Baltimore, MD - July 5, 2017 - Harav Nachman Levovitz Shlita together with Harav Moshe Ahron Friedman Shlita and Harav Meir Tzvi Shpitzer Shlita,  visited the community of Baltimore over the weekend of Parshas Shlach through Sunday, June 18th. Dedicated as a Yom Simchas Libeinu, Sunday was a special community-wide Day of Learning and Celebration, the day's events were truly a "local" extension of the main Bicentennial Celebration held in the Bell Works Building in New Jersey before Pesach. During the preceding Shabbos of Chizuk, the spirit of the Mir was all over the city as Harav Nachman, along with Harav Moshe Ahron Friedman and Harav Meir Tzvi Shpitzer spoke in many shuls and were very warmly received. Despite the humid weather, people were running from one shul to another in order to hear as many drashos as possible.

 

 

On Sunday morning, Harav Meir Tzvi gave a halacha shiur at Harav Eichenstein's shul; he also gave a women's shiur, which many of his former seminary talmidos attended. At 2:00 in the afternoon there was a light lunch, followed by Mincha, and then the Yarchei Kallah began. After the opening shiur by Harav Meir Tzvi on the topic of mitzvas assei she'hazman grama, a large crowd sat down to learn b'chavrusa, and a fantastic Kol Torah filled the room. Following the learning session, Harav Moshe Ahron gave a shiur that wove together the lomdus as well as the practical application of the sugya. It was a highly interactive shiur, with people asking many questions.

Although many in the community were very busy that Sunday with personal simchos and obligations, they made sure to find the time to attend the evening reception. It was a beautifully arranged event, with all of the Rabbanim and communal leaders participating. Harav Sheftel Neuberger Shlita, Menahel of Yeshivas Ner Yisroel - a talmid and a parent - addressed the crowd. Harav Nachman, Rosh Yeshiva delivered a drasha on the uniqueness of our Bicentennial Celebration. It was followed by the guest speaker, Harav Uren Reich Shlita, a renowned Rosh Hayeshiva and gifted orator, who is a parent in the Mir and sends many of his tamidim to learn there. Ein lanu shiur rak haTorah hazos, Harav Reich stressed to the audience; Torah has always been the focus of our lives, and we should make sure it continues to be that way. 

In addition of their concern with the Yeshiva's financial burden, the greater Baltimore community also feels a vibrant ruchniyus connection with the Yeshiva. This is evidenced by the significant Baltimore contingent that attended the Bell Works event. Throughout Shabbos, Rabbanim in shuls all over the town, spanning the entire diverse spectrum of Baltimore's kehillos, introduced the Rabbeim very warmly by stressing the Yeshiva's impact on the city. Many Baltimore residents participate in the annual Yarchei Kallah in Yerushalayim in November as well.