Videos, Photos: 15,000 Gather for 50th Yahrtzeit Azkarah for Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l

[Videos and photos below.] Lakewood, NJ – A crowd of some 15,000 people gathered yesterday in Lakewood for the culmination of a weekend of events that were part of a 50^th Yahrtzeit Commemoration arranged by Beth Medrash Govoha to mark a half-century of Torah growth since the petirah of Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l, founding rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha.

The azkarah began on Thursday with a yahrtzeit program and continued over Shabbos, Parshas Toldos, with a Shabbos of Chizuk. On Motzoei Shabbos, a Siyum Hashas and melava malka were held at the yeshiva.

Yesterday, the main yahrtzeit program was held at Seventh Street and Private Way, at the former site of Bais Eliyahu.

First, a private brunch was held for major supporters of the yeshiva in the Israel Henry Beren Hall dining room. A new board of governors was installed, and guests heard from Rav Malkiel Kotler, Rav Yisroel Neuman, Rabbi Aaron Kotler, Mr. Shimmy Glick, Mr. Elli Kleinman and Mr. Howard Tzvi Friedman.

Minchah, led by R’ Eddie Betesh, began at 12:45 p.m., after which opening remarks were delivered by Rav Menachem Juni, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Keser Torah of Mexico.

Divrei zikaron were then shared by Rav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoah; Rav Matisyahu Salomon, mashgiach of Beth Medrash Govoha; Rav Uren Reich, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedola of Woodlake Village; and Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedola Zichron Moshe of South Fallsburg.

Tehillim was recited for Yidden in Eretz Yisroel and a special video about Rav Aharon Kotler’s life and legacy was shown.

The three-tiered dais overlooked some 5,000 chairs that were set up for the event. The dais itself sat dozens of rabbonim, roshei yeshiva and admorim, many of whom traveled from a distance to take part in the event.

The dedication and groundbreaking of two new buildings to be constructed at Beth Medrash Govoah were then held. Mr. Ralph Herzka, who will be dedicating Binyan Herzka in memory of his parents, Rav Yaakov Yitzchok and Esther Herzka, spoke, as did Mr. Meir Levine of Los Angeles, who is dedicating the new Bais Yitzchok bais medrash on the site.

At that point in the program, a Sefer Torah dedicated by noted philanthropist Mr. Ira Rennert – who arrived in Lakewood via helicopter for the event – was completed, with Mr. Shimmy Glick speaking about the charity and philanthropy of the Rennert family and their efforts to help others.

The Sefer Torah was then danced to the Beren Building of the yeshiva, where it was brought o the Bendheim Bais Medrash and placed in the aron kodesh amidst lively singing.

Zemiros throughout the four-hour program were provided by Chilu Posen, Shimmy Engel and the incomparable Mezamrim Choir.

Following the completion of the hachnosas Sefer Torah, all attendees were invited to the yeshiva dining room for a festive seudah in honor of the multiple simchos of the day and the yahrtzeit of the rosh yeshiva zt”l. At the seudah, remarks were delivered by the Novominsker Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Perlow, and Rav Yaakov Eliezer Schwartzman, rosh yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoah-Lakewood East in Yerushalayim.

See below for over 500 photos of the event:

Click below for videos (additional videos to be loaded shortly):

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