In a welcome but unique forum, one could see Roshei Yeshivos Slobodka and Kol Torah alongside Roshei Yeshivot Merkaz HaRav and Har HaMor at the same kenos hosted in Binyanei Ha’uma. The Kenos Re’em hosted by Elio Moti Sonnenfeld was held last week, using the forum to release new Torah publications of the Keren.

Attending Rabbanim included Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka and member of Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah; Harav Moshe Yehuda Shlesinger, Rosh Yeshivas Kol Torah and member of Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah; Harav Yitzchak Ezrachi, Rosh Yeshivas Mir; Harav Chaim Aryeh Chadash and Harav Tzi Weinfeld, Roshei Yeshivas Ohr Elchanan; Harav Dovid Lau, Chief Rabbi of Israel; Harav Yitzchak Yeshaya Weiss, Rosh Yeshivas Alexander; Harav Moshe Shapira, one of the great baalei mussar in our generation; Harav Simcha Hakohein Kook, Rav of Rechovot; Harav Yosef Efrati, Rosh Yeshivas Beis Hamedrash L’Halacha B’Hityashvut and one of the prime disciples of Hagaon Harav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zt”l; and Harav Shlomo Levenstein, celebrated darshan and mechaber sefarim. Beside them sat Rabbanim from the Dati-Leumi sector including Harav Mordechai Sternberg, Rosh Yeshivat Har Hamor; Harav Avigdor Nebenzahl, Rav of the Old City of Jerusalem; Harav Yaakov Shapira, Rosh Yeshivat Mercaz Harav and member of the Council of the Chief Rabbinate; Harav Dov Bigon, Rosh Machon Meir; Harav Yoel Manowitz, Rosh Yeshivat Hagolan; and Harav Chananel Etrog, Rosh Yeshivat Shavei Chevron, and others.

The Kennes also boasted a distinguished representation of politicians, VIPs, and activists from both the charedi and Dati-Leumi sectors including MK Natan Slomiansky (Habayit Hayehudi); MK Yaakov Asher (UTJ); R’ Elimelech Firer, Chairman and founder of Ezra Lamarpeh; R’ Hillel Horowitz, one of the leaders of the Jewish settlement in Chevron; former Jerusalem mayor Uri Lupoliansky; former MK Eli Yishai; and Nathan Nathanson, one of the chief activists for Habayit Hayehudi.

During the course of the event, Harav Moshe Shapira lamented the untimely death of Moti Sonnenfeld’s daughter, Danielle, a”h, who was killed a year-and-a-half ago in a tragic car accident. He expounded upon the challenge of triumphing over tragedy and perpetuating a life of benevolence and activism while battling the inordinate heartache and grief of losing one so dear. He then proceeded to illuminate the deeper meaning of the concept of nechamah, comfort, while connecting it to the present month of Av.

New sifrei kodesh launched at the event included the brand-new volume of Harav Levenstein’s series U’masok Ha’ohr on inyanei Shabbos, which was published with substantial funding from the Re’em Fund and dedicated in memory of Moti Zisser, z”l, a close friend of Sonnenfeld; the second volume of Sefer Avudraham on Tefillos Shabbos and Yom Tom; Chiddushei Rabbi Yitzchak Kulitz, z”l, on Masechtos Brachos and Shabbos; the first volume of Maseches Terumos published by Beis Hamedrash L’Halachah B’Hityashvut; and the Danielle Siddur for women with a beautiful commentary by R’ Yaakov Weingarten. The above sefarim were presented to the audience by the Fund director Hagaon Harav Shlomo Werner, shlit”a. Closing remarks were given by Mr. Sonnenfeld himself who vividly expressed his vision of enhancing and reinforcing unity and cooperation among the various sectors of shomrei Torah u’mitzvos, both in terms of Torah study and widespread chesed activities, a dream that is indeed realized through the efforts of his Fund.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)