The Lakewood roshei hayeshiva, Rav Malkiel Kotler and Rav Yisroel Neuman spent Shabbos Parshiyos Tazria-Metzora (April 28) with the two largest Jewish communities of Los Angeles – Rav Kotler in Los Angeles-Hancock Park, and Rav Neuman in Pico-Robertson/Beverly Hills.
The tremendous growth of Torah and Yiddishkeit in Los Angeles has been in large measure due to the city’s rabbanim, mechanchin and ba’alei batim, whose roots were nurtured in the Lakewood Yeshiva. Many started as members of the Kollel Los Angeles and eventually rose to leadership positions in the ever-growing Torah community. During the visits, the roshei hayeshiva davened in local shuls and offered words of Torah and chizuk to the mispallelim.
Rav Kotler davened at Kehillat Yavneh (Rabbi Einhorn) and at Kehillas Yaakov (Rabbi Bess), and delivered an afternoon shiur at Kollel Los Angeles (Rabbi Fasman). He concluded Shabbos by davening Minchah and having Seudah Shlishis at Bais Medrash Shaare Torah (Rabbi Langer).
Rav Neuman, a first-time visitor to the Los Angeles community, davened at Aish Hatorah and attended an Oneg Shabbos on Friday night, and gave a Shabbos afternoon shiur after davening in the morning at Adas Torah (Rabbi Revah).
The Pico-Robertson weekend ended with a Sunday morning brunch attended by Rav Kotler and the Lakewood Yeshiva mashgiach, Rav Matisyahu Salomon, who arrived that morning to lend his support.
Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz, chairman of the board of Yeshiva Rav Isacsohn and a Shabbos weekend host, introduced Rav Pinchas Gruman, an L.A. gadol b’Torah and talmid of Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, at a Sunday evening reception honoring Rav Kotler and Rav Neuman.
