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They saw how one need not sleep, nor rest, nor eat, nor have much of a private life -again: ”histapkus ad ktzei hoacharon”; they saw how one can live in and derive immense satisfaction from a world of K’dushah-a world that is elevated above the mundane world-a world of “Nisuim Min Ho’oretz” as in the Ramchal’s definition of the Ananei Kovod (the clouds that surrounded and set apart Klal Yisroel in the wilderness)-a definition which Rav Schneur zt'l quoted so often and which he applied to every aspect of his blessed and immensely productive life. [And, yes, he expected and demanded of his talmidim that they too live with that perception of life-to view themselves and the world they live in with what he would call Ruchniusdiker Chushim-spiritual senses; higher-uplifted vision!] They saw the great pleasure and satisfaction he had from a good vort; his pleasure, satisfaction and Nachas from knowing that a Ben Torah is learning well; davening the way one really should; striving to perfect himself – shteigging! If a talmid told him a good shtikkle Torah (Torah thought or discourse) he would noticeably be filled with pleasure. The talmid could see it in him days later-it showed in the way Rav Schneur looked at him; spoke to him. This talmid once attended the Bris of a friend who had left the koslei Bais HaMedrash/halls of Yeshiva. Yet he had just made a good shtikkle Torah on a topic which he was learning right then. Reb Schneur zt'l - was literally beaming with Nachas! [Then, when it was his turn to speak, Rav Schneur-as was his practice in later years, continued talking on that very same subject, taking up where the baal bris/father had left off!] They saw a studied and internal bitul – negation, even abhorrence of pettiness (he coined a word for that -”Katnunius”); of self centeredness [also considered by Rav Schneur Katnunius-Katnus-small minded; a Godol - a bigger person thinks of others!]; they saw a strong antipathy to bad character traits and to the resultant discord and argumentation which they bring about. He avoided and fought Machlokes (discord, dispute, quarreling) as one would fight an attempt to place an idol, G-d forbid, in the Bais Hamikdosh – which is exactly how he viewed Machlokes in Klal Yisroel and certainly in the yeshiva community. [This writer once overheard Rav Schneur forcefully put down the beginnings of a Machlokes with the words: “I won’t let it happen – in der heiliger ort – in this holy place!” In his Yom Kippur Shmuessen he would often elaborate on the piyut which calls Yom Kippur a day of “Azivas kinoh v’sachrus-simas ahavoh v’rei’us-leaving behind jealousy and dispute and replacing them with love and friendship”. All this was inherent in the Kdushas haYom, the sanctity of Yom Kippur itself. K’dusha is the antithesis of bad character traits and dispute)]
They saw a tremendous concern for the welfare of others-for their welfare and for their feelings! They saw a readiness-a willingness to make sacrifices in order to help others in any way or to spare them from pain or embarrassment-sacrifices that were at times so immense that they were absolutely mind boggling! They saw a deep understanding of human nature and a sensitivity and concern for even the eideleh delicate needs of others, all the more so to those of his talmidim. |