Thousands of families of avreichim and rabbanim of the Ateres Shlomo network throughout Eretz Yisroel received a unique Ateres Shlomo pre-Yov Tov chalukah this morning.
After weeks of careful planning of the complex logistics, the Yom Tov chalukah took place at fifteen different places throughout the country. Thousands of families were recipients of this unique distribution that the yeshivah runs annually.
Each family of avreichim and rabbanim received a package that included everything a family needs for Yom Tov: a carton of meat, carton of chicken, package of soda and a box of candies and chocolate L’Kavod Yom Tov and for v’samachta b’chagecha.
The meat and chicken were from a mehudar shechitah supervised by the Rabbanim of Yeshivah Ateres Shlomo along with the kashrus of Shearis Yisroel. The chocolate and snacks were also a special run for the distribution of Yeshivah Ateres Shlomo under the supervision of the Rabbanim of the yeshivah and with the Shearis Yisroel hechsher.
The distribution took place in fifteen different areas throughout the country. During the night, more than 4500 Yom Tov packages were transferred to the distribution areas, a project that required complex planning in and of itself. Distributions took place in Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, Modiin Illit, Beitar Illit, Petach Tikvah, Achisamach, Ofakim, Elad, Telzstone and Charish. There were more than one distribution centers in somef the bigger cities.
The administration of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo and the yeshivah’s “Keren Tomchei Torah,”who spent nights and days over the last few weeks planning the distribution, expressed their satisfaction at the successful completion of the monumental chalukah for the families of avreichim and rabbanim. The operation achieved its goal of enabling the families of ameilim b’Torah to enjoy Yom Tov without worry, as befitting legyono shel Melech! In addition to the annual distribution, close to 1000 alumni of Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo in the Kiryas HaYeshivah received a special Yom Tov gift, a 1000 NIS voucher to purchase jewelry at
the Noble jewelry stores as an expression of appreciation for eishes chaver.
“They rise up against us to destroy us, Rachmana l’tzlan…Bnei Yeshivos, bnei Torah, must be mechazek themselves, and we are mechazek ourselves by learning Torah and learning Torah some more. There is nothing else.”
Maran Gaon Yisrael, Rav Dov Landau shlita delivered piercing words in the beis medrash, in the wake of the complex situation the yeshivah world finds itself in.
“Our chizuk is learning Torah. Don’t involve yourself in all the pointless goings-on … sit and learn and delve into Torah. There is nothing other than Torah. Only limud Torah and more limud Torah. This is what we have, this is the essence of our life and the essence of our existence.”
Hundreds of talmidim merited to listen to a shiur klali from Gaon Yisrael HaRav Dov Landau shlita who gave a shiur in the beis medrash in Kiryas HaYeshivah on the Yahrzeit of Maran Rosh Yeshivah HaGaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein.
At the end of second seder, Rav Dov Landau shlita was greeted by Rosh Yeshivah HaGaon HaRav Chaim Feinstein shlita, Rosh Yeshivah HaGaon HaRav Chaim Mordechai Ausband shlita, and the Mashgiach HaGaon HaTzaddik Rav Yosef Davis shlita. Due to his travels on behalf of the yeshivah, Rabbeinu Rosh HaYeshivah, HaGaon HaRav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin shlita was not able to be there. The bachurim waited excitedly in the beis medrash for the shiur.
Maran HaRav Landau shlita delivered a shiur on the sugya of dresh hamafkid. When he was finished, he gave piercing chizuk regarding the obligation that rests on each and every talmid in light of the difficult situation of the Jewish community, when the enemies of Yisrael are waiting to destroy us and Hashem saves us from their hands.
Maran shlita said, “We are in a very difficult situation. They stand up to destroy us Rachmana litzlan; they don’t want bnei yeshivos, bnei Torah. We must strengthen ourselves, and we must do so through Torah.
“They think up evil things about us and we must have bitachon in Hashem and daven to Him that everything will be okay. We don’t need to busy ourselves with all the silliness they say. We should only sit and learn and think in Torah. Learn more and more. There is nothing other than Torah. Only Torah. Only limud Torah and more limud Torah. This is what we have. This is the essence of our life and our existence.”
Maran shlita concluded his words, “I don’t need to speak at length to yeshivah talmidim who live the Torah, limud Torah, limud Torah and more limud Torah. We will strengthen ourselves in this. They aim to destroy us, but Hashem will help. He will save us from their hands and protect us. Hashem will help us and we will merit all and only good and the geulah…bimheira biyameinu.”
Later on, after the shiur, Maran shlita repeatedly mentioned that “He got a lot of geshmak and enjoyment from the shiur.” He sensed that the bachurim in the yeshivah have a special, exceptional passion for ritcha d’Oraysa.
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After the shiur, one of the talmidim presented him with a letter with a comment on the shiur. Maran shlita enjoyed the question very much and even took the trouble to write an answer to the bachur, something he rarely does.
