Guest Posting By Rabbi Yakov Horowitz - Pictures From My Photo Album [Part I]

I had the great zechus to daven in the vasikin minyan with Reb Levi Yitzchak Bender z'tl each day for 5 months during the spring/summer of 1979. Many of those days, I would accompany him to the Kosel on the #1 bus following davening.

At that time, Reb Levi Yitzchok z'tl was fully independent -- his eyesight had not failed yet -- and vigorously rejected any trappings of 'rebbishkeit'. He shopped, rode the bus, walked himself, etc.

One day, I decided to photograph him during davening so that I could record it for posterity. Reb Levi Yitzchok never made a fuss when he was photographed, but having spent time with him, I knew that he was pained by the process. I was also reluctant to disturb the davening.

So, I borrowed a camera with a telephoto lens from a British chaver in the Mir and took this series of pictures from the (empty:)) ladies section of the shul. You can see from the pictures that the quality improves as davening progresses. this is due to the improved lighting conditions as sunrise approached.

Reb Levi Yitzchok never saw the camera -- although a few of the mispallilim did!!!