The Manchester Rosh Yeshiva

Rabbi Yehuda Zev Segal זצל

Yarzheit 22nd Shevat

Photo with thanks to Artscroll Publications,where book is available

 

It is said that Reb Yehuda Zev Segal ( Reb Yidel ) underwent a marked transformation in his outlook and behavior at the age of 8. This sounds rather farfetched; how many 8-year-olds have real outlooks, and how many are capable of changing their behavior and attitudes at such a young age? Reb Yidel, however, was no ordinary youngster. At the age of eight, an incident occurred that changed his life forever, as he told a close talmid more than 50 years later. "As I was crossing the street in London," he told his talmid, "a city bus suddenly veered toward me. The driver turned on the brakes, and the bus halted only inches away from me. I was only eight at the time. Nonetheless, after this incident I realized that if life in this world can end within a second, then we certainly weren't created in order to enjoy the here and now. I also felt that so great a miracle obligated me to dedicate myself to service of Hashem."

ROOTS

Reb Yidel Segal was born in London on 17 Sivan 5670/1910 to Reb Moshe Yitzchok and Roize Segal. Reb Moshe Yitzchok, a student of the Alter of Navardok, was an outstanding talmid chacham, who received semicha from Reb Yechiel Michel Epstein, the Aruch Hashulchan. At the age of 19, Reb Moshe Yitzchok was drafted into the Czar's army, where he insisted on observing mitzvos as best as he could, and on fulfilling the mitzva of netilas yadayim when required by halacha, in particular. Each time Reb Moshe Yitzchok searched for water for netilas yadayim, a soldier would follow him. After a while, the soldier grew tired of running after him and permitted him to search for water alone. One day, as Reb Moshe Yitzchok was searching for water, he fled to the border and crossed over to Germany. From there, he headed to England, where he began to study in the Machzikei Hadas Shul. In time, he was appointed shochet of the community. This position paid well and enabled him to save up a sizable sum, which he used to found the Etz Chaim Yeshiva of London, the only yeshiva at that time in England.
A number of years later, Reb Yehoshua Dov Silverstone and Reb Tzvi Hirsh Ferber founded a yeshiva in Manchester, and invited Reb Moshe Yitzchok to head it. He accepted the position. Reb Yehuda Zev was only 3 years old when his family moved to Manchester. At that time, there was no yeshiva elementary school in the city. Since British law obligated all children under the age of 14 to attend school, Reb Moshe Yitzchok was forced to enroll Yehuda Zev in the local "Jewish school" whose curriculum was entirely secular. However, when Yehuda Zev returned home each afternoon, Reb Moshe Yitzchok studied Torah with him, providing him with a full Torah chinuch.
Yehuda Zev's unique home environment, together with his deep piety and his resolve to dedicate himself to Hashem, were the factors that fashioned his personality at that time. Reb Mordechai Smith was 22 when he studied with the 13- year-old Yehuda Zev. He recalls, "Already then, Reb Yehuda Zev was very sensitive to the needs of others. Our study session began very early in the morning. In order to avoid making noise as he walked downstairs, he would climb out of a window on the second story of his house and slide down a drainpipe, reaching the backyard without having woken anyone."

IN THE MIR

When Yehuda Zev graduated from secular school, he began to study full-time in his father's yeshiva. At the age of 20, he transferred to the Mir Yeshiva, where he learned for three years. and outstanding character traits. One day, a young man asked if he could study with him on a steady basis. Although Reb Yehuda Zev's schedule was full, he arranged to study Brachos with him every morning before Shacharis. That young man was Reb Chaim Shmulevitz. Reb Mordechai Schwab, the late mashgiach of Mesivta Beis Shraga of Monsey, who studied in Mir at that time, relates, "I began each day with a mussar study session. During the first minutes of this session, I would watch Yehuda as he plumbed the depths of the Gemara. That sight could inspire anyone to increase his hasmada."
Yechezkel Levenstein. They were so devoted to each other that Reb Yehuda Zev would refer to Reb Yechezkel as "mori ve'rabi," while Reb Yechezkel would say, "Yehuda Zev is my son." In Mir, he soon gained acclaim for his outstanding hasmada Reb Nosson Wachtfogel, the late mashgiach of Beis Medrash Gevoha of Lakewood, another student of Mir during that period, once said, "From watching Reb Yehuda Zev between learning sessions, it was obvious that he was striving to develop his inner self."
In Mir, Reb Yehuda Zev formed a close bond with Rov Another gadol b'Torah to whom Reb Yehuda Zev was deeply attached was Reb Shimon Shkop, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Shaar HaTorah in Grodno. Reb Shimon would sometimes come to England to raise funds for his yeshiva, and Reb Yehuda Zev took advantage of those opportunities to be meshamesh him. He also spent one vacation at Reb Shimon's summer resort, studying with him and accompanying him on his walks.

MARRIAGE

In the winter of 5693/1933, Yehuda Zev's parents asked him to return home because they had found a suitable shidduch for him. Reb Yehuda Zev left Mir on an icy winter day. Reb Yechezkel Levenstein accompanied him to the wagon that was to take him to the train. When they reached the wagon, Reb Yechezkel handed him his scarf, but Reb Yehuda Zev hesitated to take such a gift from his mentor. At last the two decided that Reb Yehuda Zev would wear the scarf on the trip, and then mail it back to Reb Yechezkel.
On the 15th of Shevat, 5694/1934, Reb Yehuda Zev married Yocheved, the youngest daughter of Reb Shlomo Zalman Cohen, a Gerrer chassid from Gateshead. Although Reb Shlomo Zalman Cohen was involved in business, he made Torah his prime pursuit and earning a living a secondary one. Reb Yehuda Zev planned to return to Mir after his wedding. However, when his mother-in-law fell seriously ill, he canceled these plans and remained in Gateshead. After his marriage, he devoted himself to full-time Torah study. ( please see here for Rebetzins Matzeivo in Manchester ) .

WORLD WAR II

During World War II, England, like all other countries in the free world, refused to accept refugees who might become dependent on the state. Thus, any refugee who applied for admission to the country had to present a statement signed by a British citizen who promised to assume responsibility for the refugee's material needs. In order to rescue as many refugees as possible, Rabbi Solomon Schoenfeld of London launched a project to secure affidavits from British Jews. Reb Yehuda Zev greatly assisted him in these efforts, working primarily among Gateshead's Jews. In 5700/1940, German bombers attacked Gateshead, and many people left the city for safer areas. Reb Yehuda Zev and his family moved to Manchester, where he remained for the rest of his life. In Manchester he assumed the position of maggid shiur in the Manchester Yeshiva, where his father served as rosh yeshiva. From there, he continued to secure visas for war refugees. During the war, the Manchester Yeshiva opened its doors to young refugees fleeing the Nazi inferno. As the war intensified, the yeshiva expanded its rescue and relief efforts, organizing daily shiurim for young men who due to the war were unable to attend yeshiva full time.
Reb Yehuda Zev opened his own home to many of the young refugees.

LIKE A FATHER

After the war, Dayan Aryeh Leib Grossnass brought a group of teenage survivors to England. These orphaned and destitute youngsters, who ranged in age from 14 to 16, were welcomed into the Manchester Yeshiva, where Reb Yehuda Zev encouraged and assisted them. On their first Succos in England, Reb Yehuda Zev decided that it would be best for the group to spend the Yom Tov together in the yeshiva, instead of at different homes. However, a misunderstanding occurred, and no food was prepared for them. Reb Yehuda Zev learned of this only a short while before Yom Tov. Despite the late hour, Rebbetzin Segal went to the yeshiva and prepared a full meal for all 20 boys. Then she and Rav Yehuda Zev spent the entire meal with them. As the youngsters acclimated to their new life, their bond with Rav Yehuda Zev strengthened, and they truly felt that he was their father. On Erev Pesach the entire group helped him with the Yom Tov preparations, and then joined him for an inspiring and rousing Seder. During this period, Rebbetzin Segal assisted her husband in all of her his rescue efforts, and was one of the organizers of the community's efforts to prepare food packages for new arrivals from the displaced persons camps. She also helped her husband raise funds for the yeshiva, and was like a mother to its students.

THE SEARCH FOR A NEW ROSH YESHIVA

Reb Yehuda Zev's father, Reb Moshe Yitzchok, was niftar on 12 Cheshvan 5707/1947 after a serious illness, leaving the yeshiva bereft. Soon after his petira, the yeshiva's board of directors began to search for a new rosh yeshiva. Although Reb Yehuda Zev was already serving unofficially as rosh yeshiva, some of the modern members of the board felt that due to his high standards of kedusha and meticulous mitzva observance, he might be unable to relate to the average laymen. As a result, they strongly opposed his appointment. RebYehuda Zev, who was aware of this opposition, showed no interest in the position, in order not to foster ill will among the board members. As a result, the position remained vacant for a number of months. In February 5708/1948, Reb Yechezkel Abramsky arrived in Manchester to participate in a ceremony at which outstanding students received awards. At a meeting with the board, Reb Yechezkel declared that Reb Yehuda Zev was best suited for the position of rosh yeshiva and that the yeshiva would greatly benefit from him.
Seeing the opposition to the appointment, he then suggested that Reb Yehuda Zev be appointed "acting rosh yeshiva," adding that he was certain that if someone more qualified were found, Reb Yehuda Zev would not only step down, but would also warmly welcome the new rosh yeshiva. During the next year and a half, many talmidei chachamim came to Manchester to apply for the position of rosh yeshiva. Throughout this period, Reb Yehuda Zev never displayed resentment or ill will.

In 5709/1949, the Ponovezher Rav, Reb Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, invited Reb Yehuda Zev to join the leadership of the Ponovezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. Reb Yehuda Zev accepted the offer and prepared to leave England. But then the president of the yeshiva's board, the eminent and pious Saul Rosenberg, fell seriously ill. As he lay in the hospital, he told a close acquaintance about a frightening dream he had just had. In the dream, he had been told that he had fallen ill because Reb Moshe Yitzchok was upset by the board's failure to appoint Reb Yehuda Zev to the position he rightfully deserved. Although Mr. Rosenberg hadn't opposed Reb Yehuda Zev's appointment, he feared that he hadn't done enough to secure it for him. As a result, he sent a family member to Reb Moshe Yitzchok's grave and begged his forgiveness, promising to rectify the matter immediately. Amazingly, Mr. Rosenberg, who had seemed on the brink of death, soon recovered in full. When he was released from the hospital, he called an emergency meeting of the board and convinced its members that Reb Yehuda Zev was the best possible candidate for the position.

The board unanimously appointed Reb Yehuda Zev rosh yeshiva. However, Reb Yehuda had already made plans to leave for Bnei Bark. At a farewell gathering in his honor, Dayan Yitzchok Golditch publicly asked him not to leave Manchester. That evening, Reb Yehuda Zev wrote to Reb Eliyahu Dessler, the mashgiach of Ponovezh, asking him to discuss the issue with the Chazon Ish. Rav Dessler took the matter to the Chazon Ish, who replied that Rav Yehuda Zev should remain in Manchester. On April 16, 5710/1950, Reb Yehuda Zev Segal was officially inducted as rosh yeshiva by Reb Yechezkel Abramsky. This appointment was supported by Dayan Yitzchok Yaakov Weiss, the Minchas Yitzchok, head of the Manchester Beis Din at that time.
During subsequent years, Reb Yehuda Zev was greatly assisted by Saul Rosenberg, who assumed responsibility for all of the yeshiva's fundraising activities. He would often say, "The rosh yeshiva and I have an understanding between ourselves. He doesn't get involved with the budget, and I don't mix in with the chinuch." Mr. Rosenberg was also a model of kibbud talmidei chachamim and a generous baal chesed and supporter of Torah.

Photo with thanks to Artscroll Publications,where book is available

AS ROSH YESHIVA

As rosh yeshiva, Reb Yehuda Zev's sole concern was developing his students' full potential. When a student enrolled in the yeshiva, Reb Yehuda Zev would ask him for his complete Hebrew name as well as his mother's, so that he could daven that he grow spiritually. Every morning, before Shacharis, he would give tzedaka and then daven that he merit to see all of his students following the path of Torah. As rosh yeshiva, he was very warm and loving toward his students. If a student was ill, he would summon a doctor for him, visit him in the dormitory and even bring him tea. As a result, students would jokingly say, "If you want the rosh yeshiva's special attention, become sick!"
When the rosh yeshiva felt that a student would develop best somewhere else, he would help him to transfer to a different yeshiva. But if he thought that a student who was having difficulties should nonetheless remain in the yeshiva, he would make an all-out effort to achieve that goal.
Thus, when parents of a French student told their son to return home to pursue a career, Reb Yehuda Zev and his wife traveled all the way to Paris to convince them to let him remain in yeshiva. Despite his warm and caring nature, Reb Yehuda Zev maintained strict discipline in the yeshiva, inspiring his students to awe and revere him. He did this because he believed that holding one's Torah mentors in awe is crucial for a ben Torah's development, as it is written, "The awe of your Torah teacher should be like the awe of Shamayim" (Pirkei Avos, 4:12).
Many former students called Reb Yehuda Zev every Friday to wish him a good Shabbos. Others would call to report on the progress of their children or about simchas in their families. One time, the yeshiva students hosted a sheva brachos for one of Reb Yehuda Zev's grandchildren. When he rose to speak, he said, "It is written that one should not mix one festive occasion with another. This gathering is a double simcha for me, since it affords me the opportunity to be with my students, too. However, a sheva brachos is a family affair and my students are my children, too." As rosh yeshiva, he would stress that students should use their yeshiva years for optimal growth, especially in respect to amassing Torah knowledge. With an eye toward their future he told them that the more knowledge they acquired during those years, the greater would be their influence later on. With his unique hasmada, he was a role model for such spiritual growth and love of Torah.

AN 'ORDINARY' MAN'S TEFILLOS AND BLESSINGS

Before beginning his morning prayers, Reb Yehuda Zev would pray that Hashem help him daven with kavana. To achieve this goal, he recited every single tefilla from a text, even prayers such as Asher Yatzar, which one says a number of times a day. He would recite this prayer with the same intent and emotion that one recites Ne'ila on Yom Kippur. When eating, Reb Yehuda Zev would also recite brachos from a text. Since he couldn't always carry a siddur with him, he kept a card in his pocket that had the various brachos printed on it. Before making a bracha, he would recite a preparatory prayer, such as, "I am about to utter the blessing of shehakol...." On Shabbos, when the Shemoneh Esrei is shorter than during the week, it is more difficult to accrue the 100 blessings one is required to recite daily. To solve the problem, on Shabbos Reb Yehuda Zev calculated how many blessing he had already made, and during the day he ate small pieces of food in order to arrive at the requisite number of brachos.

Quite soon, he became renowned for his manner of tefillos, and people from all over the world would seek his blessings. Great Torah sages such as Reb Yaakov Kaminetsky would advise people in distress to seek the Manchester Rosh Yeshiva's brachos. When Reb Yaakov himself was ill, he asked someone who was going to Manchester to ask that Reb Yehuda Zev pray for him. Similarly, the late Satmar Rav told someone who had approached him for a bracha, "Why seek a bracha from me when you can go to the Manchester Rosh Yeshiva?" During the last decades of his life, Reb Yehuda Zev was flooded by requests for blessings, and he related to every single request with deep emotion. Yet in his humility, he often said of his brachos, "A blessing given by an ordinary person should never be insignificant in one's eyes."
One of his students was diagnosed with a malignant disease. When the boy's father, who had hoped that his son would study a profession, asked Reb Yehuda Zev for a bracha for the boy's recovery, Reb Yehuda Zev replied, "If your son dedicates his life to Torah study, he will recover fully." That night, as Reb Yehuda Zev davened Shemoneh Esrei, he was heard saying, "Tatte, I promised him." Not long afterward, the young man recovered.
On another occasion, Reb Yehuda Zev joined a group that was traveling to Eastern Europe to pray at the graves of tzaddikim. At the Chasam Sofer's grave, he took out a sheet with a long list of names of people who needed a yeshua, and began to pray for each one. A short while later, the group was ready to leave, but Reb Yehuda Zev still hadn't finished praying for everyone on his list. Having no other choice, he clutched the sheet to his chest and cried out with intense emotion, "Ribbono shel Olam, may the requests of all who those whose names are on this list be fulfilled for the good."

A EXAMPLE OF CHESSED

Reb Yehuda Zev tried to perform at least one chessed each morning before Shacharis in order to enhance the efficacy of his prayers. When he lived in his daughter's home, he would prepare a thermos of hot water before going to shul, so that his son-in-law could have a hot drink before leaving the house. While at his summer resort, he would prepare negel vasser for those of his companions who awoke after him.
In his mussar talks, he would stress that no opportunity to perform chessed - big or small - should be overlooked. This was a lesson he taught by personal example. Whenever he washed his hands, for instance, he filled the cup for the next person. And when he returned home from yeshiva at night, he deposited his students' letters in a mailbox on his way. Before dropping these letters into the box he would say, "Hareini mechaven lekayem mitzvas asei shel chesed," "I intend to full the positive command to do chessed." Visiting the sick was another chessed to which Reb Yehuda Zev dedicated his time. Every Friday, he would visit the aged and the bedridden members of the community, comforting and encouraging them. Reb Yehuda Zev saw a siddur that contained an inscription praising the ill man's son for excellence in tefilla. With a glowing smile, Reb Yehuda said, "You must be so proud of your son.' Then he noticed a picture of the boy on the wall and exclaimed, "That boy looks like a tzaddik. May you have much nachas from him." Once, he was asked to pray for a number of older bochurim who still hadn't found shidduchim. Looking over the long list of names, he said, "I feel terrible for them. May Hashem help them."
At simchas, he was equally caring and emotional, and as he danced before a chosson, his face would literally glow. Once, before he was about to undergo minor surgery, he told Once while in the sickroom of a man with a fatal disease, A smile spread across the ill man's face and his pain seemed to ease.

IN SORROW AND IN JOY

Reb Yehuda Zev shared both the pain and the joy of others. his doctor that he was worried that the operation would interfere with his ability to dance at weddings. The doctor jokingly replied, "I didn't know that people your age still dance." Of course, the doctor didn't realize that dancing at weddings was a form of chessed for the rosh yeshiva, not a form of recreation. During the Gulf War, Reb Yehuda Zev constantly davened for Eretz Yisroel's Jews. When people asked if he was worried about a particular relative in Eretz Yisroel, he would reply, "Klal Yisroel is in Eretz Yisroel. I am worried about them all." In 5752/1992, Reb Yehuda Zev asked Reb Yosef Eckstein, founder and director of the Dor Yesharim organization in Yerushalayim, to include testing for Cystic Fibrosis in his program. Reb Yosef was agreeable to the idea, but he explained that financial difficulties prevented him from realizing such a plan. Then and there, Reb Yehuda Zev launched a drive to solicit funds for the cause. A week before Reb Yehuda Zev's petira, Rabbir Eckstein told him that $250,000 was still needed to implement the program. Immediately, Reb Yehuda Zev began to write letters to collect the remaining funds. In addition to the numerous calls Reb Yehuda Zev received from callers in need of brachos, there were many others from people who merely wished to share their troubles with him. Once, when he was in a summer resort, he spent the day in Vienna. A student who had accompanied him there said, "Boruch Hashem, you had no phone calls today. At least you were able to get a bit of rest." To this Reb Yehuda Zev replied, "I may have rested a bit, but I doubt if those who tried to reach me had any rest."

SHEMIRAS HALASHON

Reb Yehuda Zev is probably best known for his dissemination of the awareness of the importance of not speaking lashon hara. It all began at the end of Reb Yehuda Zev's first zman in the Mir Yeshiva, when he went to Radin to visit the Chofetz Chaim. After that meeting, Reb Yehuda Zev became deeply attached to the Chofetz Chaim and his works. When Reb Yehuda Zev began joining a shiur in the Manchester Yeshiva in 5700/1940, he inspired his students to study Sefer Chofetz Chaim. In 5727/1967, he suggested that a group of students study Sefer Chofetz Chaim every day, according to a fixed schedule. Later, these students prepared a written schedule of the halachos to be studied each day of the year, and hung it in the beis medrash. In this manner, the first yearly cycle of shemiras halashon study was launched. Every year, from then on, Reb Yehuda Zev published a shemiras halashon calendar, which contained a schedule for the daily study of two halachos from Sefer Chofetz Chaim and one page from Sefer Shemiras Halashon, which explains the concepts behind the halachos. In time, students of the Manchester Yeshiva spread the idea of studying two halachos a day from the Chofetz Chaim's sefarim to other yeshivos and kollelim.
Reb Yehuda Zev himself was very active in organizing shemiras halashon study groups and classes not just in England, but also throughout the world. He often said that a home in which shemiras halashon is observed and studied is saturated with kedusha. For the remainder of his life, Reb Yehuda Zev devoted great amounts of time to disseminating this calendar, which he called his "passport to Olam Haba." He was also the founding rabbinic advisor of the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation, which has played a leading role in heightening awareness of the importance of shemiras halashon. Inspired by his counsel and direction, this organization promotes dozens of programs throughout the world.
Whenever people sought Reb Yehuda Zev's blessings, he would encourage them to undertake the study of these halachos on a daily basis. He would explain that Chofetz Chaim felt that the majority of Klal Yisroel's tzaros are caused by their failure to guard their tongues, and that shemiras halashon invokes Divine compassion, which benefits both the individual and Klal Yisroel. Two weeks before his petira, the Reb Yehuda Zev asked the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation to produce a sefer containing halachos of shemiras halashon and the concepts behind them, arranged for daily study. The English version of this book, A Lesson a Day, is now studied by thousands of Jews worldwide, it is said that every family that studies these halachos according to the daily schedule will surely merit yeshuos.

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION

Reb Yehuda Zev strove for perfection in all off his deeds and thoughts. The kabbalos he made one Tishrei clearly illustrate his life's aspirations. They included the following: To seek to do acts of kindness even for someone who has hurt me; to control my thoughts; to go to sleep while thinking in Torah; to always meditate on Torah or mussar; and contemplate the effect of my words before they are uttered. He also adopted the practice of the great mussar sages known as "Asiri Kodesh," "The tenth day is holy." Starting from Rosh Hashana, he would devote every subsequent 10th day to introspection and self-examination, conducting himself with added kedusha on those days. Still, on every day of the year, "Shivisi Hashem lenegdi tamid," "I have set Hashem before me always," was Rav Yehuda Zev's guiding principle. Until the last days of his life, Reb Yehuda Zev was in full possession of all of his faculties, maintaining his regular learning schedules and accepting visitors as usual. Shortly before Shabbos, Shevat 21, 5753/1993, he suffered a stroke and was rushed to the hospital. On Friday night, 22 Shevat, he returned his pure soul to its Maker.
Thousands of people attended his levaya. In accordance with a request he had made while alive, he was buried in Manchester - and not in Eretz Yisroel - so that England's Jews would have a place to visit and pour out their hearts. He had also asked to be buried among children, and in a place that kohanim are able to daven. All of Torah Jewry owes Reb Yehuda Zev a tremendous debt of gratitude, especially for his efforts to inculcate Klal Yisroel with the importance of shemiras halashon. As a result of these efforts, thousands of Jews worldwide regularly study the halachos, and many have seen long-await yeshuos. In his merit, may Klal Yisroel soon be delivered from all of its tzaros.

HOLIDAYS IN BOURNEMOUTH

Every year just after Purim until Pesach , again from after Pesach for about 3 weeks and after Succos for about 3 weeks, the Manchester rosh yeshiva took his "holiday" in Bournemouth , a healthy place of fresh air by the sea . And yet in this time he saw more people, than normal . He stayed in The holiday apartment of the Stroh Family at Keythorpe in Manor Road. Anyone who remembers being there can never forget, the phone was constantly buzzing from people all over the world. And visitors from all over England came to talk, asking from blessings and advice .

We will never forget in October 1992 just 6 months before the Rosh Yeshiva died, Reb Yidel spent over three hours talking to a divorced man from London . The man was broken and hurt because of the intense gossip, slander and damage done during his divorce . The Rosh Yeshiva remained firm and told the man never to speak slander against his ex wife , even if it means he will never get married . The man broke down and cried, simultaneously the Rosh Yeshiva cried and prayed to Hashem " please Tatte help this man who has never spoken Loshon Hora " . We could not hear much of the conversation but it lasted for over three hours . However , within a few weeks that man's life unbelievably changed .

NO TELEVISON

There are also many stories of Reb Yidel , doing "deals" with people . In our society, television is as common as computers !! And yet the influence of TV is to corrupt and time-waste lives. Many times, when people came to ask for blessing from Reb Yidel for success in business or healing from serious illness, Reb Yidel would "do a deal" .... There was a man who lived in Bournemouth who was unsuccessful in business, Reb Yidel made the man promise to get rid of his television and to promise to give 10% to charity of his income . Within a week, the man had a sudden change in fortune and had earned £15,000 in a property deal .

And the stories of "miracles" from Reb Yidel and numerous and many untold . We have been told of several true stories, where people have been to the Grave - Ohel - Tomb of Rabbi Segal and accepted upon themselves never to have a TV , and they have had miracles and unbelievably good changes of fortune .

The sincerity of Reb Yidel and his concern for every single person was even more than the love and concern of a normal father . And even today, many people visit his gravesite and Ohel Tomb in Manchester , and have had amazing divine intervention in their lives .

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with thanks to MESORAH publications

Why "Shmiras Haloshon" Guarding your tongue - is Such a Powerful Z'chus for a Refuah Shleimah

For many years, thousands of Jews turned to Reb Yidel Segal, the Manchester Rosh Yeshiva, zt"l, as an invaluable source of guidance in times of crisis. He was world-renowned for his love for every member of K'lal Yisroel, and for his awesome power of Tefillah. Few people were as effective a messenger for beseeching Hashem with the plight of troubled Jews.

The Rosh Yeshiva's Advice:
Invariably, Rabbi Segal's advice to people looking for Hashem's compassion for their loved ones was to faithfully learn, every day, a small portion of the halachos of Shmiras Haloshson from the Sefer Chofetz Chaim.
He gave this advice because he knew that loshon hora is an enormous barrier to receiving Hashem's mercy. To effectively daven for a refuah shleima or other help, loshon hora must be conquered. And the surest way to conquer it is to follow the Chofetz Chaim's own advice: learn the halachos every day. Even a small amount of learning creates a constant awareness of loshon hora and delivers the Divine intervention - Siyata Dishmaya to successfully avoid it.

How Loshon Hora Affects Davening- Power of Prayers
When illness strikes, our natural reaction is to daven. And that is exactly the response Hashem desires. But the mouth is the "manufacturing equipment" for our davening and if the equipment is faulty, the product it produces will be faulty too. If one's mouth is contaminated by loshon hora, its' tefillos will likewise be tainted, and their power to reach Heaven will be seriously weakened. But when we keep Shmiras Haloshon, our tefillos rise swiftly unhindered by prefudice and gossip.

Middah K'Neged Midda:Measure for measure
If One Rejects Loshon Hora, Hashem Rejects Accusations Against Him . In the Heavenly Court, the system of justice is Middah K'Neged Middah (measure for measure): the way we judge our fellow man in this world is precisely the way we ourselves are judged in Heaven. If we judge with a critical eye, magnifying faults and overlooking nothing, that is how our own actions will be judged.
But, if we exercise mercy and undestanding in judging others, the Heavenly Court will look with equal compassion upon our own shortcomings.

Invoking Infinite Mercy
All Hashem wants is to shower us with His limitless store of mercy. When we act compassionately by avoiding and rejecting loshon hora, we allow compassion to flow from Hashem into our lives. Shmirash Haloshon not only opens the gates of Heaven to our prayers, it keeps Hashem's proteciton with us and draws to us a full measure of His abundant mercy.

Shmiras Haloshon Yomi
Clearly, the advice of the Manchester Rosh Yeshiva, zt"l, is one of the most potent means we possess to strengthen the impact of our tefillos and bring z'chuyos to those who are ill or are facing other serious problems. Every friend, family member or neighbour who you set upon his part of learning will multiply this merit. Rabbi Segal left us with the "roadmap" that he used successfully to guide thousands of troubled Jews through life's greatest difficulties. That map is Shmiras Haloshon Yomi, the daily learning program for Shmiras Haloshon. Begin learning today, and create a well-spring of Divine protection and mercy, an unparalleled source of merit for health and happiness.

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CLICK >>HERE<< TO SEE DIRECTIONS TO MANCHESTER CEMETARY CLICK >>HERE<< TO SEE PHOTOS OF THE OHEL - TOMB of Reb Yidel Segal in Manchester

 

Prayer Requests

We are more than happy to take your prayer requests to the Ohel of the Rosh Yeshiva. Simply send an email to us with your hebrew name where you come from and your request, someone very sincere from the Manchester kehilla מחזיקי הדת will read out your prayer, and place the paper with your name in the place for Kvetlich in the tomb as seen on Photos .

The Kvitlech - prayers will be taken and said by members of the Adass Yeshurun עדת ישורון and מחזיקי הדת Shuls in Manchester .

As mentioned in the article above, the Rosh yeshiva always asked people to be careful with their speech , never gossiping , slandering or telling lies and always asked people who came to him for help to learn the book SHEMIRAS HALOSHEN by the CHOFETZ CHAIM .

We have heard many wonderous stories of people, even today - 11 years after Rosh Yeshiva passed to Spirit world, whom have undertaken to refine their speech and learn Shemiras Haloshen , and prayed at the Rosh Yeshiva's Ohel . We are glad to be of service to you , to take your name and pray for you at the Rosh Yeshiva's Ohel .