No one can remember a prayer assembly as moving and impressive as what took place this Monday, Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan, the day that the Shlah Hakadosh determined as a time of special segulah to pray for the souls of our children and offspring, for which he composed a special tefilah which has been embraced by Jews everywhere. On these holy words of prayer, myriads of Jewish children grew up, among them the Gedolei Yisrael of all generations.

This ma’amad took place in the plaza of the Shlah’s gravesite and was attended by thousands. Excitement swept the crowd as the leading Rabbanim shlita appeared one after another: Harav Hagaon Shmuel Auerbach shlita, the Rebbe of Vizhnitz shlita, the Rebbe of Biale shlita, Hamashgiach Harav Hagaon Dov Yaffe shlita, the Rebbe of Tchernobyl shlita, Harav Hagaon Shmuel Yaakov Borenstein shlita, Harav Hagaon Eliyahu Shmuel Shmerler shlita (rosh yeshivas Tzanz), Harav Hagaon Hamekubal David Abuhazeira shlita, Harav Hagaon Ezriel Auerbach shlita (chairman of Vaad Harabanim), Harav Hagaon Hatzaddik Reuven Elbaz shlita.

The opening address was delivered by the Rebbe of Biale shlita, followed by Harav Hagaon Shmuel Yaakov Borenstein shlita who led Tehillim sealed by yehi ratzon and yud gimel middos.

The climax was when Maranan v’Rabbanan Gedolei v’Tzaddikei Hador shlita led the public recitation of Tefilas Hashlah with teary eyes and great emotion. All hearts united in fervent prayer to the Ribono shel Olam for the spiritual and material welfare of our children and offspring – especially that they should see great success in Torah, yiras Shamayim and middos tovos.

Then the Rabbanim spent a long time carefully reciting every name on the specially prepared list from Vaad Harabanim. Also, a special tefilah was recited for the health and speedy recovery of Moreinu Posek Hador Harav Hagaon Yosef Shalom ben Chayah Musha Elyashiv shlita.

A parallel convocation was held at the gravesite of Moreinu Hagadol HaChazon Ish zatzal, led by Harav Hagaon Yaakov Edelstein shlita, who prayed at length for the donors of Vaad Harabanim and their children and offspring, reciting the special tefilah that the Chazon Ish authored for meriting children diligent in Torah study and yerei Shamayim.

Another convocation was held at the Kosel Hamaaravi, headed by Hagaon Hamekubal Hatzaddik Harav Zundel Kroizer shlita, who fervently recited Tefilas Hashlah for Vaad Harabanim’s donors.

Simultaneously, the donors’ names were brought to Moreinu Posek Hador Harav Hagaon Yosef Shalom Elyashiv shlita. And the other Gedolei Hador participated from their homes: Moreinu Posek Hador Harav Hagaon Shmuel Halevi Wozhner shlita, Moreinu Rosh Hayeshiva Harav Hagaon Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman shlita, Moreinu the Rebbe of Tzanz shlita, Moreinu Harav Hagaon Nissim Karelitz shlita, Moreinu Hagadol Harav Hagaon Chaim Kanievsky shlita, the Rebbe of Rachmestrivka shlita, Moreinu Harav Hagaon Yaakov Hillel shlita. Each prayed in his own place for the children and offspring of Vaad Harabanim’s donors, that they should grow and ascend in Torah and yirah.

The massive prayer gathering concluded shortly before shkiah, with the feeling that the powerful and sincere tefilos recited therein, emanating from the pure hearts of the generation’s Torah leaders and luminaries, surely joined with the fervent tefilos of the tzibbur to pierce the shaarei Shamayim and be favorably accepted by our merciful Father in Heaven – for us, for our children and for all our offspring, amen.