The Torah community is still reeling from the loss last week of one of its elder roshei yeshivah, Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz ztz”l, who carved his niche in the chinuch world of youngsters, investing decades as rosh yeshivah of Ponevezh L’Tzi’irim for teenage boys. This was his mission: to teach generations of boys to love learning. Five years ago, he granted Mishpacha,an exclusive interview, and shared his insights on chinuch. That wisdom continues to serve as an eternal guide to parents across the globe.
On Monday evening shortly after the news broke that Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz ztz”l rosh yeshivah of Ponevezh L’Tzi’irim had passed away my cell phone rang. The number on the screen sent me back five years to 2006. The man at the other end of the line spoke in a trembling tone. “When is the levayah?” he asked.
“I’ll find out” I replied.
We were both silent for a long time then wished each other “besuros tovos” and hung up.
We hadn’t spoken for five years. In 2006 he was a young man who had already been through several yeshivos and was about to be expelled from yet another one. His father called me in desperation and asked me to arrange a meeting with Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz. “They say that he has an amazing impact on boys like my son” the father explained. I turned to the rosh yeshivah’s family and they were remarkably quick to arrange the meeting.
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