Friends Remember Yossi Kreiman

This past Monday night, friends of Yossi Kreiman OBM gathered to remember this special bochur who passed away just weeks before his wedding at the age of 23.

The event was held at the Besht center, which was filled beyond its capacity due to the extremely large assemblage of Bochurim and Yungeleit.

The crowd was first addressed by Rabbi Yosef Y. Keller, an uncle of Yossi, who repeated some of the discussions he had with Yossi in Torah learning. He spoke about Yossi’s outstanding devotion to learning Torah in depth, and about the importance of learning Mishnayos, in which Yossi had a special Koch.

Rabbi Fishel Oster, who had taught Yossi in Oholei Torah Zal, spoke as well, addressing the importance of continuing Yossi’s example through learning in an intense and devoted manner. He also spoke of the importance of keeping to the Seder of Yeshiva.

Although the event was accompanied by an undertone of grief and mourning, the message of unity and direction came through quite strong as Yossi’s friends took on Hachlotos in his spirit. Following are several examples:

– Mivtza Torah. An international campaign involving Yeshivos from around the world, to strengthen in the study of Torah, and particularly the Gemoro Psochim which is being studied in Yeshivos this year. More details will be announced in Yeshivos in the coming days.

– To learn the entire Talmud Bavli over the coming year, to be completed on the first Yohrtzeit. As well known that Yossi simply loved to learn Gemoro. A notepad circulated between the crowd, and it was all rapidly covered.

– Yossi’s fellow Shluchim who spent a full year with him in Berlin, Germany took upon themselves to learn the entire Mishnayos in depth throughout the next year. Something Yossi took on himself, only leaving the last Masechtos undone, the Shluchim will complete that which Yossi deeply wanted to.

– A special Kovetz will be published for the Shloshim gathering all the Haoros and Pilpulim that were written by Yossi over the years. Additionally, there will be a section in the Kovetz for friends and relatives to write Chidushei-Torah in his memory.

A special email address was set up ([email protected]), as well as a website, where everyone may write and post whatever they have heard or experienced, or even just what they feel about Yossi.

“The importance of writing up whatever you know is obvious when realizing how much every word that is written or said is unimaginably greater for the family,” his friends say.

They request that anyone who has photos or videos of Yossi to please send in to them; any Dvar Torah that Yossi wrote, or one that you would like to write in his merit; or even just a few words about your connection with Yossi.

Visit RememberingYossi.com