Adopt-a-Kollel coordinator Rabbi Chaim Heller relates the remarkable odyssey behind the partnership of Kollel Ateres Yisroel led by Hagaon Rav Boruch Mordechai Ezrachi and Khal Talmidei haYeshivos of Flatbush led by Rav Binyomin Cohen, shlita.
“Someone in Yeshiva Rabbeinu Chaim Berlin, related to me that he went to ask a shaila to Rav Binyomin Cohen. Rav Cohen answered the shaila by relating a psak from Rav Yosef Efrati. There was a yid there that made somewhat of a disparaging remark against Rav Efrati to which Rav Cohen countered, “If we can’t agree that what Rav Efrati says is Torah than the discussion is over.” Meanwhile, for some reason, I heard the name “Rav Ezrachi,” not “Rav Efrati.” I thought to myself, if Rav Cohen has such tremendous esteem for Rav Ezrachi, perhaps Rav Ezrachi has a Kollel that we can match up with his shul.
“I asked, Reb Yankel Bernfeld if Rav Ezrachi has a Kollel and ultimately that is how the partnership came about. He said Efrati, I heard Ezrachi, because an Adopt-a-Kollel partnership is like a shidduch. If it is min haShomayim that a certain kehillah is destined to partner with a certain kollel it will happen, even if it means “Efrati,” becoming “Ezrachi!”