[VIDEO & PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE]

Approximately 15,000 people gathered in Lakewood, Sunday afternoon, at the massive event honoring the 50th Yartzheit of Hagon Rav Aaron Kotler ZATZAL, the founder and Rosh Yeshiva of Bais Medrash Gavoah (BMG).

The event on Sunday was the end of a packed weekend of events honoring the legacy of Rav Aaron.

The weekend of events starting on Thursday evening through Sunday evening drew tens of thousands of Bnei Torah.

Shabbos was one of the most unique Shabbosos that Lakewood ever experienced. Over Friday night, many Oneg Shabbosim took place across Lakewood hosted by talmidim of Rav Aharon.

On Motzei Shabbos thousands gathered for the annual Siyum Hashas which was held in memory of Rav Aharon.

The main event, which was held on Sunday took place at Seventh Street and Private Way, at the former site of Bais Eliyahu.

The crowd was in awe at the sight of the mammoth three-level dais, which sat hundreds upon hundreds of roshei yeshiva, admorim, and rabbonim, from Lakewood and across the globe.

The assembled guests heard drashos from Rav Malkiel Kotler, rosh yeshiva of BMG; Rav Matisyahu Salomon, mashgiach of BMG; Rav Uren Reich, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedola of Woodlake Village; and Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva of South Fallsburg.

Tehillim followed by “achei kol bais yisroel” was recited for the ongoing situation in Eretz Yisroel.

In conjunction with the azkara, the hanachas even hapinah of the latest and soon-to-be biggest bais medrash of Bais Medrash Govoah take place. This bais medrash will be built upon the former site of Bais Medrash Bais Eliyahu.

Mr. Meir Levine of Los Angeles, who is dedicating the new Bais Yitzchok bais medrash on the site, addressed the crowd, followed by the noted philanthropist and Askan Mr. Ralph Herzka, who will be dedicating Binyan Herzka in memory of his parents, Rav Yaakov Yitzchok and Esther Herzka. Mr. Herzka’s father was one of Rav Aaron’s first talmidim in Lakewood.

A Sefer Torah written in memory of Rav Aharon was dedicated by philanthropist Mr. Ira Rennert. The final Osios were completed by the Roshei Yeshiva and other Chashuvim, and was danced to the Beren Building of the yeshiva.

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