Yidden across Eretz Yisroel and around the world marked Shavuos with extraordinary scenes of Torah learning, tefillah, and spiritual elevation in the great chassidic courts, yeshivos, and botei medrash. From historic hachnosas Sifrei efer Torah and massive gatherings at the Kosel to heartfelt tefillos for the recovery of Rav Dov Kook of Teveria, the days of zeman matan Toraseinu were filled with inspiration and emotion.
Throughout Shavuos and Shabbos, tefillos continued for the recovery of the tzaddik Rav Dov Kook of Teveria, who has remained hospitalized at Poriya Medical Center for more than two weeks. Family members reported that during the Yom Tov he responded several times by opening his eyes when spoken to, though his condition remains serious and no major improvement has yet been seen. The tzibbur continues to be urged to strengthen itself in tefillah, kabbolos, and acts of chizuk for the complete recovery of Rav Dov HaKohen ben Shoshana.
Close associates said his sons, Rav Shmuel and Rav Yisroel Meir, the rov of Ashdod, remained near him throughout the Chag together with his grandson Rav Mordechai Shalosh. Tefillos for the Yom Tov were held close to his room, and despite his weakened condition, Rav Dov reportedly reacted several times to those around him.
In the court of Gur in Yerushalayim, preparations had been made well in advance for the tens of thousands of chassidim who arrived to spend the Chag with the Rebbe. Organizers prepared 6,500 dining accommodations and another 6,200 sleeping arrangements. Nineteen aufrufs for upcoming chassanim were celebrated over Shabbos. The Rebbe also hosted a kiddush in honor of his nephew’s wedding and announced after Shabbos that any bochur who had celebrated a bar mitzvah but had not yet received a Tehillim from the Rebbe could still come and obtain one.
In Belz, joyous news spread on Erev Shavuos with the birth of a great-granddaughter to the Rebbe, born to his grandson Rav Dovid Rokeach. The Rebbe himself led many of the tefillos over Yom Tov. The kiddusha rabba celebrating the birth was held on Shabbos Naso in Kiryas Belz with tens of thousands of chassidim in attendance from around the globe. The child was named Chaya Devorah after the Rebbetzin, wife of the Maharid of Belz, whose yahrtzeit falls this week.
During the emotional ne’ilas hachag gathering in Belz, the Rebbe’s gabbai, Rav Shimon Wolf Klein, announced that the campaign supporting lomdei Torah in Eretz Yisroel would continue into a third year amid what he described as growing governmental pressure against the Torah world through budget cuts and other decrees.
The gabbai praised the extraordinary mesirus nefesh shown by Belzer chassidim over the past two years in supporting kollel families and announced that the Rebbe’s “Keren Hatzolas HaTorah” would continue carrying an annual burden of roughly 12 million shekels. A public appeal was issued asking every Belzer chossid to undertake support for at least one kollel yungerman for a month at a cost of 900 shekels, or $300 abroad, while encouraging wealthier supporters to sustain multiple avreichim to ensure the continued strength of Torah learning.
In Vizhnitz, chassidim celebrated a historic hachnosas sefer Torah written by the Rebbe during the medical treatments he underwent in Los Angeles. On Erev Yom Tov, the Rebbe danced with the Torah atop a specially constructed platform. A lengthy tish followed Friday night davening, during which the Rebbe spoke about the upcoming yahrtzeit of Rav Yehudele Horowitz of Dzikov and invited Rav Mordechai Genut, publisher of the “Davar B’Ito” calendar, to share stories about the tzaddik.
Thousands also gathered in the court of Boyan in Yerushalayim, where the Rebbe spent the Chag with the chassidim in the central kloiz. Before Yom Tov, hundreds of bochurim assembled for a special two-hour learning seder. On Shabbos morning, the Rebbe invited the chassidim to the upcoming wedding of his granddaughter, daughter of the Ziditshov Chicago Rebbe. Motzoei Shabbos, the Rebbe held Kiddush Levanah in the newly developed expansion area behind the kloiz.
A particularly elevated atmosphere filled the Vizhnitz beis medrash throughout Shavuos. Before Yom Tov, the Rebbe toured the rapidly advancing construction site of the future Vizhnitz World Center. In the early morning hours of Shavuos night, the traditional Vizhnitz kedrusa d’tzafra gathering took place. The aliyah for Aseres Hadibros was reportedly purchased for four million dollars by a benefactor who dedicated the contribution toward construction of the new mikveh in the grand beis medrash.
In Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok in Meah Shearim, davening on Shavuos concluded at 5:30 p.m. The Rebbe’s Friday night tish stretched from nearly midnight until close to 4:00 a.m. Shabbos morning, the Rebbe remarked emotionally that the chassidim who remained awake throughout the night had reached the level of “malachim.”
Hundreds of chassidim traveled to Antwerp for Shavuos with the Pshevorsker Rebbe in what locals described as unprecedented numbers. During the Chag, before Akdomus, a new sefer Torah donated by philanthropist Reb Dovid Leibish Yaakobovich was brought into the beis medrash with great celebration.
A rare moment took place in the court of Lelov when, after receiving the aliyah for Aseres Hadibros, the Rebbe personally recited a Mi Shebeirach for the Vizhnitzer Rebbe’s recovery, something chassidim said is virtually unheard of, as such tefillos are normally handled by the gabbai.
In Sadigura, chassidim learned about the continued expansion of the Ateres Yisroel kollel network, which now includes more than 200 avreichim in seven branches throughout Eretz Yisroel. The Rebbe encouraged participation in “Yissochor-Zevulun” partnerships and announced a special upcoming trip to Chevron for supporters of Torah.
In Pinsk-Karlin, a Shabbos aliyah celebration took place ahead of the wedding of the Rebbe’s grandson, Yitzchok Menashe Rosenfeld. The wedding is scheduled for Tuesday in Beitar Illit.
In Sassov, a new sefer Torah written collectively by the chassidim in honor of the Rebbe was brought into the beis medrash in Ganei Tikvah with a large procession on Erev Yom Tov.
Thousands also traveled to Ukraine for Shavuos, particularly to Mezhibuzh at the kever of the Baal Shem Tov, whose yahrtzeit falls on Shavuos. The Makova rov traveled from Eretz Yisroel to lead the gathering. Accommodations were organized by Agudas Ohalei Tzaddikim. Hundreds more spent the Chag in Uman near the kever of Reb Nachman of Breslov.
Among the gedolei Yisroel and yeshivos, the atmosphere was equally uplifting.
Rav Moshe Sternbuch spent Shavuos with his talmidim in Ramat Beit Shemesh. Before Maariv on Erev Yom Tov, he addressed the crowd with words of chizuk. He participated in the all-night learning in the yeshiva and later personally recited a Mi Shebeirach for donors supporting the construction of new yeshiva buildings. On Shabbos, a kiddusha rabba was held in honor of the birth of his great-granddaughter.
Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman led tefillos in his beis medrash at Yeshivas Rashbi in Bnei Brak. Large crowds lined up after Maariv to receive a heartfelt “Gut Yom Tov.” During the Chag, he conducted Mi Shebeirachs for many gedolim and roshei yeshiva in need of refuos.
At the home of the mashgiach Rav Dan Segal, a special event was held marking the publication of “Yeshuas Dan,” his sefer on Ketzos HaChoshen. The mashgiach recited Shehecheyanu and shared a l’chaim with talmidim and supporters.
In Ponevezh Yeshiva, Rav Berel Povarsky received the aliyah of shlishi and later recited a special Mi Shebeirach for the thousands of talmidim and supporters of the yeshiva. The yeshiva additionally marked a full year since beginning use of its new sefer Torah dedicated to the memory of Rav Gershon Edelstein.
At Mir Yeshiva, the batei medrash were overflowing with thousands of talmidim, avreichim, and alumni led by the roshei yeshiva and mashgichim. Special preparation shmuessen were delivered before Yom Tov, and emotional singing filled the beis medrash before Shacharis. Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel received the aliyah for Aseres Hadibros while Rav Binyomin Finkel lained with visible emotion and tears. The yeshiva also celebrated the birth of a grandson to the mashgiach during the Chag.
The former Rishon Letzion, Rav Yitzchak Yosef, davened in his Or Chaviv beis medrash in Sanhedria surrounded by hundreds of talmidim who walked from across Yerushalayim to hear his shiurim on the halachos of Yom Tov.
Rav Chaim Feinstein instructed rabbonim delivering shiurim about korbanos on Shavuos night to avoid any implication encouraging practical korbanos today, amid recent controversies surrounding Har Habayis activism.
An especially unique initiative took place at Yeshivas Nachalas HaTorah in Bnei Brak. Following a pre-Yom Tov address by Rav Naftali Kopschitz, bochurim introduced a new seder they called “the cherry on top.” Rather than collapsing into bed after davening and eating dairy foods, bochurim returned to the beis medrash for an additional intense learning session before finally resting. Participants described those few extra minutes of Torah as the crowning achievement of their entire Shavuos.
At Kisei Rachamim, Rav Tzemach Mazuz led the traditional Tikkun Leil Shavuos. Witnesses described visible emotion on the rosh yeshiva’s face as he exclaimed “Oraisah, Oraisah” during the recitation of the Zohar. Thousands joined him in singing songs of longing and love for Torah.
Meanwhile, the Western Wall Heritage Foundation reported that more than 100,000 people visited the Kosel over Shavuos and Shabbos. The peak came at sunrise davening on Shavuos morning, when over 20,000 people packed the Kosel plaza for vasikin, singing, and the recitation of Akdomus. Tens of thousands of personal kiddush packages were distributed afterward in partnership with Colel Chabad. Thousands also streamed to the nearby kever of Dovid Hamelech throughout the Chag in observance of his yahrtzeit.
{Matzav.com}
