Since Wednesday morning, continuous prayer shifts have been held at Brisk Yeshiva, with Psalms and the 13 Attributes of Mercy recited in an effort to secure a full recovery for the yeshiva’s head, Rabbi Aharon Yehoshua HaLevi ben Atill Soloveitchik. The prayers took place in the legendary study hall where he has given classes for about 50 years, the same room that once served Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik and, before that, the large hall from which Torah study has been radiating to the Jewish people for nearly 90 years.
A mass prayer was also held at the Western Wall, but the main focus was a special gathering at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meron, attended by leading disciples and many who prayed for the yeshiva head’s condition. The report says Rabbi David Miller, one of the heads of Ponevezh Yeshiva and himself a former Brisk student from nearly 50 years ago, decided to organize the prayer journey at the site because Rabbi Soloveitchik of Brisk had described it as a place for prayer. During the illness of Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik, his תלמידים, including Rabbi Shach, also went there to pray.
Accordingly, Miller instructed that a special prayer be held there now for Rabbi Aharon Yehoshua Soloveitchik. The article says the hope is that, through the power of communal prayer, God will grant him a complete recovery and allow his many students to continue benefiting from his teaching for years to come in good health.
Shortly before midnight, a group of prominent Torah figures and students arrived in Meron, including Rabbi David Miller, Rabbi Yitzchak Dov Shchter, Rabbi Tzvi Barvorman, Rabbi Meir Kessler, Rabbi Aryeh Branstain, Rabbi Moshe Bunim Kruis, Rabbi Menachem Kraus, Rabbi Zvi David Zuckerman, Rabbi Yerucham Poverksy, Rabbi Yaakov Gadalia Waldenberg, Rabbi Shaya Gorlick, Rabbi Chaim Zelznik, David Holz, and Rabbi Winterub’s son-in-law. Rabbi Yirmiyahu Tucker, one of Brisk’s senior students and a veteran prayer leader from Hebron Yeshiva on the High Holidays, led the prayers, and Psalms were recited במשך several hours with great emotional intensity.
