Well Over 100,000 at Rabbi Shach\'s Funeral Rabbi Elazar Menachem Mann Shach passed away at approximately 2:00 this morning following a long illness. Upon hearing the news, heads of yeshivot in Bnei Brak and thousands of his students rent their outer garment. Lights in the yeshiva were turned off, and the students sat on the floor in mourning. Rabbi Shach was born in Lithuania 103 years ago, and arrived in Eretz Yisrael with his parents when he was about 40. He joined Yeshivat Ponevezh in 1946, and after a short while became the Rosh Yeshiva. He lived in very modest conditions, and led the Ashkenazi yeshiva world from his small apartment. He later became the head of Agudat Yisrael\'s Council of Torah Sages, and afterwards started two political parties: Degel HaTorah, which later rejoined Agudat Yisrael to become United Torah Judaism, and Shas, which later broke away from his leadership. Although his views were dovish, he was against granting political support to the left-wing secular parties; five years ago, he called upon his followers to support Binyamin Netanyahu in the election against Shimon Peres. Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, a student of Rav Shach, said today that the fallen leader would certainly want to be remembered as a Rosh Yeshiva and one who taught Torah to thousands, rather than for his political activities. Rabbi Shach authored a four-volume work on Maimonides\' Mishneh Torah, entitled Avi Ezri, and other writings. Voice of Israel Radio, after speaking with Rabbi Lau about Rav Shach, played the slow Chassidic song, \"Ner L\'ragli Dvarecha\" (Your Word is a candle to my feet, a light to my path; Ps. 119, 105). Many tens of thousands are participating in his funeral, which began outside the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak at 10 AM. Rabbi Shach\'s son-in-law Rabbi Meir Tzvi Bergman delivered the sole eulogy, and his son Dr. Efraim Shach recited Kaddish. Many roads in Bnei Brak, including entrances to the city, are closed for the funeral, and 500 policemen and volunteers are helping direct traffic. Close to 20 emergency medical vehicles are on hand, as well as dozens of paramedics. See Arutz Sheva\'s TV coverage at the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Barak( 28k, 56k, or Broadband ).
