A newly installed elevator was completed last week at the home of Rav Berel Povarsky, senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and rosh yeshivas Ponovezh, just hours before leading Gedolei Yisroel arrived for a late-Thursday-night gathering.
On Thursday night, Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch convened at Rav Povarsky’s home on Ben Zakai Street in Bnei Brak. For the first time, the visiting roshei yeshiva did not need to climb the steep staircase that has long led to the apartment.
Earlier that day, a brief ceremony was held to affix a mezuzah to the entrance of the new elevator that now leads directly into Rav Povarsky’s home.
For years, Rav Povarsky was required to ascend the building’s stairs each time he returned home, a task that had become increasingly difficult. His devoted talmidim and close confidants resolved to install an elevator for the Rosh Yeshiva and the Rebbetzin, funded generously by donors.
With construction completed at the end of last week, Rav Povarsky asked his talmid, the noted posek Rav Yehuda Aryeh Dinner, rov of Central Bnei Brak, to clarify the halachic requirements regarding where to place the mezuzah. After weighing several considerations, Rav Dinner issued a ruling, and the mezuzah was affixed only a few hours before the arrival of the Gedolei Yisroel.
During the gathering at Rav Povarsky’s home, several fundraising efforts were conducted. Afterwards, the Gedolei Yisroel spoke privately, reviewing the current draft-law proposal.
Before departing, the roshei yeshiva addressed the crowd that had assembled in the apartment. They reassured the public that the new draft legislation “will not harm those who are truly devoted to learning Torah.”
{Matzav.com}
