Tens of thousands of men, women, and children turned out for a massive kabalas panim for gedolei eretz yisroel who are now in Lakewood on behalf of Keren Olam HaTorah.

According to the Lakewood Police Department, approximately 26,000 people attended the asifa.

The updates below are in reverse chronological order.

9:19 PM: Despite the scorching heat and humidity, the massive crowd that came to be mechabed the Gedolei Eretz Yisroel sings and dances lichvod hatorah, bringing the asifa to a close

9:16 PM: Harav Avraham Salim shlit”a, one of the leading Sephardic roshei yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel, leads a resounding Kabolas Ol Malchus Shamayim to cap off the maamad kavod hatorah

9:07 PM: Harav Shimon Galai shlit”a leads the maamad kavod hatorah in reciting Tehillim b’rov am.

9:02 PM: The crowd sings “Ki Orech Yamim” for Harav Yisroel Bunim Schreiber shlit”a, as he rises to address the massive asifa. 

8:55 PM: Harav Chaim Mordechai Ausband shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, urges the crowd – and all of Lakewood – to take upon themselves to support at least one month of an avreich’s expenses – just $276 – over the coming year.

8:48 PM: Gedolei Eretz Yisroel and the roshei yeshiva of BMG link hands and join the crowd of 10,000+ in singing and dancing lichvod hatorah

8:42 PM: Harav Don Segal shlit”a, Harav Yaakov Hillel shlit”a, and Harav Avraham Salim shlit”a arriving to the kabalas panim earlier amid their mission to the US on behalf of Keren Olam HaTorah

8:35 PM: The oilam sings and dances as the mashgiach Harav Don Segal shlit”a prepares to speak at the maamad.

8:27 PM: Harav Dov Landau shlit”a is now addressing the massive, overflow crowd at the Keren Olam HaTorah kabalas panim in Lakewood

8:21 PM: Harav Malkiel Kotler shlit”a opens the asifa speaking of Keren Olam Hatorah, the journey the gedolim have undertaken to save Torah in Eretz Yisroel, and the hischayvus it puts on all to support their mission.

8:15 PM: The gedolei Eretz Yisroel arrive at the asifa to tens of thousands singing and welcoming them to Lakewood.

8:05 PM: Harav Dov Landau shlit”a and Harav Shimon Galai shlit”a arriving at the massive asifa in their honor

7:53 PM: Harav Malkiel Kotler and Harav Yeruchem Olshin have arrived at the kabalas panim for the Gedolei Eretz Yisroel

7:51 PM: The asifa parking lot is now completely full as the maamad prepares to get underway – and many more additional attendees are still coming.

A view of the already massive crowd, as thousands more continue arriving to greet the gedolim

Thousands have begun streaming into the area as final preparations conclude

Heavily armed police patrolling the perimeter of the kabalas panim 

Rabbi Sruly Bursztyn of Lakewood Shomrim gives event security personnel a briefing ahead of the kabalas panim.

Extensive preparations underway for tonight’s massive asifa