Tefillah Rallies Across the Country for Reb Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin

This past week, the achdus of Klal Yisroel was on clear display as numerous gatherings were held at various locations across the United States, with Yidden joining together to say Tehillim and hear divrei hisorerus as zechuyos for Reb Sholom Mordechai ben Rivkah Rubashkin, whose sentencing hearings were held at the end of last week in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Jews of all stripes and affiliations - most who do not know Reb Sholom Mordechai at all - gathered for the sole purpose of beseeching Hakadosh Boruch Hu to grant this tremendous baal chessed and yirei Shomayim a personal geulah v'yeshuah following a travesty of justice and the most trying period of his life, during which he has been incarcerated and forced to spend his days behind bars unjustly.

Last Tuesday night, a community kinnus for men and women was held in Monsey, NY, at Yeshiva Ohr Somayach. Rav Chaim Shabbes led the assemblage in the recital of Tehillim and opening remarks were delivered by Rav Yisroel Rokowsky, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ohr Sameach. The gathering was addressed by Rav Pinchos Lipschutz, publisher of Yated Ne’eman who has spearheaded the global effort to assist Reb Sholom Mordechai during this ordeal.

Hakhel, in conjunction with Agudas Yisroel Bais Binyomin, held a major community-wide kinnus in Flatbush. Over 1,000 men and women filled Agudas Yisroel Bais Binyomin in Flatbush where messages from Rav Chaim Dovid Zwiebel, Executive Vice President of Agudas Yisroel of America, and Rav Moshe Tuvia Lieff, rov of Agudas Yisroel Bais Binyomin, were delivered. Tehillim was led by Rav Shloima Mandel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of Brooklyn.

In Chicago, a community-wide atzeres tefillah for men and women was held at Congregation Adas Yeshurun. Divrei hisorerus were delivered by Rav Dovid Zucker, rosh kollel of Zichron Shneur; Rav Zev Cohen, rov of Congregation Adas Yeshurun; and Rav Boruch Hertz, rov of Congregation Bnei Reuven.

Also last Tuesday night, for those who couldn’t attend a gathering in person, a telephone conference was held to discuss the case of Reb Shalom Mordechai, with speakers including Mrs. Nissi Streicher, publisher of Be’simcha; Mrs. Debbie Maimon, reporter for Yated Ne’eman and expert on the Rubashkin case; and Mrs. N. D. Zwiebel, renowned women’s lecturer, who offered practical actions that can be undertaken by Yidden all over the world.

Also, following the call of the gedolim, many people took time out last Tuesday at 1 p.m. to say the same three kapitlach of Tehillim.

Last Wednesday night, over 1,000 people attended a massive atzeres tefillah at Bais Faiga Hall in Lakewood, NJ. Divrei hisorerus were delivered by Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of Bais Medrash Govoah, and the main address was given by Rav Pinchos Lipschutz. The heartfelt recital of Tehillim was led by Rav Moshe Shimon Luria, rov of Bais Medrash Ohr Yechezkel and menahel of Mesivta Torah Temimah of Lakewood.

Thursday night, a community-wide kinnus for men and women of the Boro Park community was held at Agudas Yisroel Zichron Moshe of Boro Park, which is led by Rav Eliezer Horowitz. The program featured remarks from the Novominsker Rebbe, Rav Yaakov Perlow; Rav Avrohom Schorr, rov of Kehal Tiferes Yaakov of Flatbush; Rav Chaim Dovid Zweibel and Rav Pinchos Lipschutz.

In addition, throughout the last week, dozens of shuls and yeshivos across America recited Tehillim and davened for Reb Sholom Mordechai ben Rivkah.

Also last week, in a bold new campaign titled “Counter the Prosecution,” the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation (CCHF) launched a new machsom lefi specifically for the zechus of Reb Sholom Mordechai. A machsom lefi is a program in which participants undertake, bli neder, to make an extra, concerted effort to be careful with their words at a designated time each day as a means of fulfilling the mitzvah of shemiras halashon. The Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation’s morning machsom lefi is the joint effort of Jewish men, women and children across the globe each day from 9 to 10 a.m. for the zechus of Reb Sholom Mordechai.

Meanwhile, Yidden all over the world have been donating funds towards the defense of Reb Sholom Mordechai. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have poured into the Pidyon Shvuyim Fund from Jews in cities across the globe. The $10, $20, $50, and $100 contributions – and some larger than that – have added up and are ensuring that Reb Sholom Mordechai has a team of legal experts who can continue to labor on his behalf.

It was a week of unity and chizuk, a week of selflessness and nosei be’ol. May the displays of achdus and ahavas Yisroel serve as merits for Reb Sholom Mordechai ben Rivkah.