Personal Reminisces of Fifty Years Under the Tutelage of
My Rebbi, My Rosh Yeshiva – HaRav Aharon Moshe Schechter z’tl
This is an expanded version of an article that appeared on
page 78 of the September 1st, 2023 edition of the Yated Neeman.
By Eliakim Willner
Some years ago I was editor of the Yeshivas Rabbeinu Chaim
Berlin Alumni Newsletter. In the issue that followed Rav Aharon’s becoming the
Rosh Yeshiva I naively inserted a short paragraph mentioning the fact, along
with a brocha for hatzlocho. That issue was placed at every
setting at the Chaim Berlin dinner that year. At some point, prior to the
arrival of the guests, the Rosh Yeshiva happened to see the issue, and the
paragraph, and requested that the copies be collected and not distributed.
I was naturally perturbed, so shortly thereafter I told the
Rosh Yeshiva that I wished to apologize. He said, “What for?” I responded, “To
be honest, I’m not sure what for, but I heard what happened at the dinner and I
want to understand what I did wrong.” With his characteristic smile, the Rosh
Yeshiva explained that “Rosh Yeshiva” was not a “job” like, l’havdil,
“CEO” and in no way should be treated as such. The Rosh Yeshiva understood and
accepted that I meant well, but felt that it was worth confiscating all copies
of that issue to avoid any hint of pechisus in the exalted role of a
Rosh Yeshiva.
I begin with this story because it brings to the fore the
Rosh Yeshiva’s constant emphasis on gadlus haTorah and chashivus
haTorah. It also brings to the fore his ability to make almost every
interaction with his talmidim into teaching moments.
The Rosh Yeshiva was exacting in his choice of words and I
tremble with the thought that I may, in this article, inadvertently not phrase
things in a manner befitting the kovod due him. I ask for mechila
in advance, but perhaps some leeway can be permitted for devarim hayotzim
min halev, written in the heat of emotion, just a day after his petira.
***
For many years the Rosh Yeshiva gave motzai Shabbos
chazoros of Maamorim from his own Rebbi, Rav Hutner zt’l’s
Torah – from Sefer Pachad Yitzchok. Time stood still during those chazoros;
the Rosh Yeshiva was living the words of the Maamar, his face alight,
his words carefully chosen. Deep concepts were repeated, often with a different
choice of words, to bring out nuances that might not have been apparent before.
On Friday nights the Rosh Yeshiva often hosted bochrim
for the Shabbos seudah, and the seudah was followed by an
extemporaneous shiur on the Ramban of the parshas hashavuah.
Although I ate at home, I tried, as often as possible, to walk to the Rosh
Yeshiva’s house afterwards for the Ramban “shiur”. The lessons on how to
approach a Ramban were eye-opening and have remained with me to this
day.
The Rosh Yeshiva wanted us to remember that chol hamoed
was yom tov. During the years that Rav Hutner gave chol hamoed
Maamorim in the Yeshiva, Rav Aharon gave chazoros the next morning
to a small chaburah. Rav Aharon reviewed each point of the Maamar,
explaining it in detail and responding to our questions. The Maamorim, and
the chazoros, opened up new vistas in machshova for those of us
fortunate enough to attend them. They also took several hours, insuring that we
would, in fact, be observing at least part of chol hamoed as yom tov!
***
The Rosh Yeshiva was once searching for a word to describe
the actions of a predatory animal against its victim. Members of the chabura
threw out some suggestions – perhaps “attack” or “injure” would do? The Rosh
Yeshiva was not satisfied. His point could not be effectively made without the
exact word he had in mind (the word, which he remembered with great joy, was “maul”).
I was privileged to serve as gabbai for Shabbos
kabolas Shabbos and Maariv for some years. I needed to discuss
something in that regard with the Rosh Yeshiva and I thoughtlessly started with
“last Friday night…”. The Rosh Yeshiva quickly interrupted with a mock scowl:
“Friday night??? NO, LEIL SHABBOS!” The Rosh Yeshiva was makpid
not only with his own choice of words, but also with those of his talmidim.
***
The Rosh Yeshiva was also very makpid to daven
slowly and carefully and aloud, looking at every word in his siddur. He used a small card to be sure he was
looking at the right place and, in the days when the Rosh Yeshiva was
unfortunately not so audible, the shluchai tzibur, who would naturally
not move ahead until the Rosh Yeshiva was ready to, learned to know his place
by watching his card and waiting for it to stop moving.
The Rosh Yeshiva listened to every word of the sholiach
tzibur and immediately picked up on any deviation from halacha or
from the minhagim of the Yeshiva, as they were established by his own
Rebbi, Rav Hutner. In fact he was strongly makpid to preserve those minhagim
even when they were not halachically m’akev. If for example, the shatz
dropped his voice by go’al yisroel, or said “morid haGOshem”
instead of “morid haGEshem” he would hear about it from the Rosh
Yeshiva. If the shatz dawdled by lecha dodi and risked not reaching
mizmor shir l’yom hashabos before shkia, the Rosh Yeshiva would
rush him along, nigun or no nigun!
The Rosh Yeshiva was makpid that the sholichei
tzibur should take their tefillos, and particularly chazoras
hashatz, at a sedate pace, often signaling to the shatz to slow
down. In fact he had the following sign posted prominently on the amud,
as a reminder.
The Rosh Yeshiva was strongly opposed to the use of
cellphones within the confines of the Yeshiva and no one dared to take or make
phone calls in the building lest the Rosh Yeshiva see them. One day I had to
make an important call and walked out of the Yeshiva to do so. Since it was
raining, I made my call on the bottom step of the covered portico leading out
of the Yeshiva. At that moment the Rosh Yeshiva was leaving the building and
sternly told me, “Eliakim! Remember, no cell phone usage in the Yeshiva building!”
I stammered that I was out of the building and he pointed up to the roof
overhead and said “as long as you are sheltered under a roof of the Yeshiva,
even outdoors, you are in the mechitzos of the building!” Lesson
learned!
***
I was in the Rosh
Yeshiva’s blatt shiur for several years. They were deep and
comprehensive – so much so that I did not want to trust to memory or even
notes, to engrave them on my mind. With the Rosh Yeshiva’s permission I
recorded them and went over them later, often with a chavrusa, pausing
frequently to review and write down questions, which we then took to the Rosh
Yeshiva for clarification. (One of my chavrusas in this endeavor was Rav
Mordechai Schechter, the Rosh Yeshiva’s son and the Yeshiva’s mashgiach
ruchni – may he have a refuah shlaimo!) This practice formed the
basis for the derech halimud that I use, in my own small way, to this
day.
One zman my chavrusa, Yaakov Jacobson a’h and
I, learned with the Rosh Yeshiva for afternoon seder. I asked the Rosh Yeshiva
for reshus to leave early one day, explaining that I had to donate
blood. The Rosh Yeshiva asked, with concern, if everyone was OK, and I
explained everyone was fine, but my family’s medical insurance required that
every year one family member donate a pint of blood in order to provide
transfusions coverage for the entire family, and this year it was my turn.
The Rosh Yeshiva told me that it was questionable if
donating blood in that circumstance was permitted, and that I should ask a shailo.
I stammered that I had no idea who to ask, and how to ask, and that in any case
my appointment was imminent... He excused himself and went to his office,
returning ten or fifteen minutes later to tell me that he asked on my behalf
and that in fact it was permissible. I was stunned at the Rosh Yeshiva’s level
of achrayus for his talmidim – taking time out of his own
afternoon seder to ask a shailo on behalf of a clueless bochur who
unwittingly got himself into a predicament.
***
When I left kollel I went to the Rosh Yeshiva for hadracha
and advice. Among other things he told me that it was important that I should
have a seder in Mishnayos. I must have looked a bit taken aback because
I was thinking, “Does the Rosh Yeshiva suspect that I’m finished learning Gemara
now that I’m leaving full-time learning?” The Rosh Yeshiva smiled and responded
to my unspoken unease. “I don’t mean that you should chav vesholom stop
learning Gemara”, he said – “I know that you will keep good bekius
sedorim. But I want you to have yedios from all of shas, and the
best way to do that is to have a consistent seder in Mishnayos”.
I took his advice and several years later was making a Mishnayos
siyum, with a seudah for family in my home. I was shocked when there
was a ring at the bell and the Rosh Yeshiva himself was at the door. He had
heard about the siyum from one of my sons and wanted to be mishtatef.
Such was the Rosh Yeshiva’s mesiras nefesh for his talmidim, even
after they left the Yeshiva.
During that post-kollel tekufah I wanted to discuss
an urgent personal matter with the Rosh Yeshiva. I was generally reluctant to
impose on the Rosh Yeshiva’s time but felt at that juncture that it was
justified. The Rosh Yeshiva said, “Yes, we can talk later today. Come to my
office at home at 2 o'clock. I stammered that I was working at 2 o'clock and
could we perhaps make it after hours? The Rosh Yeshiva gave me a surprised
look: “I know you work during the day. I meant 2:00 o’clock AM.”
When I arrived at that hour the place looked like Grand
Central – people were coming and going, the phone was ringing, the fax machine
was buzzing… Nonetheless, I had the Rosh Yeshiva’s full attention as I laid out
my issue, and received the advice that I had been seeking, leaving in
wonderment at the Rosh Yeshiva’s incredible stamina.
Another example of the Rosh Yeshiva’s legendary mesiras
nefesh for his talmidim: Many years ago, one of our chabura
was getting married the night after the Rosh Yeshiva was released from the
hospital after serious surgery. Yet, the Rosh Yeshiva insisted on attending the
chasunah. I observed him walking in, bent over and supported on each
side. When the dancing started he asked to be taken in to the main hall to
dance with the chosson. I and others around him looked at him
incredulously. He could barely walk on his own, how could he possibly dance
with the chosson? Yet, he shook off his gabbaim walked into the
circle, and danced in his inimitable fashion, smiling, with his arms in the
air, an active vision of kedusha, as if he were in perfect health. I
have never seen a more potent example of “mind over matter”. It was known that
the Rosh Yeshiva had other-worldly self-discipline. Here was living proof. The
Rosh Yeshiva’s conviction was that dancing with the chosson was the
right thing a Rebbi should do for his talmid, and he was able to
push the physical barriers aside in order to do so.
***
There were times after that surgery that the Rosh Yeshiva
felt that he would not be able to function properly unless he took some time to
rest, and he kept a cot in his office for that purpose. One Sunday afternoon I
was discussing a matter with the Rosh Yeshiva in his office, and when we
finished, he said, “Eliakim, I need to lay down to rest for a while. Please do
me a favor and sit outside my office and don’t let anyone disturb me”. I was
happy to oblige so I picked up a sefer and took my post. (It became immediately
clear that my presence was necessary, since there was a constant flow of would-be
visitors.)
More than an hour later the Rosh Yeshiva emerged from his
office with profuse apologies: “Eliakim I didn’t intend for you to sit out here
for so long, I only wanted to rest for a few minutes!” I responded that I didn’t
have anything time-sensitive to take care of, in any event I was learning, and
besides “if the Rosh Yeshiva rested for so long then clearly his body needed
the rest and I wasn’t going to be the one to disturb it”. What struck me,
though, was that the Rosh Yeshiva’s primary concern was my supposed waste of
time, and not his own waste of time.
***
The Rosh Yeshiva’s caring extended to every yid, talmid
or not. Shortly before the wedding of one of my son’s, my mother-in-law was
struck by a car, badly injured and rendered comatose. My father-in-law was very
broken but he attended my son’s wedding.
During the dancing, however, he could not restrain his grief, and went into a
quiet corner to cry. Someone called the Rosh Yeshiva’s attention to his
situation. The Rosh Yeshiva left the dancing circle and spoke quietly to my shver
for a few minutes. He then returned to the dancing with my shver in tow,
and my shver was fine for the rest of the chasunah. We don’t know what
the Rosh Yeshiva told him but clearly he found the right words to console an
elderly European yid, in his grief.
***
The Rosh Yeshiva was capable of displaying a sharp sense of
humor. Talmidim often made their brissim in the Yeshiva, and the seudas
bris, in the Yeshiva dining room. The Rosh Yeshiva liked to keep things
moving, so as not to cut into morning seder. At the bris of one of my grandsons
the Rosh Yeshiva asked me who was going to speak and I told him that my mechutan
and I were going to speak. He didn’t look thrilled at the prospect but all he
said was “so get started and zeit mekatzer”. My mechutan, a Rav
and talmid chochom, spoke first. When it was my turn I began, tongue-in-cheek,
with “I can’t compete with my mechutan’s Torah but maybe I can outdo him
in being mekatzer.” I said my piece and sat down, and the Rosh Yeshiva
leaned over and whispered to me, “He was more mekatzer than you, too!”
***
I would like to conclude with an incident reported to me by
a 7th grade Rebbi in a Yeshiva outside of New York. As part of a chol
hamoed trip, he planned on taking his class to visit the Rosh Yeshiva; to
see a gadol b’yisroel, hear divrei Torah, receive a bracha.
One of the bochrim created a disturbance and the Rosh Yeshiva had to
send him from the room. The Rosh Yeshiva took the time to calmly explain to the
rest of the class that, as a matter of chinuch, the boy had to learn
that actions have consequences.
Another, rather impertinent bochur suggested to the
Rosh Yeshiva that perhaps the boy had learned his lesson and should be
re-admitted. The Rosh Yeshiva responded that if he did that, not only would
that negate the lesson to the bochur himself, but would give the rest of
the class a contrary lesson – that, in fact, bad actions do not have
consequences.
The interaction was handled with ultimate respect for the talmidim
and illustrates how the Rosh Yeshiva could transform even sticky situations
into teaching moments – not only for his own talmidim, but for talmidim from another Yeshiva.
In truth, though, to the Rosh Yeshiva every yid was a
talmid to whom he could impart Toras Emes.
Life goes on, but the passing of the Rosh Yeshiva zt’l leaves
a void in my life, and in the lives of my family members, that can never be
filled. Yehi zichro boruch.
