Indescribable Chizuk and Emotion for Children of “Habein Yakir” of Ger in America, Following Visit of Rav Shloime Tzvi Alter, Son of Gerer Rebbe, Shlit”a

Dozens of children from “Habein Yakir”—an organization founded by the Gerer Rebbe, shlit”a, to strengthen families who have lost a parent—find themselves deeply inspired, strengthened, and encouraged following a lengthy visit by Rav Shloime Tzvi Alter, shlit”a, a dear son of the Gerer Rebbe, shlit”a, who devoted to them countless hours of his time during a recent visit to the United States.

“Haben Yakir” was founded by the Gerer Rebbe, and is led by his Son Rav Shloime Tzvi. Its purpose is to provide support and encouragement for families in the chassidus who have suffered the loss of a parent. The organizations accompanies these families through thick and thin, through challenge and triumph.

During this visit to America, Rav Alter devoted himself specifically to the American division of the organization, attending simchos among Haben Yakir’s families, and sharing joy and divrei Torah which left them all deeply strengthened and inspired. The highlight of the visit was the Shabbos spent together with the children, which was filled with illumination and joy, beautiful seudos and hours spent together in close proximity to the Rebbe’s cherished son.

Welcoming Royalty

On Wednesday of last week, Rav Shloime Tzvi arrived in America, and headed directly for Lakewood, where he met with twenty men who had tragically lost their wives. These fathers hailed from various communities, but are united in their deep loss, and they invited Rav Alter to speak for them. Despite never having met him, they were astounded by Rav Shloime Tzvi’s caring and compassion and empathy for their ordeal.

Among his remarks, he shared important advice and counsel for these fathers on how to keep their homes a place of joy, and to remain strong despite the tremendous sadness and loss. The men emerged from this meeting filled with inspiration and encouragement.

Later that evening, a special welcome event took place for the children of Haben Yakir in which Rav Shloime Tzvi spoke with them for a long time, and presented each of the children with a special gift that he brought with him from Eretz Yisroel. The evening concluded with lively dancing, infusing joy and elevation into these children who have been through so much.

That night, Rebbe’s son attended the wedding of a yasom, dancing energetically with all members of the family for a long time. Bystanders reported that one could have thought that this was the wedding of his very own child.

On the following day, Rav Shloime Tzvi attended a number of events at which he met with chassidim throughout the Tri-State Area, and then returned to Lakewood for the sheva brachos of the previous evening’s wedding. On Friday morning, he davened at the Gerer Shtiebel in Lakewood, and spoke to the mispapelim following davening.

He was then welcomed in Talmud Torah Masores Avos—one of Lakewood’s premier chassidishe mosdos which is under the leadership of Rav Moshe Pesach Grossman—and attended the weekly erev Shabbos event. He spoke for the children, and distributed sweets to each and every one of the talmidim.

Shabbos in Boro Park

He spent Shabbos Parashas Lech Lecha in Boro Park. He stayed at the home of Reb Nechemia Eckstein, the son of Rav Moshe Eckstein, a mechutan of the Rebbe. He attended the Bar Mitzvah of the son of Reb Yaakov Klein, a major philanthropist in the chassidus, and the son of the unforgettable Rav Avrohom Noach Klein, z”l. He at the seudas Shabbos in the Klein home together with distinguished Gerer chassidim and the children of “Haben Yakir,” delivering divrei Torah and divrei chizuk throughout.

An emotional moment was when Rav Shloime Tzvi quoted his saintly father, the Gerer Rebbe, who said to give over to the children that, “although we’re physically distant, we’re nevertheless close.” He also distributed candy that the Rebbe had sent especially for the children.

On Shabbos morning, Rav Shloime Tzvi ate the seudas Shabbos together with the bachurim of the Gerer yeshiva. When each of the bachurim came by to give l’chaim, he expressed interest in their respective progress in learning and avodas Hashem. Seuda Shlishis was conducted in the Gerer Shtiebel Birchas Eliyahu on 18th Avenue together with the Gerer Rov and a very large crowd of chassidim.

Melave Malka was held in conjunction with a dinner benefitting “Haben Yakir at the well-appointed offices of Reb Binyomin Beitel, an important Gerer philanthropist. In his inspiring remarks, Rav Shloime Tzvi spoke about the importance and about the privilege of assisting the yesomim through this organization. “We must treat the tragedy of our fellow Yidden as thought it had affected us personally,” he said, emotional, with the pain of the orphans evident.

Visiting the Gerer Institutions

On Sunday morning, he davened with the bachurim in the Mechina L’Yeshiva Beis Yisroel in Boro Park, and sat down for l’chaim with the bachurim following davening, sharing beautiful divrei Torah and inspiring words. He then visited each and every classroom of Talmud Torah Imrei Emes, sharing words of chizuk, and noting the yohrtzeit of Rachel Imeinu which fell that day. He also tested the children on what they were learning.

Rav Shloime Tzvi paid a special visit to “Kollel Mezumanim,” where yungeleit devote themselves to mastering enormous portions of Torah. He conducted a bechinah which took a long time, and later spent individual time with the yungeleit, inquiring about their progress and growth in Torah. He later made his way to the Central Kollel d’Chasidei Gur, under the leadership of Rav Meir Widislowsky, and was present at the farher by Rav Leibel Wulliger, shlit”a.

Later that night, he attended a wedding in Monsey, inspiring and elevating the entire atmosphere, and dancing at length with all members of the family. He stayed in Monsey overnight, and davened in the Gerer shtiebel in Monsey on Monday morning, drinking l’chaim and sharing divrei Torah with the olam.

Tuesday morning found Rav Shloime Tzvi once again in Boro Park, where he served as the sandak at a bris of a Gerer chossid. He also attended the levaya of Mrs. Blima Brunner, the wife of, ybl”ch, Reb Yosef Aryeh Brunner, a generous supporter of the Toraso organization, which encourages Torah mastery for thousands of Gerer yungeleit. He accompanied the aron until after the kevurah.

After attending the wedding of a Gerer family, he made his way to the home of a yasom who would be celebrating his bar mitzvah the following week, drinking l’chaim and celebrating this incredible occasion with this young man who will never forget the hours of joyous dancing that evening.

He also visited the home of Reb Shloime Werdiger, a major Gerer philanthropist, and paid a shivah call to the Brunner’s. He also visited the home of Reb Binyomin Beitel who singlehandedly shoulders the burden of Haben Yakir’s American division.

A gathering was held for three hundred Gerer yungeleit and balebatim who participate in the Rebbe’s program and test themselves regularly on many dafim of Shas.

An Exalted Shabbos with Haben Yakir

The pinnacle of the visit was the second Shabbos that Rav Shloime Tzvi spent in America, joining the talmidim of Haben Yakir for an incredible Shabbos in upstate New York. It would be filled with beauty and inspiration, joy and illumination that would remain in the hearts of these boys forever.

Arriving upstate, they made their way to the home of the Satmar Rebbe who was deeply moved by the work of this organization, and also delivered divrei chizuk to the boys. Over Friday and Shabbos, Rav Shloime Tzvi went on pleasant strolls with the talmidim—all to strengthen and encourage them.

Kabbolas Shabbos was unforgettable, as every stanza of Lecha Dodi was placed a different lively niggun. The singing and dancing went on for a long time, and the atmosphere was electric. This theme continued into the seudas Shabbos, where each of the boys got up to speak, and was thanked by the honored guest.

The Shabbos was filled with words of chizuk and emotional salve. On Motzei Shabbos, the entire group visited the homes of the Admorim of Viznitz-Monsey and Skver. The Skverer Rebbe distributed a fruit to each of the boys, and paid special interest to their well-being.

A Melave Malka to Remember

This highlight Shabbos culminated with a melave malka at the home of Reb Berel Karniel, an important patron of numerous Torah initiatives. After washing for a festive meal, they would spend the long evening with Rav Shloime Tzvi.

A special surprise was the appearance of the legendary Hershy Weinberger, who asked each of the boys about their emotions and sentiments following the Shabbos—and proceeded to create heartfelt grammen based on the things they shared.

With reverence and surprise, they greeted the Rachmastrivka Rebbe of Spring Valley, who related to the children that he was himself a yasom as a child. It was very difficult for him, he shared, and proceeded to share the things that gave him strength. This was followed by a hilarious performance by the legendary Langsam and Feldman duo who infused joy and light into the entire atmosphere.

It was close to four o’clock in the morning when Rav Shloime Tzvi took leave of the young boys, and presented them each with a memento.

This incredible visit infused tremendous chizuk into each of the boys of Haben Yakir, and will accompany them for a long time to come.