Only two and a half years ago, Rabbi Gavriel Eliyahu Klatzko zt'l, or Reb Gavriel as he was known to us, arrived upon the shores of South Africa to be employed by Ohr Somayach of South Africa. Little did we know that the enormous impact he would have would be over in such a short time.

He, his wife Yocheved and his children were initially brought out to join the Ohr Somayach Kollel in Johannesburg. Within a short time, it became very apparent that Reb Gavriel had an enormous talent to empathize with and touch the lives of all who came into contact with him. The deep ahavas Yisroel which characterized his personality is perhaps the single most important trait required for any kiruv worker.

R' Gavriel possessed this quality in great measure and it was immediately utilized by the organization to further the outreach work of Ohr Somayach.

It was a clear demonstration of hashgocho that at this precise time, an opportunity arose for the establishment of a new minyan and kiruv center by Ohr Somayach, specifically designed to meet the needs of students and young professionals of the Johannesburg community. There could not have been a better candidate for the job - and so was born the Sunny Road center.

Rabbi Klatzko was the heart of the enormously successful project. The minyan and associated kiruv projects grew by leaps and bounds. Shabbos minyonim were regularly attended by 200 young people; Lag BaOmer, Simchas Torah, Shavuos dinner and much more, were attended by 300 plus. In-house and out-of-town Shabbatonim were a regular occurrence and the Sunny Road center was the talk of the town.

Rabbi Klatzko was at the center of all activities. The home that he and Yocheved built was one of enormous chesed and hachnosas orchim. Never a Shabbos nor a Yom Tov meal would go by without many guests surrounding their table and the relationship that they established with every young person was nurtured and treasured by both rebbe and talmid alike.

R' Gavriel's personality was such that these young people would open their hearts to him with their most private and intimate issues and he would take them to heart and act upon them with love and concern. A number of shidduchim came about via the Sunny Road project and Gavriel and Yocheved would take full responsibility for the shidduch, and on more than one occasion this was even to the extent of finding the money for hachnosas kallah, for those who, for whatever reason, could not afford a chasuna.

The outpouring of grief and sorrow at the short levaya in Johannesburg - prior to the flight to Eretz Yisroel on Sunday morning the 8^th of November - that was attended by hundreds within one hours notice, was but a small indication of the great love and esteem felt for him by so many of the local Johannesburg community.

He was beloved by talmidim and colleagues alike and his presence will be sorely missed. As was expressed at a hesped in Johannesburg, just as his four children will ultimately be a source of zechus to his neshomoh, so will his hundreds of talmidim. In many of them, he was fully responsible for the mitzvos they keep; in all of them, he is a great factor and inspiration, and always will be, in their share of Torah and mitzvos.

May his memory be a blessing to us all.

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Rabbi Shain is Director of Ohr Somayach South Africa. This appreciation is written on behalf of the hanholo and staff of Ohr Somayach South Africa.