Yom Kippur 5787 was marked by packed batei medrash and yeshivos across Eretz Yisroel, emotional tefillos by Gedolei Yisroel and Admorim, extraordinary sums paid for coveted kibbudim, and moving scenes involving senior rabbonim who participated despite recent illness and medical treatment.
From Gur and Belz to Ponevezh, Mir, Slabodka and the homes of Gedolei Yisroel, tens of thousands spent the holiest day of the year immersed in tefillah and teshuvah. Among the notable moments were the return of Birchas Kohanim at Ne’ilah in Belz for the first time in more than 30 years, Rav Dov Kook’s return from rehabilitation to his bais medrash in Tiveria, and deeply emotional scenes during the Avodah and Ne’ilah tefillos.
Some of the most remarkable reports involved the traditional bidding for Maftir Yonah and other kibbudim.
At the Sassover Bais Medrash, the mispallelim collectively purchased Maftir Yonah for the Rebbe for 353,000 shekels.
At the Maor Chaim shul in Yerushalayim’s Sanhedria neighborhood, led by Rav Zev Ernster, R’ Luzer Fischer purchased Maftir Yonah for $10,000.
At Rav Yigal Cohen’s Yabia Omer shul in Bnei Brak, Maftir Yonah sold for 32,000 shekels. An even larger sum was raised for the Kohen aliyah, which was given to Rav Cohen himself. Two mispallelim jointly acquired the kibbud, each contributing 40,000 shekels, for a total of 80,000 shekels.
At Tiferes Moshe Karlin in Kiryat Sefer, a lengthy bidding battle for Pesichah at Ne’ilah took place between R’ Ahar’le Zaltzman and R’ Yankel Avrahams. Avrahams ultimately secured the kibbud for 38,000 shekels.
In the Tshenger kehillah in Elad, led by Rav Nosson Moskowitz, attorney Moshe Weisel purchased Maftir Yonah for 4,000 shekels and Pesichah for Ne’ilah for another 2,500 shekels.
At Yeshivas Derech Hashem in Yerushalayim, an alumnus purchased Maftir Yonah for 13,000 shekels. Rosh Yeshiva Rav Boruch Tzvi Greenbaum received the aliyah and in turn honored his close associate, mechanech Rav Itamar Taap, one of the yeshiva’s rabbonim.
At Yeshivas Shaarei Daas in Beit Meir, led by Rav Greenwald, one of the prominent bochurim purchased Pesichah for Ne’ilah for more than 10,000 shekels.
In Gur, the Rebbe participated in all of the Yom Kippur tefillos, briefly returning to his private apartment at several points during the day — once during Shacharis, twice during Mussaf and once during Mincha. At 8:15 p.m., tens of thousands of chassidim joined in singing Hamavdil and receiving the Rebbe’s parting “Gut Yom Tov” in the massive bais medrash.
A historic change took place in Belz, where Kohanim went up to duchan during Ne’ilah for the first time in more than three decades.
The Belzer Rebbe entered for Kol Nidrei according to Belzer time, approximately 50 minutes after sunset, and served as shliach tzibbur for Kol Nidrei and Maariv. On Yom Kippur morning, the Rebbe’s son, Rav Aharon Mordechai Rokeach, led Shacharis, while the Rebbe performed the Torah reading. The Rebbe led Mussaf and Ne’ilah.
After Birchas Kohanim at Ne’ilah, the tefillah concluded at sunset. The Rebbe instructed the chassidim to sing several niggunim, and approximately half an hour later he blew the shofar, followed by Maariv. On Motzoei Yom Kippur, the Rebbe entered the Groise Shtib for the traditional Hamavdil tish.
There were also emotional scenes in Vizhnitz, where the Vizhnitzer Rebbe’s voice was noticeably stronger than it had been on Rosh Hashanah following his recent pacemaker surgery. The Rebbe served as shliach tzibbur and, between Kol Nidrei and Maariv, delivered words of hisorerus urging the chassidim to distance themselves from technological devices. Following Maariv and again after Ne’ilah, the bais medrash erupted in an emotional rendition of “Ashrei Adam Oz Lo Bach.”
The Modzhitzer Rebbe, who underwent a cardiac catheterization during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, led Maariv, Mussaf and Ne’ilah. His eldest son, Rav Aharon Taub, led Shacharis. Longer breaks were arranged between the tefillos to allow the Rebbe to rest.
In Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok in Meah Shearim, Maftir Yonah sold for $16,000, while Pesichah for Ne’ilah brought $10,000.
Before Mussaf, several prominent supporters who have been financing the Rebbe’s medical care approached him with a special kvittel written on parchment. The Rebbe warmly bentched them.
At Mishkenos HaRo’im, the gabbai announced in the name of the Rebbe, the senior Admor of the Eidah Hachareidis, immediately before Ne’ilah that every individual should accept upon himself to study Chofetz Chaim according to the current schedule that began on Rosh Hashanah, and that in this zechus they should merit a gmar chasimah tovah.
The Rebbe later led Maariv on Motzoei Yom Kippur for the yahrtzeit of his mother, Rebbetzin Ruchama Leiba a”h.
Posek Hador Rav Moshe Sternbuch spent Yom Kippur at his yeshiva in Beit Shemesh. On Erev Yom Kippur, while traveling along Route 38, Rav Sternbuch stopped at a spring along the route to perform Tashlich.
The yeshiva was filled beyond capacity for Yom Kippur, and because of the shortage of space, only some alumni were able to secure places in the bais medrash.
Rav Sternbuch served as shliach tzibbur for Kol Nidrei and part of Ne’ilah. He also delivered divrei chizuk before Maariv. In the morning, when the Aron Kodesh was opened before Krias HaTorah, Rav Sternbuch said that, according to Kabbalah, reciting the posuk “L’olam Hashem devarcha nitzav bashamayim” is a segulah for stopping harsh decrees. The entire tzibbur then recited the posuk 12 times with great emotion.
Before Ne’ilah, Rav Sternbuch declared that anyone who sincerely accepted Ol Malchus Shamayim and committed to a change for the better could merit having his tefillah accepted and receiving a good year.
When the fast ended, Rav Sternbuch expressed tremendous joy that, despite his advanced age, he had once again been able to complete the Yom Kippur fast properly.
Rav Dov Landau began his Yom Kippur by davening on behalf of donors to various tzedakah funds before Kol Nidrei, becoming visibly emotional upon seeing the names placed before him.
Kol Nidrei was held in the Slabodka Yeshiva bais medrash, where Rav Landau held a Sefer Torah alongside Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch. He subsequently returned home for Maariv with a smaller minyan consisting of talmidim and family members. His grandson Rav Menachem Landau, a ram in Slabodka Yeshiva Ketana, led the tefillah.
Rav Landau davened Shacharis at sunrise with the special minyan in his home. His talmid Rav Meir Blum, mashgiach at Yeshivas Mishkan HaTorah, served as shliach tzibbur. Rav Landau received the third aliyah, followed by a special Mi Shebeirach for the success of Klal Yisroel.
Rav Moshe Rabinowitz led Mussaf, while Rav Eliezer Fischer led Mincha. For Ne’ilah, Rav Landau returned to the main Slabodka bais medrash. Following the shofar and the singing of “L’shanah Haba’ah” together with hundreds of talmidim, he returned home for Maariv.
Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman spent Yom Kippur in the bais medrash of Yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei Brak. Shortly before leaving for Kol Nidrei, he davened for donors to several tzedakah funds.
One of the most emotional moments came during Shehecheyanu on Yom Kippur night, when Rav Bergman’s voice broke as he cried while reciting the bracha over the kedushah of the day.
Before Maariv, Rav Bergman delivered stirring words of hisorerus, urging his talmidim to take advantage of every moment of Yom Kippur. At Mincha, he received the third aliyah for Maftir Yonah.
During Ne’ilah, Rav Bergman served as shliach tzibbur for Avinu Malkeinu and Kabbalas Ol Malchus Shamayim, creating another deeply emotional scene among the mispallelim.
At Ponevezh Yeshiva, thousands of talmidim were joined by hundreds of alumni and visitors from throughout Eretz Yisroel and abroad. The tefillos began at 6:45 a.m. and continued virtually without interruption until nightfall.
During Kol Nidrei, Rav Boruch Dov Povarsky and yeshiva president Rav Eliezer Kahaneman held the Sifrei Torah alongside the chazzan. As he does each year, Rav Povarsky later served as shliach tzibbur for Shir Hakavod following Maariv.
For the morning Krias HaTorah, Rav Kahaneman received Kohen, Rav Asher Friedman, mashgiach of the yeshiva ketana, received Levi, and Rav Povarsky received the third aliyah. Other aliyos were given to yeshiva director R’ Meir Bulak, Rav Yitzchok Meir Yavetz and Rav Meir Ben Shlomo, rosh yeshiva of Orchos Torah’s yeshiva ketana and the Mincha baal tefillah.
Brothers Rav Moshe and Rav Elimelech Tabak of the United States, talmidim of Rav Povarsky who traveled overseas specifically to spend Yom Kippur in the yeshiva, received Hagbah.
At Mincha, Rav Aryeh Leib Shapiro received Kohen, R’ Mordechai Levin received Levi, and Rosh Yeshiva Rav Dovid Miller received Maftir Yonah.
One of the most powerful scenes in Ponevezh came during the Avodah in Mussaf. Rav Povarsky rose from his seat along the eastern wall and faced the chazzan, trembling and weeping throughout the exalted moments of the Avodah.
This year, Rav Povarsky used a specially designed elevated shtender manufactured for him by Lavi Furniture, providing greater comfort and support during the lengthy standing portions of the Yom Kippur tefillos and Avodah.
Following Maariv on Motzoei Yom Kippur, a special bais din was convened according to the well-known practice associated with Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l for shidduchim and yeshuos on behalf of Kupat Ha’ir donors. Rav Moshe Shmuel Edelstein, Rav of the Ne’ot Yosef neighborhood and a baal tefillah in Ponevezh, participated together with Rav Kahaneman and Rav Chaim Peretz Berman.
Havdalah was then conducted publicly in the yeshiva, and refreshments were distributed to the thousands of mispallelim. Rather than immediately leaving, the talmidim sat down for a special learning seder, instituted by Rav Gershon Edelstein zt”l, which continued until 10 p.m.
The bochurim then gathered outside for Kiddush Levanah with singing and dancing before departing for their homes at the conclusion of the yeshiva’s elevated Elul zman.
Another extraordinary Maftir Yonah purchase took place at the bais medrash of Rav Dan Segal in Yerushalayim. R’ Reuven Wolf, chairman of Keren Olam HaTorah, spent Yom Kippur there and purchased Maftir Yonah for $30,000. Following the aliyah, he asked Rav Segal to make a Mi Shebeirach for all donors to Keren Olam HaTorah.
At the Mir Yeshiva, four separate minyanim were held, each accommodating hundreds of avreichim, bochurim and alumni.
The main bais medrash minyan was headed by Rosh Yeshiva Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, with Mashgiach Rav Binyamin Finkel serving as shliach tzibbur.
During the Avodah in Mussaf, Rav Binyamin Finkel davened with intense emotion and dveikus in the center of the bais medrash as Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel stood opposite him, surrounded by hundreds of mispallelim watching the Avodah. Before Ne’ilah, the mashgiach delivered an emotional shmuess, weeping as he spoke about the needs of both the klal and the individual.
A number of major supporters of the Torah world joined the Mir for Yom Kippur, including Ralph Herzka, Eli Schron, Baruch Gromias, Tzvi Lichtenstein, Ezra David, Yossi Ostreicher and Yossi Stern.
Rav Yitzchok Yosef, the Rishon LeTzion and president of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, spent Yom Kippur at Yeshivas Chazon Ovadia in Yerushalayim, where he davened all the tefillos together with his son, Rosh Yeshiva Rav Rachamim Yosef.
Chacham Nissim Ben Shimon davened in his Ohr Hachaim bais medrash in Bnei Brak. Before Yom Kippur began and again during Kol Nidrei, he davened on behalf of those in need of yeshuos.
Rav Yehuda Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yekirei Yerushalayim and a member of the Moetzet, arrived at the yeshiva as Yom Kippur began and immediately lit yahrtzeit candles near his place in memory of his parents.
Rav Cohen received the honor of opening the Aron Kodesh for the special parnassah tefillah and received Maftir during the morning Torah reading. Several supporters traveled from abroad specifically to spend Yom Kippur with him.
At one point during davening, Rav Cohen stopped the tefillah and asked the bochurim not to shout. He explained that in Shomayim they seek tefillah that comes from the depths of the heart and with proper kavanah, even when it is not accompanied by shouting.
Before Ne’ilah, he described those final moments of Yom Kippur as being, so to speak, in a yichud room with the Ribbono Shel Olam — a uniquely powerful opportunity for hisorerus.
After the fast, at Rabbeinu Tam, Rav Cohen made Havdalah for the bochurim. They then broke into the singing of “Emes Mah Nehedar Hayah Kohen Gadol B’tzeiso B’Shalom Min Hakodesh.”
Rav Chaim Feinstein, rosh yeshiva of Ateres Shlomo, spent Yom Kippur at the yeshiva campus in Rishon LeTzion. Following Kol Nidrei, he addressed the thousands of mispallelim about the unique power and holiness of Yom Kippur itself.
At Mincha, Rav Feinstein received Maftir Yonah, which he has personally read for approximately 60 years with his distinctive and emotional nusach. When he reached the words “Ki yode’a ani ki besheli hasa’ar hagadol hazeh,” his voice broke with tears, sending a palpable tremor through the bais medrash.
Following the longstanding practice regarding the special power of the Mi Shebeirach after Maftir Yonah, Rav Feinstein recited a Mi Shebeirach and mentioned hundreds of names that had been submitted for tefillah.
At Yeshivas Hanegev-Schar Sachir in Netivot, the roshei yeshiva, headed by Rav Avraham Levi, spent Yom Kippur with the yeshiva. During Kol Nidrei, Rav Levi, Rav Dovid Lev and Mashgiach Rav Moshe Kuhn held the Sifrei Torah.
In an unusual move during Krias HaTorah, Rav Levi requested a Mi Shebeirach for Rav Bunim Schreiber, Rav Chaim Berman and his relative Rav Dov Kook. Rav Kuhn made a Mi Shebeirach for the rosh yeshiva, Rav Yaakov Yehuda Leib Aryeh ben Heiga Tzipora, who has recently been unwell.
Mussaf concluded at 3:10 p.m., with Mincha beginning just 20 minutes later at 3:30. After Ne’ilah, the yeshiva’s rabbonim and entire tzibbur danced together for approximately half an hour, singing songs of hisorerus.
Rav Shlomo Tzvi Fruchter, one of the roshei yeshiva, attended the Yom Kippur tefillos despite considerable weakness following medical treatment during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah and led Shacharis.
Rav Yitzchok Hacker, rosh yeshiva of Grodno, davened at home with a small minyan of close talmidim and family members. The tefillos followed the traditional Grodno nusach and melodies established by the longtime baal tefillah R’ Ephraim Piontek.
Rav Yechiel Wilansky led Mussaf, while Rav Avraham Yitzchok Shoymer, a grandson of the late baal tefillah Rav Tzvi Eisenstein zt”l, led Ne’ilah.
Rav Hacker held a Sefer Torah for Kol Nidrei alongside his son Rav Yosef Shlomo, who serves as rosh kibbutz in the yeshiva. During Shacharis, Rav Hacker received the third aliyah and requested a special Mi Shebeirach for his longtime colleague in leading the yeshiva, Rav Tzvi Drabkin.
For Maftir Yonah, Rav Hacker honored his close talmid R’ Shmuel Vanderwalde, who has devoted considerable effort in recent years to registering new talmidim for the yeshiva.
Ne’ilah was filled with emotion, with Rav Hacker’s voice heard clearly throughout the home as he davened for yeshuos for Klal Yisroel. At the conclusion, his son Rav Yosef Shlomo blew the shofar.
One of the most emotional developments of Erev Yom Kippur occurred in Tiveria, where Rav Dov Kook returned directly from rehabilitation to his bais medrash so that he could spend Yom Kippur among his talmidim.
A special enclosed room was constructed for Rav Kook inside the bais medrash, enabling him to remain present for the tefillos while receiving the privacy and medical supervision his condition requires. The public was asked to continue davening for the complete recovery of Rav Chizkiyahu Dov HaKohen Kook ben Shoshana.
At Yeshivas Bais Meir in Bnei Brak, a private caravan was brought to the yeshiva for Rosh Yeshiva Rav Tzvi Rotberg, allowing him to rest there during the breaks between tefillos.
At the Rav Mendel Bais Medrash in Bnei Brak, there was a change from longstanding Yom Kippur practice. Rav Yerachmiel Birenzweig was unable to deliver his traditional address following Kol Nidrei because of his health. Although his condition has been improving, he remains in need of tefillos.
In his place, his son Rav Aharon Birenzweig, rosh bais medrash in the Mir Yeshiva and head of Vaad Mevakshei Hashem, delivered the address.
At Yeshivas Be’er HaTalmud in Yerushalayim, the Yom Kippur atmosphere included a newly installed paroches in honor of the Yemei Hadin and an unusually large turnout of alumni.
Five hundred seats were prepared for bochurim and alumni in the main Yerushalayim bais medrash, in addition to the yeshiva’s branches in Ofakim and Chazon Yechezkel.
After davening, the bochurim passed before Rosh Yeshiva Rav Chanoch Cohen and the yeshiva’s rabbonim to receive wishes for a gmar chasimah tovah. Rav Yehuda Batzri and Rav Eliezer Aharoni served as baalei tefillah. Mussaf concluded at 2:10 p.m., and Mincha began at 3 p.m.
For the first time, Rav Cohen received Maftir during the morning Torah reading rather than the Kohen aliyah, allowing him to recite additional brachos on Yom Kippur. Mashgiach Rav Eliyahu Aharon continued his annual practice of receiving Maftir Yonah at Mincha.
During Unesaneh Tokef, alumnus Rav Dovid Attias led the tefillah. When he reached the words “Mi yichyeh umi yamus,” the bochurim broke down in tears as Attias, who has experienced the loss of his father in recent years, delivered the words with exceptional emotion.
Several new melodies were incorporated into the tefillos this year, including tunes associated with Reb Shlomo Carlebach and other familiar niggunim during the Avodah and concluding portions of the tefillah. Before Ne’ilah, Rav Cohen delivered divrei hisorerus concerning the final sealing of the day.
At Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim, headed by Rav Tzemach Mazuz, large numbers of alumni arrived from across Eretz Yisroel to spend Yom Kippur in the yeshiva. Rav Mazuz led Ne’ilah.
For Kol Nidrei, Rav Mazuz stood together with Rav Y. Haddad and Rav M. Sagron, mashgichim of the yeshiva gedolah and yeshiva ketana.
In the yeshiva ketana, Rav Mazuz gave the honor of taking out the Kol Nidrei Sefer Torah to bochurim who committed themselves not to interrupt Sedarim Alef and Bais with idle conversation through the end of the winter zman. In the yeshiva gedolah, the honor went to bochurim who accepted upon themselves to learn a specified number of blatt Gemara.
An especially painful moment came during the memorial tefillos following Kol Nidrei. Rav Mazuz followed the yeshiva’s custom of mentioning departed Gedolei and Chachmei Yisroel, but this year, for the first time, included his brother, the late rosh yeshiva, and Rav Rachamim Mazuz zt”l. His voice broke as he wept.
For the haftoros, Rav Mazuz honored Rav Yair Mazuz, son of Rav Rachamim Mazuz zt”l, one of the roshei yeshiva who was niftar during the past year.
Before Ne’ilah, Rav Mazuz invoked the familiar expression “I missed the train,” telling the bochurim that this was precisely the situation confronting them: the final moments before the chasimah were arriving, and every remaining moment had to be used for regret, teshuvah and accepting at least one meaningful improvement.
At the conclusion of the fast, Rav Mazuz blew the shofar and made Havdalah. The yeshiva’s bochurim and alumni then passed before him to receive the traditional bracha, “Tizku l’shanim rabbos ne’imos v’tovos.” After a light break-fast, the entire yeshiva returned to the bais medrash for an extended learning seder, as is its annual Motzoei Yom Kippur practice.
At Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Yerushalayim, the Yom Kippur tefillos also proceeded as they do each year, with minyanim held both in the hospital shul and on its terrace.
Rav Yosef Sprung, Rav of the medical center, served as shliach tzibbur. Before Ne’ilah, his father, Rav Zechariah Sprung, delivered divrei hisorerus to the patients, family members and other mispallelim as the final moments of Yom Kippur approached.
{Matzav.com}
