Directly opposite Rehovot’s Torah Center, Me’or HaTalmud Yeshiva, one will now see the new Kikar HaYeshiva (Yeshiva Square) which was dedicated last week in memory of Rabbi Shlomo HaKohen Kook ZT”L, who was killed 44 years ago in a tragic accident together with his wife and two of his children. Rabbi Shlomo was the much beloved and admired Chief Rabbi of Rehovot at that time, and it is also in his memory that the famous Yeshiva Me’or HaTalmud was founded.
Taking over as chief rabbi after his brother`s death, Harav Simcha HaKohen Kook Shlita embarked on the immense project of building a Yeshiva in Rehovot. Today Me’or HaTalmud is a thriving campus with 500 Talmidim. In addition, Harav Kook has gained a reputation for promoting Torah and unity, in a town whose residents are both secular and religious. Respected and beloved by diverse segments of the public, the rov has succeeded in creating a healthy dialogue with the municipality. It is in no small way thanks to the rov, that the town council members – many of whom are far removed from Yiddishkheit -unanimously agreed to name the square in the center of the city “Kikar HaYeshiva.” Clearly, they all recognize the immense contribution Yeshivas Me’or HaTalmud has had in building up a quality population in this town.
When Rehovot Chief Rabbi, Harav Simcha HaKohen Kook initiated the founding of the Yeshiva in 1978, only 15 percent of the town`s children leaned in Shabbos observant schools. Today over 50 percent of the children learn in religious schools. The town, with its vibrant yeshiva headed by the rov’s brother Harav Avraham HaKohen Kook- has become a number one option attracting talmidim and avreichim from all over the country. Acting as a magnet for serious Torah scholars, Me’or HaTalmud’s influence has gone well beyond its walls.
Speaking at the ceremony, HaRav Bentzion HaKohen Kook, nine years old when the tragedy took his parents, stressed that the new square situated between Rehovot`s historical Beit Knesset HaGadol where his father used to daven, and the yeshiva, symbolizes the essence of his father`s life- “running from the Beis Knesses to the Beis Medrash” .
Speaking about the tragedy that occurred years before, Rehovot`s Mayor Rachamim Malul said that the whole country was shocked at the time “but on the other hand today we are happy with the legacy HaRav Shlomo gave us – the yeshiva and this important family.”
Photos:
Harav Simcha HaKohen Kook – Rov of Rehovot & Churva, Harav Avrohom HaKohen Kook – Rosh Yeshiva, Harav Ben Zion Kook – son of Harav Shlomo ZT”L and the Mayor of Rehovot Mr. Rachamim Malul.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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Yeshivat Maor haTalmud was established in Jerusalem by haRav Chaim Zilivansky (zt”l). It moved to Rehovot in 1977 with the cooperation of Rabanit Kook, the mother of haRav Shlomo and haRav Simcha, who provided haRav Shlomo’s house as the first site of the yeshiva.