Anyone with an eye for detail noticed a major change in Beis Yisroel in recent weeks. The icon of Mir, the main building, affectionally known as Merkazi, has been sandblasted, cleaned and repainted. The new look is in honor of a very special rededication that took place י”א סיון, a few days after Shavuos, a fitting time for an endeavour aimed to strengthen and increase Kavod Hatorah.

The building was rededicated by Mr. Alberto Safra from Brazil in memory of his father Mr. Joseph Safra. Mr. Safra and his entire family honored this momentous event by flying in all the way from Brazil, showing their chashivus for the Torah and Kavod Hatorah.

It was early evening, about 6:30 when Rechov Beis Yisroel was closed to traffic and thousands of talmidim came out, showing their Hakoras Hatov and Kavod Hatorah that attending the ceremony demonstrated. All the Rabbanei Hayeshiva attended, Mr. Adrian Garbacz CEO of the Yeshiva was visiting and emceed the rededication.

The maamad began with Tehillim, led by the Mashgiach Shlita, followed by the new dedication being jointly unveiled by the Rosh Hayeshiva Shlita and Mr. Safra. The crowd then broke out with joyous singing which was unaccompanied by the music originally planned due to it being during the shiva of Hagaon Harav Gershon Edelstein zt”l.  Instead, everyone stood in place and sang together lending the event its own special taste of heartfelt song.

In keeping with his outlook of chashivus Hatorah, Mr. Safra asked for the ceremony to be quick so as not to cause bitul Torah or inconvenience everyone. After the unveiling, there was a l’chaim with all the Roshei Yeshiva and Rabbonei Hayeshiva in the Rosh Yeshiva’s zt”l home. The Rosh Hayeshiva Shlita spoke about the special kesher the Yeshiva has with the Safra family and of their outstanding chashivus Hatorah.

Mr. Safra also spoke, beginning his address with revealing that he knew that the best deal he had made in his life was to partner with the Mir Yeshiva, and what a zchus this was for his father and his family.