Posted to Crown Heights News on

Rabbi Gerlitzky’s Birthday – an Oholei Torah Tradition

This Friday, 14th of Cheshvan, marks the birthday of the highly esteemed, well respected and beloved maggid shiur in Oholei Torah Zal, Reb Avrohom Gerlitzky. There has been a tradition for many years, that on his birthday his talmidim make it a special day, a highlight in the Oholei Torah calendar. This year was no exception.

Crown Heights residents woke up Thursday morning to find signs on cars, poles and even some shops wishing Reb Avrohom a Happy Birthday.

In the afternoon Reb Avrohom walked into the decorated classroom to the sound of a loud happy birthday sung by his talmidim. This year, the talmidim decided, that to celebrate his tireless devotion to teaching in Oholei Torah for more than 30 years, they would throw him a party of which the likes were never seen before in the walls of the Yeshiva.

The guest list included Avraham Fried, Chazzan Harav Shneur Zalman Baumgarten and Rabbi Yisroel Shemtov, Reb Avrohom’s brother-in-law. The entertainers stayed for about 45 minutes, each singing, joking, reminiscing on their times when they were in Reb Avrohom’s class.

When they had finished the Talmidim presented to Reb Avrohom his present, a striking photo of his father, Rabbi Moshe Eliyahu Gerlitzky z”l, printed on canvas. The present carried special meaning as his father recently passed away. Once the hype had finished and everyone calmed down as the singers left, Rabbi Shemtov walked in and the farbrengen continued.

At the end of the day, it was quite an event for quite a teacher.

Related Articles

5 Comments

  • Nacahs

    To see each year … Talmidim have such Joy with their Rabbi .. is pure Nachas. How special this is!

    Many long G’zunteh Yahrin for Rabbi A… and may you have loads of Nachas from your Talmidim for many years to come!

    I was not your student… but enjoy living your Simcha through your Talmidim!

  • nice to see the singers being heimish

    with the bochurim
    it is nice when people who have a lot of fame
    do not have their noses in the air

  • old idea

    the cake idea is old, they did it a few years back
    but otherwise the picture of his father is nice!