Editor’s note: The following hesped was given by Rabbi Shalom Rosner at the funeral of Eliyahu Moshe “Elimo” Zimbalist of Bet Shemesh.

We are living in a very trying time in Jewish history. It is painful; it is personal. But we feel and we need to feel deep down that we are moving towards greater and amazing times. Hashem is running the world. He is bringing the world to its ultimate state. And we are zoche to play a role in this amazing process. We haven’t had this opportunity in 2,000 years. Not since the days of Dovid Hamelech. And we cherish and we are proud that we get to be Hashem’s partners.

I call out to Jews all over the world, “Come join us, come make this your home. Be part of Jewish history. Come help make this amazing land what it is today. The Zimbalists have given their most precious possession so that we, all of you, can live in peace and security. It is a privilege and a zechus to be part of Hashem’s team.”

So what does that have to do with Elimo? Hashem is getting ready to bring down the Beis Hamikdash hashlishi and He needs someone to help Him build it. There’s no one more fitting or deserving to be Hashem’s partner than Elimo, the greatest builder in our generation. Elimo, we loved you. We cherished you. But we need you to keep building. Take your zechuyos and stand in front of the kisei hakavod and say: “Hashem, I built. Now it’s time for You to build. I took care of everybody; now please, You take care of everybody. Enough korbanos, enough pain, enough suffering. Hashem, I did my part, now please do yours.”

Hashkifa mimaon kadshecha min hashamaim uverach es amcha es Yisrael v’es hadam asher nasata lanu, keasher nishbata lavosenu, eretz zevas chalav u’dvash.