A Day in Mexico City
Four thousand people filled one of the Centro Banamex conference halls in Mexico City for a chizuk gathering led by HaRav Shteinman following his visits to the US and Canada last week. After Minchah the speakers included HaRav Shlomo Tawil, rov of Kehilat Magen David, HaRav David Shweiki, head of Aram Tzova Institutions, and HaRav Avraham Shevut, head of Keter Torah Institutions.
When HaRav Shteinman took the podium he remained silent for a moment. Then he began to discuss the value of the days preceding Matan Torah, saying that preparation requires unity among all of the various kehillos. When he finished speaking HaRav Shlomo Tawil translated his remarks into Spanish. Then the entire gathering accepted the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven together, ke'ish echod beleiv echod.
The next morning hundreds of local residents joined the Rosh
Yeshiva for Shacharis at Kollel Me'or Avraham, headed
by HaRav Shevut. After the tefilloh HaRav Menachem
Juni, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Keter Torah. Some people
wonder, he said, why such a great gaon, of such an advanced
age, takes the trouble to travel to visit them.
But if someone were able to point out that the Rosh Yeshiva's grandchildren live in Mexico City and Argentina, no one would have any questions. She'al ovicho veyageidcho — Gedolei Yisroel are called our fathers and our grandfathers. So it is just that the Rosh Yeshiva had taken the trouble to travel so far because he has 1,800 children and grandchildren in Mexico City — the talmidim studying at the city's Torah-true schools.
HaRav Shteinman expressed his deep concern over assimilation around the world, saying the reason was the lack of yeshivas. Suddenly he burst into tears, saying, "Please, continue founding more yeshivas, more kollelim, so that we can pull the wagon along despite the difficulties, until bi'as Moshiach Tzidkeinu."
Later a reception was held in the home of HaRav David Shweiki followed by a tour of the city's Torah halls and educational institutions, including a meeting of local educators. Monday night HaRav Shteinman flew to Buenos Aires.
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