in preparation for a drasha.

After four years of arduous work, these handwritten drashos and chiddushim have been published by his grandson, Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky of Yeshiva of South Shore, in a magnificent two-volume set, “Chelkas Binyamin.”

Recently, Rabbi Kamenetzky brought the culmination of his efforts to his great-uncle, HaRav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlit”a, with whom he shares his namesake.

In humble fashion for which the Rosh Yeshiva is particularly known, Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shlit”a, zkan Roshei Yeshivos in America, became emotional when presented with the newly published sefer of his late older brother, Rav Binyamin Kamenetzky, zt”l.

“He had tremendous yedios,” Rav Shmuel commented, “and he had a geshmak to help Yidden.”

The young Rabbi Kamenetzky explained that Rav Shmuel, shlit”a, was beaming that now the project has come full circle.

“Right after my grandfather’s petira, I found hundreds of pages of his notes, containing chidushim and drashos on a wide array of inyanim, and was deciding if I should spend the time working on them,” he explained. “I came to speak to Rav Shmuel, shlit”a, who encouraged me to put in the effort.

“It was a long process, and a labor of love. After realizing that taking over 600 written pages of divrei Torah and transforming it into a beautiful, readable sefer was no easy feat, I invited Rabbi Shimon Szimanowitz of Machon Aleh Zayis, a well-known expert in the field of Torah publishing, to guide me and direct the project. He and his team were a tremendous resource in the editing and research involved.

“Boruch Hashem, four years, and hundreds of hours of work later, I presented Rav Shmuel the peiros of his bracha.”

Rav Shmuel marveled at the two-volume sefer, smiling as he gleaned through the 1,200 pages, pausing to read a chiddush from that week’s parsha.

He reminisced about his brother Rav Binyamin, zt”l, with whom he learned together in Vilkomir, Lithuania, and traveled by boat to Canada together with their mother, brothers, and sisters to join their father Rav Yaakov, zt”l, who had arrived in America earlier and had since become the Rav in Toronto, where he was alone. Rav Binyamin immediately traveled to Williamsburg to learn under Hagaon Rav Dovid Lebowitz, zt”l, while Rav Shmuel remained in Toronto. Eventually, they united again in yeshiva – this time in Yeshivas Ner Yisroel in Baltimore, where they both learned under Rav Yaakov’s cousin, Rav Ruderman, zt”l.

Rav Shmuel eventually left for Lakewood to learn under Rav Ahron Kotler, zt”l, and Rav Binyamin settled in East New York, shortly after his marriage to the daughter of the Ostrov Kalushiner Rebb of the Bronx, HaRov Pinchos Eliyahu Speigel, zt”l.

Rav Binyamin began his hashpa’ah on Klal Yisroel in East New York, where he served as a

rav and a rebbe in Yeshiva Toras Chaim, the prominent yeshiva led by Rav Yitzchok Schmidman, zt”l, which produced some of our generation’s gedolim such as Rav Shlomo Freifeld, zt”l, and the Novominsker Rebbe, zt”l.

In 1956, with the encouragement of his father Rav Yaakov, Rav Binyamin moved out of the comforts of the prominent Jewish community of East New York to lead a new kehilla in the remote Long Island town of Woodmere, one of the “Five Towns.” There, he founded Yeshiva of South Shore, TAG girls school, and Cong. Eitz Chaim (which became Young Israel of Woodmere) and was instrumental in the building of tens of other mosdos of Torah and tefillah during his life.

Today, the Five Towns boast thousands of frum families with an ever-growing kehilla, and Yeshiva of South Shore, the yeshiva he founded, is still bursting at the seams with over 700 talmidim. Mesivta Ateres Yaakov and Yeshiva Gedolah of the Five Towns, offshoots of his efforts, germinated from the seeds that he planted, are flourishing as well.

Over his 60 years in the Five Towns, Rav Binyamin influenced thousands of Yidden, bringing them closer to Torah, and introducing them to the mesorah of Torah and chinuch of his Rabbeim from Europe.

“He was able to influence a lot of people and be koneh them with his ehrlichkeit,” Rav Shmuel explained. Rav Binyamin, zt”l, was known for his golden heart, his warmth, and his vision – building Torah on Long Island, but during his lifetime, he hid his gadlus in yedios haTotah. Now, almost five years after his petirah, Sefer Chalkas Binyamin reveals it all.

The sefer contains divrei Torah and divrei chizuk on the parsha, moadim, and many topics including bris, bar mitzvah, and sheva brachos, mostly from his own notes. Throughout his life, Rav Binyamin darshened all over the country, canvassing shuls, yeshivos, and simchos of his talmidim and supporters of his mosdos. With wisdom and wit, and hartz, he wove chiddushim from gedolei olam with remazim and derush, and always culminating with practical divrei chizzuk tailored to his listeners.

He often quoted his rabbeim from his time in yeshiva in Europe and America, many chiddushim “m’pi hashemua,” as well as from his rabbeim in America. He was also proficient in Toras ha’chassidus, an obvious influence from his revered father-inlaw, and his great yichus leading back to the Chozeh of Lublin.

After admiring the main contents of the sefer, a warehouse of derush and machshava, Rav Shmuel turned to the back, to admire the biography section with color pictures. He glowed reminiscently as he recognized a picture of his old childhood friends from Europe.

“Ah... the London brothers!” he said. (But when saw the rare picture of his cheder class in Tzitivyan, he admitted that he did not remember the boys’ names!)

“One of the most important goals of publishing this sefer is to ensure that my zaide’s influence on Yidden will remain forever,” Rabbi Kamenetzky explained. “I believe that one who learns this sefer will be inspired and will grow – in the same way that those who knew Rav Binyamin did.”

Rav Shmuel, shlit”a, strengthened that thought. As his nephew took leave, he assured him with a smile and noted, “Yidden will be mekabel his ehrlichkeit from this sefer.”

Sefer Chelkas Binyamin will inspire you and uplift you.

It is available now at all seforim stores, and available to order at chelkas.com with free shipping.

Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky, zt”l, teaching at the Maharil Graubart Talmud Torah in Toronto. Reb Shmuel is top tow 3rd from left

The Jewish Home | APRIL 28, 2022 The Joy and Majesty That Were – Dirshu’s Everlasting Connection with Rav Chaim

HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, arriving at a Dirshu Siyum in Bnei Brak HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, attending the recent Dirshu World Siyum, 2022

By Rabbi Nachman Seltzer

Rav Chaim had been involved with Dirshu for many years. The Sar HaTorah attended quite a few of the large Dirshu gatherings like the Siyumei Hashas in 2012 and 2020, for example, where he even recited the kaddish.

But the relationship was much closer than that since there were many private Dirshu gatherings at Rav Chaim’s home – especially when they celebrated different milestones with Daf HaYomi B’Halacha, where he spoke to the charter members of the organization, gave them chizuk, and expressed in the clearest way how much he loved what Dirshu was doing for Klal Yisrael – and how he was even jealous of what Dirshu was attaining.

Saying Goodbye

As someone who has had the good fortune to be involved with the Dirshu organization under the leadership and guidance of Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, I have found myself attending and writing about numerous Dirshu events through the years. There have been many times when I was touched by things that were said by various speakers, songs that were sung, and sights that I witnessed. I have seen thousands of Yidden singing together in gigantic halls, and I have walked along the rain-soaked ground just outside the Chofetz Chaim’s kever, with a much smaller group of gedolim. Like I said, many of my interactions with Dirshu have been memorable and have stuck with me. But a key moment happened at the Dirshu Siyum on Mishnah Berurah, which took place at the Arena Stadium in Yerushalayim in 2022.

It was a memorable event for a number of reasons.

Dirshu events always are.

But this time it was memorable for something that happened and made a deep impression on me.

Sitting not far from the head table, I caught sight of a tent that had been erected near one of the exits of the hall and was waiting there patiently. I knew what that tent meant. It meant that there was a good chance that Rav Chaim Kanievsky was going to be attending this event and would be brought over to the head table within the safety of that tent. Being that Rav Chaim was already very elderly (this event would end up being his final public appearance), it was unclear until the last moment whether he would actually attend.

But then, in the middle of the event, suddenly we understood that Rav Chaim had arrived and was being brought into the hall. The fact that he had chosen to make the incredible effort to come that night makes sense, especially when you remember the quote that his talmid, Rav Mann, related from Rav Chaim with regard to Dirshu. Rav Mann said in Rav Chaim’s name, “Tell Dirshu that I am jealous of their zechusim. Ashreichem V’Ashrei Chelkechem – fortunate are you and fortunate is your lot!”

Since this is what Rav Chaim felt, it made sense that he was there on that great night.

I have never seen a crowd react the way that crowd reacted when Rav Chaim appeared at the head table. There was a sense that history was being made as the Gadol HaDor and Sar HaTorah was brought into the hall. Every person in that gigantic hall was on their feet. The music began to play and it was beautiful, but the singing from the mouths of every person in the hall was way more beautiful. A sense of electricity coursed through my body as I watched the events unfolding and saw the veneration and admiration – more than that – the absolute love which all these beautiful Yidden felt for Rav Chaim. At that moment, it seemed as if the very roof of the Arena was about to go flying off into the night, such was the level of excitement and enthusiasm.

Like I stated earlier – I have been at numerous Dirshu events, but Rav Chaim’s entrance at that siyum was something I will never forget, for it taught me in the realest sense who Klal Yisrael values and what we all aspire to be. In my mind, it was an example of Kavod HaTorah at its finest.

Interestingly enough, the siyum turned out to be Rav Chaim’s final public appearance. Rav Chaim was very weak in the days and weeks prior to the event. Boruch Hashem, at the last second, he was able to make it, and he sat there at the head table, with a pamphlet containing a section of the Mishnah Berurah on his lap. For the most part, Rav Chaim kept his eyes on the page in front of him.

At the same time, during the moments when he sat there, those around him saw him do something which he had rarely done before and which was somewhat surprising. From time to time, they saw him look up and focus on the crowd which filled the gigantic stadium. In the past, Rav Chaim never did this at any of the other Dirshu events. He never looked around him and he never really paid attention to the crowd. He was always focused on his learning and his machshavos. But on that night and during that final siyum, he did look around. Not once, but a number of times. And not only did he look at the direct view of whomever was sitting directly in front of him, he even moved his head so as to take in the panoramic view.

And because this was so unusual for Rav Chaim, it made a real impression. The fact that Dirshu was zocheh to host the Sar HaTorah at that event would end up meaning much, much more for everyone there within a very short time, since he passed away on Purim, so soon after the siyum.

During the shiva, Rav Dovid went to be menachem avel the family, and while sitting with one of Rav Chaim’s sons, he mentioned that the Dirshu siyum was his last public appearance.

Rav Chaim’s son then made a fascinating observation.

“My father said goodbye to Klal Yisrael at the siyum.”

Those words struck a chord and resonated in the most authentic way, because that’s exactly what he was doing – looking at the crowd of Bnei Torah again and again – an action he had never done in the past. He was in the sefer and back to the crowd, back to the sefer and back to the crowd. At the time, it had seemed

to be out of character, but the moment Rav Chaim’s son made his comment, it was obvious that his words were emes and that his father really had been saying farewell to the people that he loved so much, with a series of loving looks. While Rav Chaim’s eyes had been closed a lot of the time in the last period of his life, at that moment they were completely open. One couldn’t help but feel that the neshamos of Klal Yisrael and their Gadol HaDor were completely intertwined, which was why the feeling of electricity that swept through the hall was so very powerful. It was stemming from the fact that both were saying goodbye to one another – the people who had waited for hours outside the famous address on Rashbam Street in the heart of Bnei Brak, and the elderly Rav Chaim, who had welcomed them into his home and life with such love – as he provided them with hope and blessing for so many decades.

That could explain why the singing was so strong and the feelings were so much more powerful than they normally were. Because even though none of the people there knew that it was the last time, their souls knew and that knowledge transcended the physical world and took everyone in the hall to a different and higher place. Ah, heiliger Rav Chaim, heiliger Rav Chaim….

And so, while with certain tzaddikim it’s about what they say to you and what you say to them, it was not that way with Rav Chaim Kanievsky. Here it was about Klal Yisrael’s neshamos connecting with his on a subconscious level and being able to receive hadracha from him, so many times, on that level.

And there is no question that everyone will remember the way it was and that the memory of that apartment and staircase and bridge near the Lederman shul will remain fresh in our minds. Most of all, we will recall the sight of an elderly Yid with a sefer in his hands and the entire Torah in his mind – who gave of himself completely to Hashem and at the same time made himself available to his people like a father to his sons.

For the fact is, Rav Chaim was ours and we were his.

MTA Takes First Place at YU Hack-A-Thon

MTA seniors Noam Ben Simon, Raphi Spoerri, Tani Glaser, and Eitan Brown and sophomore Pinchas Rosenfeld won first place at the Yeshiva University Hack-A-Thon.

The event began on Sunday, April 10 and lasted through the night, with project presentations taking place on Monday morning, April 11. The theme of the event was healthcare. The MTA team created an innovative machine that uses a camera to detect where a patient’s thickest vein is located and then inserts an IV in that vein.

MTA is proud of its team, which was the only high school team at the event and competed against college students. The team is grateful to faculty advisor and MTA alum Benjamin Jacob for his guidance and support.

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