[VIDEO CLIP FROM THIS PAST SUNDAY BELOW]

The Kanievsky name is one of Torah royalty. The Steipler Gaon, Rav Yaakov Yisroel Kanievsky, was an unmatched Torah genius. His son, Rav Chaim Kanievsky, the gadol hador, is renowned for his grasp of kol haTorah kulah and for serving as the address for virtually every Klal Yisroel need today, both for the klal and the yochid. Rav Chaim’s son, Rav Shlomo Kanievsky, carries forth that legacy.

Today, Rav Shlomo serves as the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Kiryas Melech and Tiferes Tzion in Bnei Brak, a role that he undertook at the urging of his father, Rav Chaim.

Yeshiva Tiferes Tzion, was founded by Rav Shlomo’s great-uncle, the Chazon Ish, in 1936. After the Chazon Ish’s petirah, the Steipler became the primary guide of the yeshiva. In 1985, after the petiros of the Steipler and the yeshiva’s menahel, Rav Yaakov Shneidman, the yeshiva fell upon hard times. Rav Shlomo felt very strongly that he must do what he can to ensure that the yeshiva established by the Chazon Ish with mesirus nefesh would not crumble. Under Rav Shlomo’s leadership, the yeshiva began to blossom once again.

Subsequently, a yeshiva gedolah, named Kiryas Melech, was established and Rav Shlomo served as maggid shiur. Tragedy struck shortly thereafter when Rav Tzvi Sprei, who had overseen the finances of the yeshiva, and the rosh yeshiva, Rav Berel Eisenstein, both passed away. Rav Shlomo’s father, as well as his grandfather, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, instructed him to do whatever was necessary to keep the yeshiva going. Rav Shmuel Yaakov Borenstein then became rosh yeshiva together with Rav Shlomo. Ever since then, the financial burden has rested squarely on Rav Shlomo’s shoulders.

Today, the yeshiva is in dire straits. An emergency campaign has been launched to save this bastion of Torah, and Rav Shlomo has undertaken a trip overseas, during which he will visit cities across North America to garner support for the yeshiva. Rav Chaim has expressed that he will daven on behalf  of those who extend of themselves to assist his son in this campaign.

Traveling to chutz la’aretz is not a simple task or decision for Rav Shlomo. Rav Chaim has begrudgingly allowed his son to leave Eretz Yisroel in light of the desperate circumstances.

Rav Shlomo will be spending this coming Shabbos, Parshas Kedoshim, in the Fourteenth Street neighborhood of Lakewood. He will be hosted at the home of R’ Yaakov Nissin Friedman, located at 325 Case Road. Friday night, he will daven at Khal Lev Avos, led by Rav Shlomo Yitzchok Grossman. Kabbolas Shabbos will begin at 7:50 and Rav Shlomo will deliver a drasha before Marriv. He will attend the seudah and an oneg Shabbos at the home of his hosts, at 325 Case Road. Shabbos morning, he will daven at 8:45 a.m. at Bais Medrash Khal Chassidim, which is led by Rav Berel Shachar, and Rav Shlomo will deliver a drasha before Mussaf. His seudas Shabbos will take place at the home of R’ Gedalia Rieder, located at 1507 Parkside Drive. He will deliver a Pirkei Avos shiur at 8:25 p.m. at Khal Zichron Schneur, which is led by Rav Osher Chaim Lieberman, followed by Maariv.

This unique opportunity to observe and hear from this scion of greatness is one that is not to be missed.