Jerusalem, Israel - Apr. 22, 2018 - The golf cart that was used for years by the HaGaon Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zt"l, to move around the Mea Shearim neighborhood in Jerusalem, and identified closely with the appearance of the Posek, will be put up for public sale. After the death of Rabbi Elyashiv, the scooter was also used by the successor to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, spiritual leadership of the Shas movement, Rabbi Shalom Cohen. In two weeks the scooter will be put up for sale by Kedem Auction House in Jerusalem with an opening price of $5,000.

The cart was originally purchased by a close associate of Rabbi Elyashiv, later to be mayor of Jerusalem, Uri Lupoliansky, through his Yad Sarah organization to help the ultra-Orthodox leader move from his home at 10 Hanan Street in Mea She'arim to his Yeshiva, Tiferet Bachurim. In 2013, the elderly Rabbi Elyashiv underwent an emergency surgery, and in order to make his recovery easier for him, a Beit Midrash was built in a caravan near his home,  where he used to pray and teach Torah. His home also underwent special accessibility adjustments by Yad Sarah's accessibility and rehabilitation experts.

For many years until his death, it was a famous sight to see the special golf cart making its way in the early morning hours through the narrow alleys of Mea She'arim, with Rabbi Eliashiv, in his Tallit and Tefilin, on his way to morning prayers. During the day, he would travel in the cart between home and the Bet Midrash as needed, and also to give classes and to countless Britot, where he served as “Sandak.” His presence was surrounded always by dozens of people, disciples, admirers and those who sought his blessing and advice.

The vehicle is the property of Yad Sarah, Israel's largest volunteer organization, which has a national network for lending medical equipment, devices, accessories and technological solutions for patients with disabilities. Now that the vehicle was removed from regular circulation and is being offered for sale. Proceeds from the sale will be allocated to finance the organization's activities.

The fact that the cart was put on auction symbolizes a cultural change that the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community is undergoing, which is characterized by the adoption of cultural customs usually identified with the Hassidic community. Until recently, the Lithuanian community refrained from relating to objects and personal effects of high-ranking rabbis and attributing them special importance, a practice highly characteristic of the relationship to the Rebbes, the spiritual leaders, in the Hassidic world. Now, the Lithuanian communities have begun to adopt the practices of the glorification and admiration of spiritual leaders of Hasidic communities.

Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (1910-2012),  was one of the leading halakhic authorities and leaders for more than seventy years. He was known for his persistence in Torah study, his extensive knowledge of all parts of the Torah, and his ability to decide on complex halakhic issues. In the last years of his life he served as the leading Haredi leader, and ultra-Orthodox and secular politicians alike traveled to his extremely modest home to receive his advice and blessings.

Meron Eren, one of the owners of the Kedem auction house, notes that, “This is a historical item of exceptional sentimental value that has been given to us. The cart symbolizes the devotion of the great Haredi leader to continue to learn and teach Torah study, to his last day, at any price."