HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky arrived Thursday for a special visit to Yerushalayim and to the Kosel, as he does each year in the days immediately after Shavuos.

Prior to arriving at the Kosel, he visited the three story Sukkas Dovid Yeshiva Ketana which was founded by Rav Menachem Batzri zt”l. Rav Chaim gave a bracha to the menahel and to the talmidim. Several hundred students greeted him with song and cheer, carrying flags in their hands. They sang, Yamim al yemei melech tosif – wishing that Hashem grant longevity to the King of Torah.

Afterward, Rav Chaim arrived at the dedication of the cornerstone for a new wing of the Darche Rochel Seminary (Mendelson) in the Tamir compound in Jerusalem. This is in the area that remains in dispute between the Shas party and the municipality.

Also in attendance were HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Scheiner, HaGaon HaRav David Cohen, HaGaon Rav Yaakov Gens, the Chairman of Degel Hatorah. Member of Knesset Moshe Gafni and MKs Uri Maklev, Yaakov Asher and Yitzhak Pindrus, the Mayor of Jerusalem Moshe Leon, Right-wing parties’ Rafi Peretz, members of the city council and others.

Rav Chaim poured the concrete of the foundation stone to the wing that would be called the “Tent of Bat-Sheva” in memory of Rebbetzin Batsheva Kanievsky.

Rav Chaim then visited the Aish World Center, Dan Family Building across from the Western Wall. The entrances of the Aish World Center were packed with people trying to get a glimpse of Rav Chaim. Rav Chaim entered the building through Aish’s Kotel Plaza ‘Hochstein Entrance’ and took the elevator up to the Aish World Center rooftop terrace, overlooking the Kotel and Temple Mount, to daven mincha. The roof of the Aish World Center has a breathtaking panoramic view of the Western Wall, Temple Mount, Mount of Olives and surrounding mountains.

After Mincha, Rav Chaim went downstairs to visit the students and Rebbeim at Yeshivas Aish HaTorah to wish them a bracha and hazlacha.

PHOTOS BELOW BY DAVID ZER FOR YWN:

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)