Everything through the eyes of halacha: Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rosh Yeshivas Rashbi, was visited by Rav SImcha Bunim Cohen, rov of Khal Ateres Yeshaya in Lakewood, NJ, who penned a psak permitting Rav Bergman to attend tomorrow’s Adirei Hatorah event despite sitting shivah for his son.
As first reported on Matzav Status, Rav Bergman will address the Adirei HaTorah event this Sunday at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia despite recent events.
This pastw eek, after the tragic and untimely petirah of Rav Meir Tzvi’s son, Rav Ezriel Bergman zt”l, at the age of 70, rumors spread that Rav Meir Tzvi would not attend the Adirei HaTorah event. These reports were unfounded.
Despite being in shivah, Rav Meir Tzvi, for this unique maamad of kavod haTorah, will be’ezras Hashem participate.
The psak written by Rav Cohen, a noted posek and the author of renowned sifrei halacha, was directed to Rav Cohen’s brother-in-law, Rav Shlomo Lesin, who is a close yad yemin of Rav Bergman.
Rav Cohen writes that he discussed the issue with noted posek Rav Bentzion Kook. The outcome of their conversation was that Rav Bergman should attend, with the following restrictions: 1) Rav Bergman will remain in a separate close-off section. 2) He may sit on a regular chair. 3) he may deliver brief divrei chizuk and mussar. 4) He will not be welcomed with music and singing, but it can be announced that Rav Bergman has arrived for kavos haTorah. 5) After the drasha, Rav Bergman will depart the arena. 6) If possible, Maran should begin his drasha by stating that since the evnt is a very important one to be mechazeikl bnei Torah, it is permitted for him to take part even during shivah.
The psak: