KAVOD SHOMAYIM: Over 25,000 Gather at Adirei HaTorah’s 3rd Asifa at Wells Fargo (Full Video+Photos)

By Avi Shiff

[Full video replay below.] Sunday night, Wells Fargo Center was host to the third Adirei HaTorah asifa in support of the yungeleit of Lakewood’s Bais Medrash Govoah.

25,000+ people came out strong, united, and with one goal: to proclaim the glory of our nation’s yungeleit, the Adirei HaTorah.

Buses and cars pulled up from across the tri-state area, transporting thousands to the event at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. People came from around the country and beyond.

This year, the event began earlier than the past two years, with attendees arriving from 4 p.m. and on. Guests took in the scene of a sports arena normally bedecked in sports-related signs and slogans, instead bearing statements and mottos expressing Klal Yisroel’s admiration for their yungeleit. “Three Years of Celebrating Our Most Cherished Treasure – Our Yungerman,” “The Yungerman. Our Greatest Treasure,” “For the Yungerman of Today and Tomorrow,” and “A Legacy of Torah, from Father to Son,” were emblazoned across the various electronic screens in the arena.

Upon entering the building, sandwiches, snacks and drinks were served. In the arena itself, immediately grabbing the attention of participants and crowning the room was the massive and regal looking dais, with seating for approximately 800 roshei yeshiva and rabbonim and roshei chaburah.

Beautiful music filled the arena, orchestrated by keyboardist Meir Adler from Eretz Yisroel. The silky smooth voices of singers Yanky Daskal, Bentzi Stein, and Meilech Braunstein melded beautifully, setting the tone.

Following Mincha, which was led by Rav Elchonon Berenbaum, brief remarks were delivered via video by Rav Yosef Mermelstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Novominsk.

Tehillim followed for acheinu Bnei Yisroel, led by Rav Chaim Ginsburg, senior rosh chaburah at Bais Medrash Govoah.

After a brief musical interlude, virtually every seat in the arena, including every balcony and concourse, in addition to thousands of additional seats on the floor, was occupied

Fittingly, the seats on the floor of the arena couldn’t be purchased. They were reserved for yungeleit who have been learning at Bais Medrash Govoah for many years. Appropriately, the best seats in the house were given to those who were being feted this evening, the lomdei Torah who hold up our world.

Immediately thereafter, the music began, and the crowd sang and danced for several minutes. The building practically shook as the roshei yeshiva, who accompanied the special guest, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Slabodka in Bnei Brak, were warmly and enthusiastically welcomed in an awesome display of kavod haTorah to those upon whose shoulders the entire yeshiva stands.

During his opening statements, Bais Medrash Govoah CEO R’ Yosef Heinemann reflected on the past three years since the inauguration of the Adirei Hatorah campaign, which has raised tens of millions of dollars in support of Klal Yisroel’s yungeleit who devote their lives to limud haTorah.

R’ Heinemann introduced the rosh yeshiva, Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, and the crowd broke out into singing Yomim Al Yemei Melech Tosif in his honor.

During his remarks, Rav Kotler paid tribute to the devoted askanim who have spearheaded the unprecedented Adirei Hatorah campaign.

Following Rav Kotler’s remarks, several niggunim, including the Ribnitzer’s teniah, “Abaye v’Rava,” were sung.

A moving multi-part video was then shown, depicting the transmission of Torah throughout the last two centuries. The video, which was interspersed with various niggunim, described the growth of yeshivos throughout Europe, until Churban Europa, a time when some people thought that the Torah world had been decimated for good. The video then showed the growth of Torah in America, from Lakewood, NJ, the home of Bais Medrash Govoah, to mekomos haTorah throughout the world.

Highlights of the video presentation included audio of Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zt”l singing and powerful remarks from Rav Mordechai Gifter zt”l.

A video was then shown of Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedolah of South Fallsburg.

Following additional singing, the special guest from Eretz Yisroel, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, was introduced, and the crowd erupted in song. Even after the music stopped, the singing continued, the massive crowd expressing boundless respect for the rosh yeshiva.

And just as quickly, the arena grew completely silent as Rav Hirsch addressed the crowd, speaking in English.

Toward the end of his message, Rav Moshe Hillel spoke of the “tremendous fights” of the leftists in Israel against anything related to Torah.

The crowd then erupted in sheer joy as the arrival of Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshiva of Philadelphia Yeshiva, was announced. As Rav Shmuel approached the dais, the singing grew louder and stronger, an incredible feeling permeating the arena.

A video tribute to the late mashgiach of Bais Medrash Govoah, Rav Matisyahu Salomon zt”l, was then shown.

Following several heartfelt niggunim, a Siyum Hashas on Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi, learned b’iyun by the yungeleit of Bais Medrash Govoah, was made, with the Hadran being recited by Rav Yisroel Neuman, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah. As Rav Neuman approached the podium, the crowd broke out into song, singing Yomim in his honor. Rav Yisroel recited the Hadran slowly, growing emotional and crying with each timeless word, imparting such a profound message with each krechtz and each carefully enunciated phrase.

The Kaddish for the siyum was then recited by Rav Moshe Salomon, son of Rav Matisyahu Salomon. The building shook with the Amein Yeish Shmei Rabbah, displaying the intensity and feelings of the entire crowd.

With the answer of the final amein and a cry of “Mazel tov!” the crowd erupted with pure joy and simchas haTorah, dancing with a fervor reserved for times like Simchas Torah.

The maamad then featured an address from Rav Ephraim Wachsman, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Meor Yitzchok of Monsey, who thanked the Adirei Hatorah – the yungeleit – for being “mekayeim kol ha’olam kulo,” for being the source of parnassah, health and all goodness that we merit, as Chazal tell us.

Following Kabbolas Ohl Malchus Shomayim, which was led by Rav Yeruchem Olshin, and Maariv, which was led by Rav Dovid Schustal, the thousands made their way to the exits while music filled the arena, the feeling one of kavod and reverence for the yungeleit. They devote their every day and lovingly sacrifice so much to make the study of Torah their life, not just uplifting themselves, but enriching their communities and the wider world with the unparalleled power of Torah.

It was an evening no one could forget, forever etched into the hearts of the young and old, inspired, uplifted, and charged to keep this remarkable mission going.

FULL VIDEO REPLAY:

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{Matzav.com}