Photos: Rav Dov Yoffe Inspires American Yeshiva Community During Extended Visit

[Photos below.] The Ihr HaTorah of Lakewood basked in the light of one of Eretz Yisroel’s senior gedolei Torah and mechanchim, Rav Dov Yoffe, mashgiach of Yeshiva Knesses Chizkiyahu in Kfar Chassidim.

Rav Yoffe spent over a week in Lakewood, leaving his mark on numerous roshei yeshiva, rabbonim, baalei batim, bochurim and children. Rav Yoffe inspired thousands of Lakewood residents with his powerful words at last week’s Bais Medrash Govoah Annual Evening of Chizuk. Throughout his extended stay, Rav Yoffe has made himself available for many private consultations and visited Beth Medrash Govoha and various other local mosdos, including Yeshiva Toras Aron, Yeshiva Orchos Chaim, Tashbar, Lakewood Mesivta and Yeshiva Keren Hatorah.

A visit by an Israeli gadol of this stature to America is rare, but Rav Yoffe’s visit doubly stands out for the tremendous mesirus nefesh it entailed. The mashgiach – known as the “zekan hamashgichim” of our generation – was advised by his physician against taking this major trip. In response, Rav Yoffe asked whether it reached the level of pikuach nefesh for him to travel. The physician conceded that it was not life-threatening, and the mashgiach responded, “But saving the yeshiva is pikuach nefesh!”

In addition to his desire to interact with BMG yungeleit and the Lakewood community, Rav Yoffe sees the future of Yeshiva Knesses Chizkiyahu as top priority of his visit. The yeshiva is currently at a historic crossroads. Its venerable rosh yeshiva, Rav Dovid Mann zt”l, and Rav Avrohom Mishkovsky zt”l, who ran its day-to-day operations, were both niftar within the past two years. Rav Yoffe and the current rosh yeshiva, Rav Yehoshua Mann, who joined him on this trip, are now tasked with helping the yeshiva meet its budget.

Over four decades ago, Yeshiva Knesses Chizkiyahu’s legendary rosh yeshiva, Rav Elya Lopian zt”l, would sing “Ohr Zorua Latzaddik” in honor of Rav Yoffe, who was many decades his junior. Lakewood’s warm greeting of this great tzaddik is integral towards realizing Rav Elya’s dreams and ensuring that the yeshiva thrives during the upcoming decades, be’ezras Hashem.

For more information about supporting Yeshiva Knesses Chizkiyahu, call 732.987.7704 ext. 7252 or mail tax deductible donations to Congregation Beth Hillel, Att: Duvi Honig, 1072 Madison Avenue, Lakewood, NJ, 08701.

See below for photos taken throughout the visit:

{Matzav.com Newscenter}