THE BATTLE FOR "SHALOM" - part 9

[However when fighting the battle for Torah in Klal Yisroel, when speaking out publicly against destroyers of Yiddishkeit and (thus also) of yiddishe neshomos /Jews themselves - Jewish souls/ the Rosh Yeshiva was forceful indeed; he was not silent. In fact, on his first yohrtzeit, Reb Yaakov Kamenetsky zt'l said in Lakewood Yeshiva that the very fear of the Rosh Yeshiva’s wrath was often enough to prevent the very presentation of many a plan or pseudo-halochic decision inconsistent with the letter or spirit of Torah (called: "ziyuf hatorah" /"counterfeiting Torah" in the Rosh Yeshiva’s terminology). “M’hut moireh gehat az Reb Aron vet beizirin - they were afraid that Reb Aharon would get angry".

No, the Rosh Yeshiva was not all apathetic; he was a kano’i in the full, concerned and holy, l’shem shomayim sense of the word. He presented his position with the utmost clarity. His words were precise and measured, thought through very carefully; at the same time they were forceful. (See also hesped of Rav Elozor Shach shlita, Michtovim Umaamorim vol. 3; p. 152-3, in which he extolls the Rosh Yeshiva's great wisdom /"Gaonus"/ which enabled him to know precisely what should and should not be done [or said] when fighting for Torah.) In normal interactions he was sweet, mild, and soft spoken, but, when called for, he could be literally “thunder and lightning.”]

The Rosh Yeshiva was famous for his "talking in learning." The discussions were very serious, often heated, an outgrouth of the tremendous importance the Rosh Yeshiva attached to arriving at the absolute truth of Torah. Even when talking to a novice, the Rosh Yeshiva did not in any way bend the truth just to make him feel good. Yet for all that, the Rosh Yeshiva's purity of motive and love came across; no one felt affronted; on the contrary . . .

Rav Avrohom Yitzchok Shain (of Staten Island Yeshiva) told this writer about the time a bochur - from "out of town" and a bit on the weak side- told him he is going in to the Rosh Yeshiva to discuss three questions he has in his g'moro studies [and ideas he has to resolve them]. Reb Avrohom Yitzchok saw the bochur later and noticed that he was in an extremely good mood. He asked the bochur how things went and the bochur responded: Regarding the first "vort" (idea) the Rosh Yeshiva said: Kein shum svoro nit - It's absolutely not a valid thought; about the second the Rosh Yeshiva said: It is possible, but you need proof to say something like that; about the third the Rosh Yeshiva responded: Es loszuch zuggen . . . it can be. Reb Avrohom Yitzchok then asked the bochur why he is so happy, after all what the Rosh Yeshiva said about your ideas doesn't sound all that good. The bochur responded: "Yes, but it is the way he said it . . ."

Finally let it be added that there were times when the Rosh Yeshiva avoided direct Tochacha to talmidim altogether, rather he waited for an opportune time to talk about the pertinent ideas in subsequent shmuessen in Yeshiva.

As for the shmuessen themselves, they were a study in Kovod V'ahavah l'Talmidim - the ideal respect and love a rebbi should have for talmidim, as well as a study in Yiras Shomayim. Whereas the shiurim (Torah lectures) were delivered with fire, excitement, force and intense Simchas HaTorah, electrifying the atmosphere - a veritable Maamad Har Sinai, the Shmuessen were earnest, soft and contrite.

The Rosh Yeshiva would first enter the Bais Medrash, go to his seat and learn Mussar intensely by himself. The Olam (talmidim) would do the same. After a few minutes of Mussar, which would increase with intensity right before the actual shmuess, the Rosh Yeshiva would stand up in his place [except for Yomim Noraim when he would go the the Bimah] and begin speaking to the talmidim in a mellow, contrite, loving voice - [his Yiras Shomayim and Hachno'ah - so it seemed to this talmid - fueling that love]. He appeared for all the world like a grandfather speaking with abounding love and concern to his grandchildren; his expression, his eyes, his voice, his entire meign conveying that love. A Mussar shmuess contains Tochochah - yes there was Tochochah, but it was Tochochah with love.

And then there are the simple day to day interactions with people, not dramatic, not unusual, but beautiful in their consistent respect and sensitivity to the feelings and to the needs of others.

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