Jerusalem's Old City Hosts Historic Tour for 'Zikaron Olam' and 'Meiri Olam' Torah Learners
During the intermediate days of the Jewish holiday period known as Bein Hazmanim, a unique series of guided tours took place in Jerusalem's Old City for members of the 'Zikaron Olam' and 'Meiri Olam' kollels, part of the 'Or Olam' center. Nearly 500 kollel members, along with their children, participated in the educational tours, which included visits to historically significant sites such as the ruins of Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid in the Jewish Quarter and the Southern Wall of the Western Wall.
The tours were led by Rabbi Israel Goldwasser, head of the kollels and a noted lecturer, who captivated participants with detailed and inspiring historical insights. The event highlighted the unity of diverse Jewish communities, including Sephardic, Hasidic, and Lithuanian Torah scholars, all learning and reciting Talmud together on the ancient steps leading to the Temple Mount.
The climax of the event featured two separate emotional gatherings: one for the children of 'Meiri Olam' and another for the adult learners of 'Zikaron Olam.' Participants engaged in collective review and memorization of their studies, with the sound of Torah learning echoing across the historic site. Speeches by leading rabbis, including Rabbi Naftali Flintenstein, Rabbi Moshe Rothschild, and Rabbi Avraham Sternfeld, emphasized the spiritual importance of Torah study during Bein Hazmanim.
Rabbi Goldwasser remarked on the powerful experience of seeing hundreds of learners from all backgrounds walking in the footsteps of their ancestors and studying with great enthusiasm. The event was meticulously organized by Rabbi Mordechai Rosenberg, who ensured participants’ comfort throughout, including refreshments. Rabbi Chanoch Tzvi Rubinstein, chairman of 'Or Olam,' praised the kollel network as the largest telephone-based Torah learning initiative worldwide, underscoring its role in uniting the Jewish people through Torah study and expressing commitment to further expanding this sacred endeavor.
