Rivers of tears flowed today in the Vishintz Beis Medrash in Bnei Brak. On a specially erected platform were twelve clay jugs, covered with taleisim, each one telling the sad story of what transpired on Succos. Twelve jugs, twelve sifrei Torah consumed by flames the electrical system powering the ventilation inside the Aron Kodesh malfunctioned.
All over the world, members of the Vishitz community have been consumed with introspection in the wake of the terrible tragedy. Today, Erev Rosh Chodesh Mar Cheshvan, a funeral was held for the twelve sifrei Torah, whose letters flew up into the air as the parchment they were written on burned. Thousands of Jews from all over the country, from all walks of life, all Chasidic sects, came to pay their respects to the twelve sifrei Torah.
Vishnitzer Chassidim fasted this morning and spent their day immersed in learning and in prayer, preparing themselves for the somber funeral. As 2 o’clock drew near, thousands of people swarmed into the Beis Medrash, all visibly moved by the sight of the twelve clay jugs bearing the remains of the Torahs.
The funeral commenced with the entire assemblage saying the entire second, fourth and fifth seforim of Tehillim, one passuk at a time, followed by broken hearted selichos.
Rabbi Shemuel Ha-Levi Wozner chose sharp words as he tried to inspire the crowd about the topic of Kavod HaTorah and Kavod Beis Knesses. “Our gedolim have already explained why Sefardim were not affected by the Holocaust,” said Rabbi Vozner. “Because they are extra stringent when it comes to showing proper respect for a Beis Knesses.”
Rabbi Wozner spoke very harshly about the phenomenon of cell phones in Shul, saying “It is the obligation of every individual to maintain the sanctity of the Beis Knesses. Do not eat, do not use phones and do not talk about trivial matters while in a place of such holiness. There are Shuls that will turn half the Beis Medrash into an Ezras Nashim for a simcha. This is completely forbidden. There are other mitzvos that people are lax about. Loving your fellow man, respecting your parents, speaking lashon hara. We must strengthen ourselves in these areas.”
R’ Moshe Landa, Rav and Av Beis Din of Bnei Brak spoke about the grief that is felt when a sefer Torah is destroyed. “When a person is niftar, the grief ends after a certain period of time. In the case of a sefer Torah that was burnt, that grief never ends.”
R’ Yisroel Hager, son of the Vishnitzer Rebbe called upon the crowd to distance themselves from destructive influences and to strive to attain a higher level of Kedusha. “It is imperative to respect a Beis Knesses and not to talk during davening,” he admonished the thousands of listeners. R’ Hager also warned the crowd to be more stringent in z’manei Tefila and spoke out against the practice of women wearing long wigs.
All through the funeral, the Vishnitzer Rebbe remained in his room, near the Beis Medrash, participating from there in the sad event. Close to 5 PM, the procession moved out to the streets of Bnei Brak. Members of the Vishnitzer Beid Din carried the clay jugs containing the remains of the sifrei Torah, followed by thousands of mourners. R’ Aron Leib Steinman led the procession to the Beis Hachaim, were the sifrei Torah were laid to rest as the mourners were occupied with thoughts of teshuva, promising to do whatever they could to heed the obvious warning call that was sent from Above.
The Vishnitz Beis Din has asked community members to refrain from all speech while they are learning Torah from now until Pesach. Additionally, the community has been asked to make donations for new Sifrei Torah to be written, which are expected to be finished by next Succos.
