Rav Moshe Minder: Chayei Sarah: Abraham’s Yeshiva

The 23rd of Cheshvan is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Moshe Midner (Minder) of Slonim-Baranowitz, a grandson of the Yesod Ha’avodah and a talmid of Rav Chaim Brisker Soloveitchik. He was mashgiach of Yeshivas Toras Chessed. The chsaidim of Slonim used to say of him: “From Moses of Midian up until Moses Midner, there was none like Moses.”

“And God blessed Abraham ‘Bakol’ – with Kol – all.” The Midrash teaches that Abraham successfully established a Beit Midrash – A House of Torah Study. He named it Bakol – because it’s theme was that the world has Kol – everything it needs to succeed and thrive. When the Talmud teaches Bakol is a Bat – a daughter – it actually means a “measure” as in Ezekiel 45, where Bat is a measure. (Verse 10) Abraham taught the attribute of being self-sufficiency, that all God does is good and He provides for all we need. (Or Yesharim: Torat Moshe page 68)