Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Klal Yisrael Mourns


Klal Yisrael mourned for two very different circumstances: the burial of the murder victims from Toulouse, France: Rabbi Yonatan Sandler, his two children Aryeh and Gavriel and Miriam Monsonego, hy”d. We also mourn the passing of Hagaon Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, zt”l.

The students of SFW heard on Wednesday about the lives of the niftarim. We talked about the ever-present dictum mentioned in the Hagada: b’chol dor vador omdim aleinu l’chalotein - in every generation there are those who rise to destroy us. We were reminded of this truism in a blunt and tragic way with the horrendous murders of a young Rabbi and three children, murdered in cold blood for one reason: they were Jewish.

At the same time, we spoke about the incredible and inspiring life of Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg zt"l and his journey which included Poland, the United States, and Eretz Yisrael. We spoke about his incredible Torah knowledge and his tremendous devotion and dedication to Torah and to B'nei Yisrael.

Lastly, we talked about very concrete things we can do to eternalize and internalize the lives of those who are no longer with us and be mekadesh shem shamayim.

בלע המות לנצח ומחה א-דני אלקים דמעה מעל כל פנים וחרפת עמו יסיר מעל כל הארץ כי ה' דבר (ישעיהו כה)
He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord will wipe away tears from all faces and the reproach of His people He will take away from all the earth, for Hashem has spoken.