Simchas Beis HaShoeva at Mir Brachfeld - Sukkos 5772

TNU KAVOD LATORAH! R' Nissan Kaplan's LA Schedule

Baruch Cohen learning with Reb Nissan Kaplan in the Mir

Reb Nissan Kaplan visiting Baruch Cohen's office

Baruch Cohen meets Reb Nissan Kaplan at Shai Stern's home 

Beis Yisroel and The Mir Yeshiva

Orthodox Jewish men study at Jerusalem's Mir Yeshiva, the largest Jewish seminary in Israel

United States Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro visits the Mir Yeshiva in Jerushalayim

United States Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro visits the Mir Yeshiva in Jerushalayim and is given a tour by Rav Nachman Levovits and Rav Binyomin Carlebach and meets the Rosh Yeshiva Rav Leizer Yehuda Finkel

Donor Pulls Through for Chabad

COLlive.com has the exclusive on the individual who stepped forward at the "11th Hour" to stop the foreclosure on the Chabad West Coast Headquarters building in Los Angeles.

By COLlive reporter

It appears that the individual who recently donated $5 million to save the Litvish Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim is the same person who stepped forward at the '11th hour' to stop the foreclosure on the Chabad West Coast Headquarters building in Los Angeles.

Sources close to the events have disclosed to COLlive.com that the person was Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz, a Los Angeles-based communal activist and known philanthropist.

Rechnitz quietly made the contribution to the Mir Yeshivah as his way of honoring the life and achievements of its revered Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel OBM, who passed away on Cheshvan 12, and with whom Rechnitz had a close relationship over the years.

In helping alleviate the Yeshiva's crushing debt, Rechnitz was seeking to fill some of the void left in the wake of the Rosh Yeshiva's passing, as it was the Rav who shouldered the burden for many years.

We were told that it was the same magnanimous conscientiousness that prompted Rechnitz to prevent the irreversible loss of Chabad of Westwood, the world's first "Chabad House" and central office for Chabad of California.

All efforts to try to ward off the court's sale of the property had been exhausted and the note-holder was said to be literally moments away from taking legal ownership when Rechnitz stepped forward and bought off the note for $2.6 million, bringing the dreadful proceedings on that fateful Friday afternoon to a grinding halt.

Thanks to him, the Chabad House has since remained open and fully functional. Rabbi Chaim Nachum Cunin has comfirmed this information with COLlive.com on Sunday.

LIKE REB BEREL

Observers have said that they cannot even imagine what a huge blow it would have been to the strength and morale of Chabad of California had it, G-d forbid, suffered the loss of its original, most prominent and key facility.

Though usually inconspicuous in his efforts, Rechnitz has come to be recognized as one of the most active and impactful philanthropists in the Torah-observant world.

Friends describe him as an "equal opportunity giver," donating generous sums to all Yiddishe circles - be it Chassidish, Litvish, Modern-Orthodox and so on. "Shlomo is trying to emulate the example of his role-model in the realm of Tzedokah, Reb Berel Weiss."

Reb Berel, who passed away Iyar 27 of this year, was legendary for his philanthropy - not only in the sums that he gave, but to whom he gave them. He never turned away a situation of genuine need.

Upon his passing, many despaired that his loss would adversely affect the numerous vital causes he sustained - whether it was support for widows and orphans, the unemployed, gemilas chesed, hachnosas kallah, and countless Torah institutions and social organizations.

At the community's Shloshim memorial for Reb Berel Weiss, Rechnitz has publicly pledged to do his utmost to try to pick up the slack in the wake of Reb Berel's physical departure from this world. Apparently, the man has remained true to his word.

In addition to his generosity, many in the Torah-observant world are taken by Shlomo Rechnitz's amiability and approachability. He has an unassuming and disarming way about him - an affable personality - that allows people from all walks of life to feel comfortable and respected in his presence.

"Shlome Rechnitz is chesed personified," added that friend who has worked with the entrepreneur and philanthropist on many a project.

When not overseeing his business, attending a shiur or carrying out his charitable endeavors, Rechnitz enjoys indulging in his penchant for Chassidic music. He has helped produce a number of albums for Chassidic superstar Mordechai Ben David, and has composed a number of his hit songs, including Ana Melech and Shulem Aleichem on MBD's final album Kesufim.

Thanks to this understated hero, Jews in Jerusalem and California (and many places in between) are singing happy tunes today - in more ways than one.

The Torch is Passed: A Glimpse of Rav Leizer Yudel Finkel, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Mir

If multitudes around the globe feel orphaned by the petirah of the Rosh Yeshivah ztz”l, no one feels that loss as much as his eldest son, Rav Leizer Yudel shlita.

And at no point was that loss felt as much as when Rav Aharon Leib Steinman, the first speaker at the levayah, announced that Rav Leizer Yudel ben Rav Nosson Tzvi would lead the yeshivah.

While Rav Leizer Yudel Finkel is a familiar face to many who have learned in the Mir, his humility is so profound that few who have seen him walking through the hallways of the Mir or getting onto the bus with the rest of the yungeleit would have guessed that he would serve as the next rosh yeshivah.

In recent years, he has become more visible during yeshivah functions, especially as the leader of the Yamim Noraim minyan held in Beis Shalom.

A member of the hanhalah who has been davening in that minyan since it was established relates that Rav Leizer Yudel has clearly inherited his father’s two outstanding character traits. On one hand, he is one of the brilliant minds in the yeshivah, whose shiurim appeal to the entire spectrum of Yeshivas Mir — including, interestingly, a large contingent of chassidishe bochurim who attend his daily shiur. On the other hand, Rav Leizer Yudel is a baal middos par excellence, taking extreme care never to hurt anyone’s feelings.

One year, a certain yungerman received an aliyah on Rosh HaShanah in the Beis Shalom minyan. The next year, this yungerman eagerly awaited his turn to be called up to the Torah. When Kriyas HaTorah ended on the first day, he figured that they would give him an aliyah the next day.

When he did not receive an aliyah, he was hurt, and he expressed his feelings to a member of the hanhalah.

When the message was relayed to Rav Leizer Yudel, he quickly rushed over to the yungerman to apologize, promising him an aliyah on Yom Kippur.

On Yom Kippur morning, the yungerman was not in Beis Shalom. As Yom Kippur came to a close, Rav Leizer Yudel rushed to his house. “What happened?” he asked with concern. “I had an aliyah for you!”

The yungerman explained that he hadn’t been feeling well, and was nervous that if he would walk to Mir, he wouldn’t be able to complete the fast.

Rav Leizer Yudel decided that he hadn’t compensated the yungerman properly for not giving him an aliyah on Rosh HaShanah. On Chol HaMoed, he visited the yungerman in his succah, sitting with him and singing zmiros for an hour, until he felt that he yungerman forgave him.

The gadlus in Torah and sterling character traits that have been transmitted from the Rosh Yeshivah ztz”l will serve Rav Leizer Yudel well as he embarks on the difficult task of accepting the mantle of leadership long before anyone ever imagined he would have to do so.

The above was reprinted with permission from Mishpacha Magazine. A special edition will be available in stores only, from Thur., paying tribute to the rosh yeshiva in stories, pictures and thoughts.

Funeral of Mir Rosh Yeshiva - "He Was our Father"

Tens Of Thousands Attend Levaya of R’ Nosson Tzvi Finkel, Zatzal

TORAH TORAH CHIGRI SAK: אבל בעולם התורה • נפלה עטרת ראשנו • הגה”צ רבי נתן צבי פינקל זצ”ל • Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l

It is with great shock and sadness that we report the sudden passing of Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Mir Yerushalayim, following a heart attack. Rav Finkel was 69 years old.
Hatzolah paramedics were summoned to Rav Finkel’s home on Rechov Amalim in the Bais Yisroel section of Yerushalayim about 90 minutes ago after he was feeling unwell. Efforts by the paramedics were to no avail, as the neshamah of the beloved rosh yeshiva returned to its Creator moments ago.
Rav Finkel was born on March 12, 1943, in Chicago, Illinois, to his parents, Reb Eliyohu Meir and Mrs. Finkel, and was named after his elte-zaida, the Alter of Slabodka, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel.  Rav Nosson Tzvi later married a daughter of Rav Beinish Finkel, a son of Rav Eliezer Yehudah Finkel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir. Rav Nosson Tzvi’s wife was a second cousin of his.
Rav Nosson Tzvi became rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim in 1990 following the petirah of his father-in-law, Rav Beinish. He also served as a member of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah in Eretz Yisroel.
In his later years, Rav Nosson Tzvi suffered from Parkinson’s disease and demonstrated inspiring levels of bitachon and strength. He once remarked that he didn’t take certain medicines for his illness, because his doctor had told him that it would have an effect on his memory. “I’d rather be ill my whole life than to forget even one word of the Torah hakedosha,” he said.
The loss is a devastating one for the entire Olam Hatorah, for which Rav Nosson Tzvi was a living example of mesirus nefesh for Torah and the Ribono Shel Olam. Books will be written about Rav Nosson Tzvi’s devotion to his talmidim and to Yeshivas Mir, whose budget of millions of dollars was shouldered by Rav Nosson Tzvi, who undertook yearly trips abroad to raise funds for the yeshiva, despite his debilitating condition. There were few individuals of our dor who inspired as many people as Rav Nosson Tzvi did with his mere presence, his smile, his emunah and bitachon, and his astonishing gevurah in light of his circumstances.
Just as inspiring to many of his talmidim and others in the Torah world was Rav Nosson Tzvi’s humble upbringing. He grew up as a child in Chicago, an American kid - backpack, baseball cap, and all - and went on to become one of the most venerated roshei yeshivos of our generation, garnering the respect of the gedolei hador and the masses for his yedios haTorah, his ahavas haTorah, his hasmadah, his ahavas Hashem, his ahavas Yisroel, and his boundless love and dedication for the thousands of talmidimof Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim, which, under his stewardship, grew into one of the largest - if not the largest - makom Torah in the world. Also, under his leadership, Yeshivas Mir opened branches in various locations, including Brachfeld in Modiin Illit.
It is difficult with mere words so soon after the petirah to depict the colossal loss that Klal Yisroel has just sustained with the passing of this Torah giant, a yochid bedoro who scaled the greatest spiritual heights and demonstrated that true greatness can be achieved even in this generation.
Klal Yisroel has been left bereft. On the yahrtzeit of Rochel Imeinu, we have lost an unparalleled individual, a diamond that Klal Yisroel was blessed to have as a leader, as arosh yeshiva, as a gadol baTorah, and as a living example of the way the Ribono Shel Olam wants each of us to conduct our lives. We have lost one of the truly great people of our generation.
Chaval al de’avdin velo mishtakchin.
The levaya will take place this morning at Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim in the Bais Yisroel section of Yerushalayim.
Rav Nosson Tzvi is survived by his mother and his children, including Rav Avrohom Yeshaya Finkel, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, Rav Shmaryahu Yosef Finkel, Rav Yitzchok Finkel and Rav Shmuel Finkel.
Yehi zichro boruch.
Update, 8 a.m. IL: The levaya will take place at noon at Yeshivas Mir-Yerushalayim.
{Yair Alpert-Matzav.com Israel/Shmiel Gellman-Matzav.com Newscenter}