Rabbi Blocks Ears, Cries 'Empty Blessing' at Yeshiva Event

A notable incident occurred at the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak during a "Siyum HaShas" (completion of the Talmud study) ceremony held on the eve of Rosh Hashanah. The event was dedicated to the memory of Meir Shaer, a yeshiva student who tragically passed away during the "bein hazmanim" (intermediate vacation period).

During the ceremony, Rabbi Yisrael Bonom Shreiber, head of the Netiv HaDa'at Yeshiva and a prominent Torah scholar, rose to deliver a strengthening discourse. As he prepared to speak, one of the yeshiva students stood up and loudly recited the rare blessing, "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who has shared of His wisdom with those who fear Him."

Rabbi Shreiber, known for his strict adherence to Halakha (Jewish law) and aversion to honor, reacted immediately and decisively. He covered his ears with both hands to avoid hearing the end of the blessing and rebuked the student in front of hundreds of attendees, exclaiming, "It's the eve of Rosh Hashanah! An empty blessing!"

The rabbi's strong protest, stemming from concern about reciting a potentially unnecessary blessing on the Day of Judgment, stunned the audience and quickly became the main topic of discussion within the Ponevezh Yeshiva and the wider yeshiva world.