Photos: Shimi Kutner/COLlive
The 70th birthday of Rabbi Avrohom Gerlitzky, a veteran teacher and beloved maggid shiur in Beis Medrash Oholei Torah, was marked with a grand party on Wednesday.
It has become a tradition among his students since 1981 to go all out in celebrating the day with a lavish farbrengen, fliers and gifts.
The students say they do it as a small token of their appreciation for his warmth, kindness and dedication to his students for over 40 years.
“His students are like his children,” they told COLlive.com. “He puts his heart and soul into teaching, and he has thousands of grateful students all over the world.”
When Rabbi Gerlitzky arrived at school, he was surprised with a grand farbrengen party organized by his students, along with a birthday cake.
The bochurim performed a special “grammen” rhyme to present Rabbi Gerlitzky with a special gift, an all expense paid trip to Ukraine, to visit the Kevorim and gravesites of the many Chasidic Rabbeim.
The farbrengen continued with surprise guests stopping by to give birthday wishes to the Rabbi, including his brother-in-law Rabbi Yisroel Shemtov, Rabbi Noteh Shemtov, Rabbi Shimon Mochkin, and other relatives.
Last week, New York State Assemblymember Patricia Fahy issued a special “Citation” honoring the event.
“Rabbi Gerlitzky authored volumes of in-depth commentary, including his yearly ‘Kovetz Shiurim B’Beis Hamidrash Oholei Torah’ on Talmudic tractates; ‘Yemos Hamoshiach Bahalacha” trailblazing discussion and novella of halacha redemption,” she wrote.
“This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchak Baruch Gerlitzky on his many years of dedicated involvement and selfless service to his community.”
May Reb Avram continue to give shiur & spread his depth knowledge of Torah till 120, it’s so exciting every year to see Reb Avram’s birthday reported on col, ty for sharing
The most chassidish group I ever saw in all my 41 years living across the street from OholeI Torah!
Sometimes I think I can hear them learning from their beis medrash!
Rabbi Avrohom is a true mechanech!
Teachers and mechanchim worldwide should take a living example of a mechanech who really loves every student!
We wish you arichus yomim and much continued nachas from בניך
אלו התלמידים!
Kol hakavod to all of u!!! Everything looks delicious & colorful!!
The whole anash looks fwd to hearing about this well deserved event!!! לשנה הבאה בירושלים
NOW ALL OF U BACK TO LEARNING!!