During Chol Hamoed Sukkos, crowds packed the central beis medrash of the Belz community in Ashdod to hear a special hashkafic address from the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Avnei Nezer, Rav Zamir Cohen. The event drew hundreds of bnei Torah eager to hear the renowned scholar’s deep insights into the meaning of Sukkos.
Rav Cohen, who enjoys a close relationship and high esteem within Belz and frequently visits the Belzer Rebbe and delivers shiurim to Belzer avreichim, was accorded a remarkable display of honor and reverence.
The vast beis medrash, which seats roughly a thousand, was filled to capacity as avreichim streamed in to hear a penetrating hashkafic discussion on the essence of Sukkos. Rav Cohen explained that the Yom Tov is “the key to true joy in life,” teaching that this world is transient and that genuine happiness comes through spiritual growth rather than physical indulgence.
“Mi she’toleh tikvos b’gashmiyus – mis’achezev. Aval mi she’ro’eh es ha’olam hazeh k’prozdor – zoiche l’simchas chayim,” declared the rosh yeshiva. “One who places his hopes in material things will be disappointed, but one who sees this world as a corridor to the next attains true joy.”
He added, “Toras Hashem sustains creation at every moment, like a light that gives life to all. A talmid chacham carries within him that Divine light, and when one honors him, one is honoring the Shechinah itself.”
Rav Cohen concluded his remarks by extolling the immeasurable merit and contribution of bnei hayeshivos who devote themselves to Torah study, emphasizing that their learning upholds the very fabric of creation and protects the entire Klal Yisroel.
