Two hundred years ago, the rabbi of the city of Minsk, HaGaon Rabbi David Tabil, zatzal, donated a Holy Ark to his town?s synagogue. Today, that Holy Ark is being used in the new study hall of Machon Meir. Rabbi Tabil merited, following a miraculous chain of events, that the ark that he donated would end up in Jerusalem. It moved from synagogue to Torah institution to synagogue, until it was finally installed in the study hall of Machon Meir, thanks to the generous contribution of the dear Rachmani family.
As is well-known, Rabbi David Tabil was considered one of the greatest rabbis of his generation. He was a disciple of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, and his work Nachalat David on the Talmud is one of the basic texts of yeshiva students.
In relating to the duty of the Jewish People to seek unity, he writes:
?The sin of controversy and divisiveness within the Jewish People is an inherent expression of denial of the oneness of G-d. The root of G-d?s oneness makes it imperative that the Jewish People unite together in love and brotherhood and camaraderie, bound together, linked together as one, without any rift or divisiveness. Just as G-d is the simple, absolute epitome of Oneness, so must the holy Jewish People unite together, bound and linked to one another. The unity of the holy Jewish People attests to G-d?s unity. Therefore, the sin of controversy is precisely like idolatry. Moreover, the divisiveness that derives from controversy is the opposite of unity.? (Rabbi David Tabil, Bet David, Drush 6)
The word ?meir? means ?illuminate.? Thus, Machon Meir?s name attests to its purpose, which is to increase the light of unity, love and faith.
Rabbi Tabil, zatzal, taught that Israel must unite in love, brotherhood and camaraderie, as one man, without divisiveness. His words must be imbued in our hearts and in the hearts of all of Israel. We must strive and toil in pursuit of Jewish unity, which attest to the oneness of G-d. We must be like Aaron the High Priest, who loved and pursued peace, loved his fellow man and brought them near to the Torah.
We thus give thanks to G-d that the Holy Ark of Rabbi David Tabil now resides in our bet midrash, and we hope and pray that we shall follow in his light and path. And may we be the living fulfillment of I Chronicles 17:21: ?Who is like Your people Israel, one nation in the Land.?
As is well-known, Rabbi David Tabil was considered one of the greatest rabbis of his generation. He was a disciple of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin, and his work Nachalat David on the Talmud is one of the basic texts of yeshiva students.
In relating to the duty of the Jewish People to seek unity, he writes:
?The sin of controversy and divisiveness within the Jewish People is an inherent expression of denial of the oneness of G-d. The root of G-d?s oneness makes it imperative that the Jewish People unite together in love and brotherhood and camaraderie, bound together, linked together as one, without any rift or divisiveness. Just as G-d is the simple, absolute epitome of Oneness, so must the holy Jewish People unite together, bound and linked to one another. The unity of the holy Jewish People attests to G-d?s unity. Therefore, the sin of controversy is precisely like idolatry. Moreover, the divisiveness that derives from controversy is the opposite of unity.? (Rabbi David Tabil, Bet David, Drush 6)
The word ?meir? means ?illuminate.? Thus, Machon Meir?s name attests to its purpose, which is to increase the light of unity, love and faith.
Rabbi Tabil, zatzal, taught that Israel must unite in love, brotherhood and camaraderie, as one man, without divisiveness. His words must be imbued in our hearts and in the hearts of all of Israel. We must strive and toil in pursuit of Jewish unity, which attest to the oneness of G-d. We must be like Aaron the High Priest, who loved and pursued peace, loved his fellow man and brought them near to the Torah.
We thus give thanks to G-d that the Holy Ark of Rabbi David Tabil now resides in our bet midrash, and we hope and pray that we shall follow in his light and path. And may we be the living fulfillment of I Chronicles 17:21: ?Who is like Your people Israel, one nation in the Land.?