The Ir HaTorah of America has forged an especially tight bond with Lev L’Achim. Ever since Maran Rosh HaYeshiva, Rav Aharon Kotler Zt’l galvanized the Olam HaTorah in support of the original P’eylim and the subsequent efforts to ensure a Torah education for all the children of Eretz Yisroel, the Lakewood name has been synonymous with the mission of the Bnai Torah of Eretz Yisroel to bring our Nation home to Torah U’Mitzvos.
The rallying point of this annual drive is the massive P’eylim / Lev L’Achim Asifa which is regularly held in Bais Faiga Hall. Year after year the Gedolei Torah of Eretz Yisroel have done for Lev L’Achim what they do for no other cause. The usual limitations they put on public appearances are set aside as they extend themselves beyond all bounds to help rally the Olam HaTorah on behalf of the P’eylim movement.
The Brisker Rov with his son, Rav Meir Soloveitchik, and Rav Moshe Soloveitchik.
Who will ever forget the excitement in 1998 when Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman made his first historic visit to Lakewood to launch PROJECT RISHUM? In subsequent years, thousands of Bnai Torah in Lakewood were thrilled to experience the feeling of sitting at the table of a Gadol HaDor as they viewed live satellite transmissions from the homes of Rav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, Rav Michel Yehudah Lefkovits, Rav Nissim Karelitz and Rav Chaim Kanievsky.
Outstanding luminaries of the Torah world such as Rav Moshe Schapiro, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, Rav Shmuel Yaakov Borenstein and Rav Chezkiyahu Mishkovsky have participated in the annual Lakewood event. Two years ago, the renowned Gaon, Rav Yisroel Elya Weintraub, traveled to America for the sole purpose of addressing the Lev L’Achim Asifa. His penetrating shmuessen shed a new light on the world of machshava while opening our eyes as well to the significance of Lev L’Achim’s work.
Last year, Lakewood was electrified with the arrival of Rav Dovid Cohen, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron. The opportunity to see and hear this renowned star of the Torah world in Eretz Yisroel was a treat for the thousands who participated in the actual Lev L’Achim Asifa and at the shiur delivered the next day in Bais Medrash Govoah.
Rav Baruch Soloveitchik with Mitchazkim of Lev L’Achim.
The excitement is mounting as Lakewood counts down the days till the arrival of Rav Baruch Soloveitchik, Rosh Yeshiva Toras Zev in Yerushalayim.
A son of the famed Rav Moshe Soloveitchik of Switzerland, Rav Baruch learned in Ponevez and became a maggid shiur in Lucerne while yet a bachur. He moved to Yerushalayim upon his marriage to the daughter of Rav Chaim Sarna and later became a Rosh Yeshiva in Yeshivas Chevron – Geula. A long time chavrusa of Rav Dovid Cohen, Rav Baruch is acknowledged as one of the rising stars of the olom haTorah.
Despite his innate hatznea leches and abhorrence of the limelight, Rav Baruch -who has never before addressed an audience in America- acceded to the request of Rav Shteinman and the other Gedolei Yisroel to represent them as the special guest at this years P’eylim / Lev L’Achim Asifa in Lakewood tonight. Maariv will begin at 10 p.m., followed by the program. Harav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, Rosh Hayeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha will delivered opening remarks, followed by the guest speaker, Harav Soloveitchik.
Rav Moshe Soloveitchik zt”l
The tradition of partnership between the Bnai Torah of Eretz Yisroel and America will once again be celebrated as Lakewood welcomes a true prince of the Torah world and unites in the effort to help our wayward brethren in Eretz Yisroel find their way back to Torah U’Mitzvos under the auspices of P’eylim / Lev L’Achim.
{Elisha Ferber-Matzav.com Newscenter}
Did R’ borouch solovatchik learn by Rav Avrohom Yehoshua ? does he have shaychus to brisk ??