Bold Initiative By R’ Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz Propels Mexican Jewish Community to New Heights

By: L. Halevi

The historic Mosdos Derech Emet dinner that took place a few months ago in Mexico was an unbelievable event that is still being talked about far and wide, as it sparked a Torah revolution.

The tremendous Kiddush Hashem on display at the dinner, with over a hundred Rabbonim from around the world in attendance, was a unique and powerful display of Kavod Hatorah.

But most of all, the dinner was a tremendous Chizuk to the entire Frum Kehila in Mexico and served as the impetus for the establishment of new Mosdos Hatorah and new programs to service the spiritual needs of the Mexican community, both Sephardic and Ashenazic, who are unified in their dedication to spreading Torah-True Judaism in their midst.

Some of the dignitaries who traveled to Mexico specifically for the dinner included Harav Dovid Ozeri Shlita, the legendary Torah and Chesed giant, whose very presence at the dinner elevated the event to great heights, and R’ Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz, the renowned philanthropist who, together with Mr. Ezra Erani undertook tremendous support for many of the Torah initiatives in Mexico.

R’ Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz, the legendary Torah philanthropist, was so impressed and inspired by what he saw in the community that he pledged an astronomical sum of money he was willing to match if the Mosdos raised their part. Indeed, this deal is worth many millions of dollars and breathes life into the Chareidi community of Mexico, which indeed became inspired by R’ Shlomo Yehuda’s generous deal, and tirelessly raised large sums of money to uphold their end of the deal. Due to this holy partnership, a tremendous part of the new future of the Torah community rests on the merits of R’ Shlomo Yehuda and his deep vision and his huge heart!

One of the initiatives that resulted from the dinner was the ability to erect of two new buildings for the elementary schools, one for boys and one for girls, as well as one for the girls High school, and the opening of a new Yeshiva for Ashkenazim and a Kollel.

While the Avreichim of the koilel are Avreichim from Mexico the plan is to bring a group of Yungeleit from the Mekomos Hatora to join the Yeshiva.

The Mosad is led by Rav Daniel Davidsohn shlita, who has been moser nefesh to get it to where it is today, and the new yeshiva and Kollel that started this Zman is led by Rav Yehoshua Gertzulin Shlita, who for the past 12 years was Marbitz Torah the Aram Tzoba Kehila, and now undertook the new responsibility of spreading Torah even further.

This new Mosad, in a sense, is not new at all, as it is an expansion and extension of the unified Chareidi community in Mexico, answering the call of the leaders of the community and showcasing a renewed sense of purpose that was felt at the dinner so strongly. The new Yeshiva, as many of the spiritual initiatives in Mexico, is all a continuation of the Mesiras Nefesh and hard work of the Markovich family, who have been laying the foundation and building Torah in Mexico for over 30 years already.

Mr. Erani was so taken with the new Yeshiva and Kollel that he has undertaken to foot the bill for a significant portion of the budget to ensure it launches and runs successfully.

The Derech Emes institution – which has recently been renamed Toras Eliahu thanks to an impressive dedication by the Zaga family – is the crown jewel of Yiddishkeit in Mexico and with the continued support of Klal Yisroel from all backgrounds, it will surely thrive and continue to be a source of pride to Hashem and to His nation.

It is people like R’ Shlomo Yehuda rechnitz and Mr. Erani who carry the entire Am Yisroel on their shoulders, and we all must recognize their true greatness and be inspired to emulate their angelic deeds.

To listen to (or read) the powerful speech of R’ Shlomo Yehuda Rechnitz at the dinner, follow this link: you