On Motzoei Shabbos Parshas Bereishis a remarkable renewal event was held celebrating 3 years of partnership between K’hal Beis Dovid of Lakewood led by Rav Meir Eiseman, and Kollel Nachalas Tzvi of Yerushalayim led by Rosh Kollel, Rav Yitzchok Alster one of the prominent talmidim of Rav Yitzchok Hunter, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin.
The highlight of the event was the presence and powerful address given by HaGaon HaRav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood.
K’hal Beis Dovid has a unique and deep bond with the Rosh Kollel, Rav Yitzchok Alster, who spends the entire month of Tishrei with the Kehillah every year. During that month, Rav Alster, who resides for the month with his son, a member of the Kehillah, imparts the unique mesorah that he received from his own Rebbi, Rav Hutner and the other gedolim from previous generations with whom he has been connected. The members of the kehillah revel in the zechus to learn from this great talmid chacham, observe his avodah and hear his heartfelt tefillos, said with such sweetness as well as hear divrei Torah and stories of gedolei Yisrael from him.
Rabbi Simcha Bunim Olshin, a member of the kehillah, related, “The deep bond between K’hal Beis Dovid and the Rosh Kollel, Rav Alster, encapsulates the ultimate ideal of a true shutfus, partnership that has evolved into an unbreakable bond between kehillah and Kollel.”
Indeed, in his poignant remarks, Rav Malkiel Kotler outlined one of the unique aspects of the partnership that particularly moved him. He said, “It is amazing that the members of the shul of whom the majority are kollel yungeleit or klei kodesh, have undertaken the task of helping to support a Kollel. They are able to undertake such a partnership because there love of Torah and chessed is so profound that that it pours forth from them to the extent that they feel they simply cannot refrain from supporting such a wonderful makom Torah where yungeleit learn Torah m’toch hadechak. Torah that is supported with such mesiras nefesh retains a quality and kedusha that is incalculable,” said the rosh yeshiva, “and it is this desire to bond with Toras Eretz Yisrael in such a deep way that is responsible for the unique kesher that the kehillah has with the Kollel.”
Rav Meir Eiseman, the shul’s Rav also addressed the event, hailing the purity of heart of the kehillah for their deep desire to support the kollel.
The Rosh Kollel, Rav Yitzchok Alster, was not scheduled to speak but unable to contain his emotion he spontaneously stood up to convey his deep feelings of hakoras hatov.
