Conference of European Rabbis Annual Review 2017-2018 (5777-5778) 29 www.rabbiscer.org During the period under review, the CER lost two of its key figures. RABBI MOSHE SHAPIRA ZT”L ( M AY 1 9 3 5 - J A N 2 0 1 7 ) Jewry throughout the years. Rav Steinman advised and instructed the CER in dealing with the nations of the world regarding the decrees against circumcision and religious animal slaughter. In formal letters to CER conventions Rav Steinman encouraged the Rabbis of the CER to establish Torah community centers and educational institutions for the younger generation around Europe in order to guarantee the continuation of Jewish life in Europe. His legendary and innovative philosophical teachings have become a guide to many of the greatest rabbis, yeshiva leaders, and world-class thinkers all over the world. One of his great students was the third president of the CER, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Shitruk. May his blessed memory be a merit to all the Jewish people. A native of Brest, Lithuania Rabbi Steinman led several yeshivas in Israel for over sixty years. A prolific author of Torah and Talmudic commentary, he was known for his Talmudic scholarship, pious ways, and sharp mind. Beginning in the mid 90's Rav Steinman was seen as one of the primary leaders and sages of the Lithuanian yeshiva movement. He served as a luminary to the Jewish communities around the world and took special interest in the activities of the Conference of the European Rabbis. A special session was dedicated by the rabbis to the memory of Rabbi Aharon Leib Steinman zt"l, during which the Rabbis spoke about the special relationship that the CER had with the Rabbi and the constant guidance he provided regarding the difficult questions of European Rabbi Shapira served as president and head of the Yeshivat Torat Chaim in Moscow, as well as head of the Wolfson Kollel network and the European Mikvah Foundation. Rabbi Shapira was a sought-after guest at the international conference of the CER and instructed young rabbis with great pleasure and purity of thought. Rabbi Goldschmidt stated that Rabbi Moshe Shapira was the man who raised the banner of kiruv in the Lithuanian camp and was one of the greatest thinkers in the Haredi world in the last generation. Rabbi Shapira opened dialogue with assimilated Jews in order to bring them closer to the Torah of Israel. Obituaries R A B B I A H A R O N Y E H U D A H L E I B S T E I N M A N Z T " L ( N O V 1 9 1 4 – D E C 2 0 1 7 )