Many people are acquainted with the powerful segulah the day of 5 Kislev contains for effecting yeshuos in a supernatural way, on the yahrtzeit of the holy tzaddik, Rav Asher, the Menuchas Asher of Chenger zt"l. This year as well, 149 years since his petirah, thousands of Yidden from around the world converged on the small Hungarian village to storm the heavens and plead for yeshuos by davening at the holy kever.

Already on the roads leading to airports in Jewish areas around the world, a noticeable increase in the number of Jewish travelers from all walks of life was seen, all of them making their way to Chenger. Immediately upon arriving in the town, visitors were enveloped by the amenities prepared for them by the dedicated askanim of the Vaad Hachnasas Orchim of Chenger.

To accommodate the expected guests, three giant tents were set up on a large parking lot. These served as a massive hall for the yahrtzeit seudos, with separate sections for men and women. The seudos were prepared by the famous Laleches catering company, which ensured that there was delicious food and drink for everyone.

Several smaller tents offered refreshments 24 hours a day, with separate areas for men and women. To accomplish this, the ohel was expanded on both sides, one for the men and on the other side for the women. In addition, a makeshift mikvah was built with four boros by a group of experts from Eretz Yisroel.

The atmosphere of anticipation began even before nightfall of the yahrtzeit, when a series of minyanim began for Mincha, followed by Maariv. At this time, local police officers arrived along with a security guard and blocked the main road to vehicular traffic. The parking lot was at this time filled with hundreds of cars and dozens of buses which brought the mispallelim to the ohel. A look at the crowd showed a colorful mix of Yidden from all kehillas and walks of life. From around the world, they came to plead at the door of the holy tzaddik for a yeshua.

The highlight of the event was the central Seudas Hillula. The chairman of the evening was the renowned speaker, Rav Aharon Zalman Jungreis shlita, the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Serdeheli and a descendant of the Baal Hillula. Rav Jungreis set the tone from the onset with a fiery address about the tremendous zechus it was to be in such a holy place on this day. Among other things, the speaker asked the attendees to serve as emissaries for the entire Klal Yisroel in their tefillos. As he spoke, thy hush in the crowd bespoke the seriousness that filled the tent.

The guest of honor was Rav Yonasan Binyamin Katz shlita, the rav of Foltishon-Skver of Flatbush and a descendant of his namesake who had been the prime talmid of the Baal Hillula. A gifted speaker, he eloquently brought out the tzaddik's greatness, as well as the tremendous zechus the assembled had to be able to accomplish on behalf of Klal Yisroel on such an exalted day.

The talented Brown family from Britain led the singing with niggunim of hisorerus that put everyone in an elevated mood, warming their souls with music of yore.

For bentching, one of the Menuchas Asher's descendants brought with him the becher that had been used by the Baal Hillula himself. The honor to lead the bentching with this becher was given to the renowned philanthropist, Rav Yoel Pashkes, a son of the unforgettable Rav Dovid Berach ben Rav Meir Pashkes zt"l, (in whose honor the ner tamid in the new building was donated). The assembled then lined up to have the privilege of drinking from the holy becher.

Immediately afterward, the crowd left the tent and began streaming in the direction of the holy ohel. Where is the pen and who is the writer who can accurately describe on mere paper the charged emotions that pulsated through the crowd at that moment, when thousands of Yidden sobbed and pleaded for yeshuas in the merit of the holy tzaddik who was buried there?

At the break of dawn, the minyanim for Shacharis began one after the other, continuing nonstop until midday. Concurrently, organizers prepared a lavish breakfast along with cake and whiskey for lichaim. During the entire time, the Gorlitzer Rebbe shlita enthralled the crowd with wondrous stories of the Menuchas Asher, an ancestor of his.

Throughout the day, there were constant groups of people coming and going through the town, as countless Yidden came to use the opportunity the exalted day afforded to daven for yeshuos in the merit of the Baal Hillula. The holy ohel buzzed with activity during this time. Among the visitors was the Makeve Rebbe shlita, who arrived at about noontime and davened in the ohel until close to the end of day. He then read kvitlach from his chassidim.

The Vaad Hachnasas Orchim of Chenger, in tandem with Laleches, worked to provide the highest standard possible. Laleches cooked delicious food for the entire public, even including prepared bags of food for the return trip home. There were so many people who came that the Vaad feels obligated to apologize for not having enough food, saying they hadn't expected such an enormous turnout. 

In the meantime, the Vaad Hachnasas Orchim of Chenger is already setting its sights on next year, when in honor of the 150th yahrtzeit a "Shabbos in Chenger" is planned. 

May the zechus of the Baal Hillula, the Menuchas Asher of Chenger, bring yeshuos to the entire Klal Yisroel.