The Yeshiva That Almost Closed and the Prayers That Saved It

Rabbi Yehoshua Liff, founder of the Ner Yaakov Yeshiva, shares a deeply personal story about the greatness of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, one of the great Torah scholars of the previous generation.

"This story holds a very warm place in my heart,” begins Rabbi Liff. “I consider it one of Rav Shlomo Zalman’s miracles. It reveals the greatness that defined this tzaddik (righteous man) from the Sha’arei Chesed neighborhood."

"In 1993, we decided to move the yeshiva to the Katamon neighborhood in Jerusalem. We found a suitable building, rented it, invested thousands of dollars, and began renovations to prepare it for our students.

"Just days before the semester was supposed to start, we were hit with terrible news: the building was zoned only for residential use and not for educational purposes. I must mention that this very building had been used as a school for years, and no one had said a word. But once the neighbors found out that a religious yeshiva was moving in, they quickly filed a lawsuit against us. An injunction was issued that forced us to stop all renovations immediately."

"This was a huge shock. The court hearing was scheduled for Friday and our students were arriving Sunday. Our lawyer told me straight out: ‘We don’t have a chance. The law is on the neighbors’ side.’ It seemed like there was nothing to do. But on the morning of the court date, I did the only thing I could think of, I went to daven (pray) Shacharit at Rav Shlomo Zalman’s minyan in Sha’arei Chesed, hoping for his blessing and guidance."

"I approached him after davening and described the impossible situation. To my surprise, Rav Shlomo Zalman didn’t seem shaken. He just let out a small sigh and said: ‘M’darf davenen, m’darf davenen: One must pray.’"

"I understood him to mean that I should pray for a miracle. So I did. I prayed the entire way to the courthouse, my lips didn’t stop moving in tefillah (prayer). Even as I prepared for the trial, I kept praying."

"When I got there, my lawyer told me the judge originally assigned to our case couldn’t make it. Instead, a religious judge from the Magistrate’s Court would be hearing our case. He was known to be strict and tough. But as soon as he walked into the courtroom, he turned to the city’s legal team and said: ‘I’ve lived in Katamon for fifteen years. I know this building. Educational institutions have used it for many years, and no one had a problem until now. Isn’t it strange that only once a yeshiva wants to move in, suddenly there’s an issue with zoning?’"

"My heart filled with hope. Then the judge said clearly: ‘The city is suing these people only because it’s a yeshiva.’ He turned to me and asked: ‘How many students are coming?’ ‘Sixty,’ I answered. ‘How much money have you invested so far?’ I told him. ‘When do they arrive?’ ‘Sunday,’ I said. ‘If we can’t use this building, the yeshiva might have to close.’"

"The judge was quiet for a moment, then said, ‘I need time to consider.’ He left the courtroom. We had two hours. I used every moment to pray. I opened my Tehillim (Book of Psalms) and didn’t stop. I poured out my heart. I finished the entire Tehillim during that break."

"When the judge returned, he began with a question: ‘What is a yeshiva?’ Then he answered himself: ‘A house of life.’

"He spoke like no judge I had ever heard. He quoted verses. He explained that a yeshiva is part of a Jewish home, a place for Torah and tefillah. He gave examples how a Jew studies Torah in his home, sometimes with a chavruta (study partner), sometimes with friends, sometimes even leads a minyan (prayer group) in his living room."

"I nervously asked, ‘Your Honor, what about a general lecture?’ He gently cut me off, ‘Rabbi Liff, let’s leave that for another time.’

"Then came the moment: ‘Based on all this,’ the judge said, ‘there is no legal reason why this building can’t be used for its true purpose, a Jewish home, a home of Torah and prayer.’"

"The judge then wrote us a legal decision that was stronger than anything I could have hoped for. He threw out the municipality’s claims in clear language and ruled that the yeshiva could move into its new home without any delay. That ruling later helped other yeshivas facing similar legal issues and it even reached the Supreme Court."

"It was Friday afternoon. My heart was full of gratitude. I picked up the phone and called Rav Shlomo Zalman’s house. One of his grandchildren answered. ‘Tell your grandfather that we won the case!’ I said joyfully.

"'He’s been waiting by the phone this whole time,’ the grandson replied. ‘He’s been davening nonstop since you spoke to him this morning.’"

"That’s when I realized something incredible," Rabbi Liff says, still moved by the memory decades later. "When Rav Shlomo Zalman said, ‘One must pray,’ he didn’t mean I should pray while he waited. He meant we should pray together. He stood with me in that moment. He didn’t just give advice, he joined me in prayer, all the way until the yeshuah (salvation) came."

Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (1910–1995) was the head of Kol Torah Yeshiva and one of the great halachic (Jewish legal) authorities of the 20th century. This story is shared in honor of 30 years since his passing.

From BeHeichalum by Rabbi Nachman Seltzer, courtesy of the Dirshu website.