[Video and photos below.] The mayor of Bnei Brak, Rabbi Yaakov Asher, paid a visit to the sukkos of gedolim in Bnei Brak together with his deputy, Rabbi Chanoch Zeibert. During the visit with Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, the rosh yeshiva told the mayor about the importance of adhering to the directives of gedolei Yisroel under all circumstances.
“Even if the reality seems to have changed, we have no power to veer from the decisions of the chachmei haTorah,” Rav Shteinman told Rabbi Asher.
“In every instance, one must ask the chachmei haTorah,” said Rav Shteinman to the askanim. “And do not worry about [the ramifications of] listening to what they say.” Rav Shteinman emphasized that “we can not decide what the chachmei haTorah would decide, even if the reality seems to have changed.”
The mayor also visited the sukkos of Rav Gershon Edelstein, Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, and Rav Chaim Kanievsky, who closed the Gemara he was learning from and engaged in conversation with his guests.
During the visit to Rav Edelstein, Zeibert commented that unlike Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak is the “amud haTorah.” The mayor added that “there are Jews in Yerushalayim for whom their rov is the Kosel.”
To view video clips of the mayor’s visits, click below:
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For photos, see below:
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{Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel/Video courtesy of Haredim News Agency}
The mayor added that there are Jews in Yerushalayim for whom their rov is the Kosel.
As sad as that statement is, b’emes it would be an improvement to what actually goes on in the Ir Hakodesh.