Rav Moshe Green, Rav Yisroel Simcha Schorr and Rabbonim Visit Jewish Inmates In Richmond, Virginia

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rav-moshe-greenThis past Tuesday, January 4, Rabbi Moshe Green, rosh yeshiva of the Yeshivah D’Monsey, in Monsey, NY, visiting Richmond, Virginia, to be mechazeik Jewish inmates there.

Rav Green rarely leaves Monsey, or NY at all, particularly since he has suffered two strokes and uses a wheelchair.Rav Green was accompanied by his son, Rav Avrohom Green, and his grandson, R’ Yaakov Flohr. They were driven by car from Monsey to Baltimore, MD, where they slept for a few hours, and continued in the pre-dawn hours to Virginia, where they participated in the daily 7:15 am Shacharis minyan at the Yeshiva of Virginia in the Near West End of Richmond.

After Shacharis, Rav Chaim Ozer Chait, the rosh yeshiva of the Yeshiva of Virginia and a former resident of Monsey, NY, introduced Rav Green, and Rav Green shared divrei chizuk. He spoke of the Bnei Yisroel’s exodus from Mitzrayim, leading to their acceptance of the Torah, and he compared it to the freedom that servitude to Hashem through Torah study and observance gives us from our own egos and desires.

It was particularly noteworthy that Rav Green delivered his words in English, because his main language in New York is Yiddish. A video of Rav Green’s words can be found below. He then gave individual brachos to the talmidim and local rabbonim who were present.

After breakfast, Rav Green was joined by Rav Yisroel Simchah Schorr, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ohr Somayach in Monsey, and Rav Yaakov Yosef Moskowitz, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Ner HaTorah in Monsey, who arrived by airplane together with Reb Chaim Hersh Freund and Reb  Hershel Friedman, who are prominent activists who work in prison outreach.

They then continued together to Hopewell, VA, for the main purpose of their visit, which was to give spiritual encouragement to the Jewish inmate community at the Petersburg Federal Prison in Hopewell, VA. Among the inmates is a prominent member of the Monsey community.

The rabbonim were accompanied by Rabbi Yosef Kolakowski, the rov of the Nachalei Emunah Institute of Richmond, VA, who also leads Congregation Kol Emes/Young Israel of Richmond and serves as a chaplain to the Petersburg Federal Prison.

The rabbonim spent several hours with the Jewish inmates in the chapel of the prison. One of the inmates described the horrors of prison life, stating that not only is the body in prison, but so is every level of his soul.

rav-yisroel-simcha-schorrAfter the visit, the rabbonim returned immediately to Monsey. Rav Friedman, who was one of the visiting rabbonim, offered an interview on the popular Yiddish News Hotline Kol Mevaser. The number for Kol Mevaser is 212-444-1100. To hear the interview, press 3, then 1, then 386#.

The visit was a tremendous source of inspiration both to the local community who benefited from the visit and to the inmates.

Click below for a video of Rav Green speaking at Yeshiva of Virgina:

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{Yossi Schneider-Matzav.com Newscenter}


7 COMMENTS

  1. There are so many prisons closer to home that we could all follow the lead of these prominent leaders and visit. Prisoners are lonely and love to be visited. Prison life is a pounishment in itself. We’re allowed to visit & be m’chazek them!

  2. any person who has time to visit yidden who are incarcerated in ft dix nj.i can tell u from personal experience that 37 menorahs were lit chanukah in shul and yidden from chashidish litvish, modern, balei teshuvas etc are siting and waiting for people to visit email [email protected]

  3. According to Die Tzitung this visit was specifically for R. Yisroel Moshe Weingarten and a letter of support was delivered from Rav Tuvia Weiss, GAVAD of the Eida Charedis in Yerushalayim. They printed the letter in which R. Weiss spoke fondly of RYMW as his friend from Antwerp.

  4. “Rabbi Yosef Kolakowski, the rov of the Nachalei Emunah Institute of Richmond, VA, who also leads Congregation Kol Emes/Young Israel of Richmond ”

    Actually, R. Yitchak Zev (Joseph in English) Kolakowski left YI of Richmond a while back, whereupon he moved to his Chassidic congregation there called Nachalei Emunah.

  5. Hashem should continue to bless all of our wonderful Rabbeim who always go out of their way to help other Yiddin. All of the Jews suffering around the world need our support.

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