by Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky

This article originally appeared in Yated Neeman, Monsey NY. and is reprinted here with their permission

THE ERETZ YISROEL YEARS

Rav Schach and his family arrived in Eretz Yisroel absolutely penniless, without even enough money for a day’s worth of food. Their few meager possessions had been seized by Lithuanian border guards. From the port, they headed directly to the home of their uncle, Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, who had emigrated from Europe a few years prior to assume the position of Rosh Yeshiva of Etz Chaim in Yerushalayim.

They moved in to a one room apartment at Rechov Modi’in 10 in the old Kerem section of Yerushalayim where they lived in abject poverty.

At this point Rav Schach had no livelihood and the outlook was bleak. Still he would learn day and night forging closer ties with his uncle, Rav Isser Zalman and with Rav Velvel Soloveichik, the Brisker Rav. He could be found at all hours in the Kerem Shul or talking in learning with the Brisker Rav.

The Rav once mentioned to a close talmid that since his father Rav Chaim Brisker, was niftar, he had no one with whom to talk to in learning until he met Rav Schach.

Throughout those first difficult years without a livelihood, Rebbitzen Schach stood by his side. She worked tirelessly to support the family and allow her husband to learn without interruption.

When she became ill, Rav Schach cared for her, trying his best to do the chores around the house. He would go shopping, standing in line like everyone else to pay for groceries.

After a while, Rav Schach was introduced to a Rav who had a Yeshiva in Tel Aviv, who offered him a job. All Rav Schach was to do was sit and learn and give shiurim in the Yeshiva. The Rav offered him a respectable salary and gave him enough money to furnish his tiny apartment in Yerushalayim. Rav Schach accepted the position.

The Yeshiva in Tel Aviv had no other outside limudim, there were no secular studies in the Yeshiva, but Rav Schach soon discovered that the Zionistic leanings of the Yeshiva administration made him uncomfortable. Despite the fact that he had no other parnassah and despite much cajoling from the dean of the Yeshiva, Rav Schach decided to give up this sure parnassah and return to Yerushalayim.

He appeared before the Brisker Rav with the news that he was once again jobless.

“Ashrecha!” the Rav declared, “Praiseworthy are you Reb Lazer! You have made a decision to forego parnasa on a matter of principle!’ I have a kabalah from my father that those who forego parnasa because of a true Torah principle will only see blessings!”

The Rav then undertook to help support Rav Schach until he could find parnasa. Eventually he was offered to join the many great European Talmidei Chachamim, refugees from Europe, who were learning in the Lomza Yeshiva in Petach Tikva. It was at this time that he developed a close relationship with the Chazon Ish who lived in nearby Bnai Brak.

STRIVING FOR TRUTH

The Chazon Ish was greatly impressed with Rav Schach’s Bikush HaEmes. He said of Rav Schach, “haemes ahuv etzlo, truth is dear to him,” very powerful words from the Gaon known for his uncompromising pursuit of Emes.

The Chazon Ish first noted this great midah of Rav Schach when of the talmidim in the yeshiva in Petach Tikvah related to him that once Rav Schach regretted a nuance of his shiur and made sure to approach every single student with the correction.

Indeed, anyone who knew Rav Schach or heard his shiurim, knew that the emes was all that mattered. When I learned in Ponovez, one Elul the Yeshiva was learning the tenth perek of Nedarim. Rav Schach never gave shiur Klali on that perek.

That year Rav Schach decided that he was going to give a shiur Klali on that perek. The maareh m’komos were posted and the yeshiva was abuzz. All were anticipating a remarkable shiur.

Rav Schach was in his seat speaking to his Talmid Muvhak Rav Dovid Zimmerman, when all of a sudden he stood up, went to the bulletin board outside the Bais Medrash and took off the small paper upon which the ma’areh m’komos were posted and canceled the shiur.

Later Reb Dovid explained that he decided that although a brilliant shiur had been prepared, a last minute question weakened the y’sod and Rav Schach would not say a shiur if he felt it was less than one hundred percent.

On more than one occasion a bochur would ask an innocent question which Rav Schach felt sufficiently weakened the point of his shiur. The Rosh Yeshiva would simply say “er iz gerecht,” close his gemora and the shiur was over.

Rav Schach remained in the Lomza Yeshiva in Petach Tikva and by invitation of the Rav, Rav Reuven Katz, began to say shiurim in Yeshiva Degel Reuvain.

Eventually Rav Schach felt that it was time to move on. He took a position with his cousin, the son of Rav Isser Zalman in Yeshivas HaDarom-Kletzk in Rechovot.

Throughout his years as a magid shiur in Eretz Yisrael, Rav Schach would only come home on Shabbos. He would spend the rest of the week in the Beis Medrash, immersed in the study and teaching of Torah.

When Rav Reuven Grozovsky took ill, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky traveled to Eretz Yisroel to invite Rav Schach to become Rosh Yeshiva in Torah Voda’ath in New York. The Brisker Rav dissuaded him from accepting this tempting offer with the prophetic declaration that “Rav Schach will one day lead Klal Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel. He is needed here!”

Bais Brisk

After a short stay in Rechovot, Rav Schach returned to Yerushalyim where he served as Maggid Shiur in Yerushalayim’s Yeshivas Beis Yosef and continued learning by the Brisker Rav.

They would learn for hours on end, the Brisker Rav showing him his writing and watching Rav Schach’s every nuance as he read them, asking over and over what he felt. The Brisker Rav’s demeanor would change when Rav Schach would come into the room. If he would be speaking to talmidim and Rav Schach would shake his head or make a sudden movement, the Brisker Rav would stop and ask, “Vos iz Reb Lazer? What is bothering you Reb Lazer?” Such was his influence in the Bais HaRav.

The Rav chided his other talmidim, comparing their reactions to his Torah with that of Rav Schach. Once when relating a chiddush on Megilas Rus some of the talmidim were quiet. This disappointed the Brisker Rav who said, “Wait till I tell this to Rav Lazer. He will understand its depth and react with enthusiasm!”

Rav Velvel told Reb Ahron Kupschitz that no matter which sugya you choose to ask Rav Schach about, he is holding there. Even at the wedding of one of his sons, the Brisker Rov spent a full hour talking in learning with Rav Schach.

The Rav’s haskama on ‘Avi Ezri’, Rav Schach’s sefer testifies to the tremendous esteem in which Rav Schach was held. “Who am I to give an approbation on Rav Schach,” he wrote, “he is one of the Gedolim of our time and certainly does not need my haskamah!”

Though the Rav gave him one of the most powerful haskamos he ever wrote, Rav Shach almost did not know it. The story goes as follows: Rav Shach wanted to print his sefer and came to the Brisker Rav to show him the work. All Rav Shach wanted, was to ask if the work was worthy of printing. Upon seeing the writings, the Rav penned the celebrated haskama, and handed it to him. Rav Shach didn’t look at the words of the letter, rather he pocketed it and kept on asking the Rav, if it is worthy to print.

After constant reassurances from the Rav that the chidushim are worthy of publication, Rav Shach left the house.

The Rav sent his son, Reb Yoshe Ber, to chase Rav Schach and tell him to read the letter and print it in the sefer.

Rav Dovid Finkel commented on that haskama, “It was not an approbation. It was a coronation!”

One year the Brisker Rav felt unwell on his father’s yahrzeit, the 21st of Av. He asked Rav Schach to daven before the amud in his stead and learn mishnayos lilui nishmoso.

The Brisker Rav attested that Rav Schach sees things that other mortals do not. “Rav Schach’s far reaching vision spans forty years,” he said.

On one occasion the Brisker Rav was learning with Rav Schach until late at night. As the hour was growing late Rav Schach returned home. At 1:00 AM, the Rav thought of a different approach to the problem and sent his son, the famed Brisker Rosh Yeshiva Rav Yoshe Ber, to relate it to Rav Schach. When Rav Berel hesitated saying that Reb Lazer is sleeping by then and the answer could wait till the next morning, the Brisker Rav assured him, “It cannot be, Rav Schach won’t be able to sleep until he hears a terutz.” And so it was.

As Reb Berel approached Rav Schach’s humble abode he saw him walking back and forth in his room deep in thought. He knocked on the door and brought great joy to Rav Lazer as he told him over his father’s p’shat.

Rav Schach felt such a great simcha when he read the Brisker Rav’s chiddushim, that the Brisker Rav told some talmidim that he actually looked forward to finishing the chiddushim in order to see Rav Schach’s enthusiasm.

Once the Brisker Rav was sitting with talmidim and saying a shiur. He asked a difficult kushya and worked on finding a solution.

Rav Shach walked into the room and all of a sudden the Rav’s eyes lit up and he delivered a brilliant answer. When Rav Shach left the bochurim turned to their rebbe and asked why he didn’t tell them the answer before Rav Schach’s entry. The Brisker Rav responded to them that the teretz was Reb Lazer’s. They looked on in astonishment as he said “I want you to know that the kasha is Reb Lazer’s, the teretz is Reb Lazer’s; it is all Reb Lazer’s! The questions are his and the answers are his! Because when I learn through a sugya there are times that I think that I have no solution to a difficult question and am prepared to go on. But then I think how much enjoyment Reb Lazer will have when I am able to offer a pshat. So I work harder and harder till I solve the problem. It’s all Reb Lazer’s.”

Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapira, Rosh Yeshivas Be’er Yaakov, tells of a freezing winter day in Yerushalayim. He was walking toward the home of the Brisker Rav. The streets were nearly empty. Snow had covered the ground and everyone was inside trying to keep warm. From a distance Rav Shapira saw a man hopping back and forth, up and down, in front of the Brisker Rav’s home. He thought the man was waiting to go in and was moving about to keep warm. As he approached he realized that it was none other than Rav Schach.

“Why don’t you go in,” he asked. “Why do you stand here, hopping up and down in the freezing cold?”

Rav Schach laughed. “I am not hopping from the cold. I am jumping for joy! I just heard a beautiful pshat from the Brisker Rav and felt I must make a rekida! I figured since it is snowing outside no one will see me dancing.”

A different time upon exiting the Rav’s house, Rav Schach to a talmid and said “ I don’t know if I would have merited Olam Habah, but if I had, I just ate it up with enjoyment I had from the vort the Rav told me.”

Throughout the first decade that Rav Schach was in Ponevez he still maintained an extremely close kesher with the Brisker Rav. For the last three months of the Brisker Rav’s life, the months of Tamuz, Av and Elul, Rav Schach stayed with the Brisker Rav in Yerushalayim. Though one of those months was during a summer bain hazmanim, the Brisker Rav asked permission of the Ponovezer Rav for Rav Schach to stay with him. At the time, Rav Velvel no longer gave shiurim but continued to speak every day for hours on end, with Rav Schach.

The Rav asked Rav Schach to daven for him at the kever of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai in Meiron. This was the one and only time that Rav Schach traveled to Meiron.

Before Rosh Hashanah, of that final year, Rav Schach excused himself from being with the Rav for Yom Tov, explaining that he felt he had to return to the Yeshiva for Rosh HaShana. Only later when he heard that the Brisker Rav sighed, saying to his children that “a Rosh Hashana without Reb Lazer would be a different Rosh haShana,” did Rav Schach regret his return to Bnai Brak.

PONEVEZ AND THE WORLD

In 1951, Rav Schach accepted an offer by the Ponovezer Rav, Rav Yosef Kahanamen to join Rav Shmuel Rozovsky and Rav Dovid Povarski and become a Rosh Yeshiva in Ponovez. It is was to be from there that the entire world learn of the greatness only scores of individuals had previously known.

Rav Schach remained in Ponovez for the following 50 years, teaching generations of talmidei chachamim who are now at the forefront of the Torah community in Eretz Yisroel.

It was there, from his humble apartment in “Kiryas HaYeshiva”, that he would go on to serve as the generation’s greatest Torah leader.

It was from Ponevez that the Rosh Yeshiva became well known in the Torah world, prompting Klal Yisrael to take advantage of his greatness in Torah and learn from his vision of the future, his Ahavas Yisrael, his uncompromising ideals and perhaps most importantly, from his mesiras nefesh for the Ribono Shel Olam’s will.

During Rav Schach’s first years in Ponovez, The Chazon Ish would send ask a talmid to listen to Rav Schach’s shiur and say it over to him during the bain hasedorim lunch break.

One day Rav Schach chose to ask a very strong question on a chiddush in the Chazon Ish’s sefer. When the bachur returned that day to the Chazon Ish, he was afraid to repeat the shiur. After the Chazon Ish convinced him that he would not be upset, the boy explained his reluctance and then finally said over the question.

The Chazon Ish thought for a long while. He mulled over the problem and eventually told the bochur an answer.

The boy later approached Rav Schach. Without relating to him that he had discussed the issue with the Chazon Ish, the boy offered the Chazon Ish’s teretz to Rav Schach’s question.

Rav Schach thought for a long time, walking back and forth in bais medrash, amazed at the brilliance of the answer. He turned to the boy and exclaimed incredulously, “Only the Chazon Ish himself could have said such an answer.” Ashen faced, the boy admitted the obvious truth.

His quest for learning and growing in Torah was not diminished with his rise to prominence.

One day Rav Schach walked into Bais Medrash on a wintry day. He looked extremely exhausted. His talmid, Rav Chaim Berman, a son-in-law of Rav Yaakov Galinski, asked him why he looked so forlorn.

“To tell you the truth,” said Rav Schach, “last night I tried to go to sleep. It was very cold and very dark. And then I realized that one day I will be in a place that is very cold and very dark and I will not even have a candle with which to learn a blatt gemara!

With that thought on my mind I jumped out of bed and learned the entire night. That is why I am so tired.”

Rav Chaim Berman relates how Rav Schach’s mesiras nefesh for learning was so extraordinary. Once, Reb Chaim came to discuss something with Rav Schach at the Ponevez Yeshiva. Rav Schach motioned with his hands that he was not feeling well and was too weak to speak. Rav Chaim insisted that Rav Schach return home to rest, but the elderly Rosh Yeshiva refused to leave the beis medrash.

Reb Chaim, however, would not take no for an answer and continued to plead with Rav Schach to return home and rest. Finally, Rav Schach turned to his talmid and told him that being over 80 years old I must consider that my end will be sooner than later. Feeling so ill I thought this might be my time to leave this world. If so, it would be better to leave while bent over a shtender than while lying in bed.

There is a section in one of the Sifrei HaGra that deals with the yom hamaves as well as the depth of din in the world to come. Rav Schach used the sefer often, the pages that dealt with the severity of judgment were well worn. Someone asked Rav Schach if he studies that section of the sefer often. He responded that he looks at it at least twice a day.

But whether filled with strength or drained with emotion, there was no opportunity lost to talk in learning. On the way back from the levaya of the Chofetz Chaim in 1933, the train car was filled with bochurim from Yeshivas Mir who had attended the funeral. Though most of them were talking about the levaya and the hespeidim, Rav Schach went from one person to then next talking with them in learning. Rav Mordechai Schwab would relate the story decades later, stating that the sight made such a dramatic impact on him that he never forgot it.

Rav Schach’s enthusiasm and total immersion in learning was imparted in so many ways to his talmidim.

His shiurim were filled with fire and brimstone. He would walk in to the room, pose a question and revel in simcha as the bochurim battled with each other and with himself! Then he would say his answer and again the room would spontaneously erupt. To an American bochur coming from a shiur where the Rosh Yeshiva would sit by a table and nary a sound was heard from the talmidim, this was a total shock.

When Rav Schach would have a question in his learning he would turn to his young students in the beis medrash and ask them to help him find an explanation. Every time a bachur would try to give a teretz, he would listen as though he were revealing secrets.

When Rav Schach was already over 80, he would sit in the beis medrash and was willing to speak in learning with any bachur who came over to him. He gave each and every one of his talmidim a feeling of belonging and that he was special.

Talmidim would come to Rav Schach with their personal problems without embarrassment. He gave them the feeling that they could open their hearts to him. He was so in touch with the emotional needs of others that he understood the feelings of bachurim and small children.

From the answers Rav Schach gave to his students, it was obvious that he understood the question better than the person who had asked it. He never told a person what to do, but voiced his opinion in a way that allowed the person to do what he wanted while gently urging him to choose the right path.

Rav Schach was particular to never voice an opinion to one who did not want to hear it. He was a genius in understanding each person’s individual needs.

He was forever strengthening his talmidim’s resolve to continue in their limud and amaylus baTorah.

Rav Yitzchok Dovid Grosbard relates about a yungerman who approached the Rosh Yeshiva with the idea that he had an opportunity to work in the evenings. The Avreich said that he would sit and learn all day and at night he would spend some time working. Rav Schach tried to dissuade the yungerman from the prospective idea. He felt that this particular talmid should not leave the yeshiva at this particular time. However, it seems that the avreich did not come to ask an opinion. He came to tell the Rosh Yeshiva about a plan that he was determined to fulfill. A few months went by and the talmid came back to Rav Schach in amazement. “Rebbe,” he sighed, “I began my evening vocation and davka, I was making quite a bit of money. But every month as I tally up my expenses, I still fall short of what I need. The amazing thing is that when I was full time in Kollel, though things were tight, I met my obligations, Now, however, even though I bring in more money, not only do I have nothing left over, but I owe more money then I ever did!

Rav Schach turned to him gently and explained. When you do the ratzon Hashem the washing machine doesn’t break down. The children don’t rip their clothing. The car does not break down. There is so much more siyata d’shmaya that you end up with more money while earning less!

THE GEDOLIM’S GADOL

As Rav Schach emerged as the foremost Rosh Yeshiva in Eretz Yisrael he was revered by the Gedolei Yisrael in B’nei B’rak, in Yerushalayim, in America and across the world as one of the foremost spokesman for Torah hashakafa.

For many years a Yid named Rav Shlesinger, son-in-law of Rav Shlomo Lorenzce, lived in Bnei Brak and served as an emissary between Rav Schach and the Steipler.

He personally attested that the Steipler said about Rav Schach “Yad, yad, peh, peh. His hand is my hand and his mouth is my mouth. Everything he says and writes is like it was coming from me.”

On many occasions, when Rav Shlesinger would bring the Steipler documents and letters from Rav Schach to sign, the Steipler would sign them without even reading them. Such was his trust in Rav Schach!

There are countless stories that demonstrate the tremendous love and respect that the Steipler and Rav Schach had for each other.

A Talmid Chacham once approached the Steipler with a severe and serious question. The Steipler told him that he should ask the question to Rav Schach. Then he continued. “Rav Schach will tell you what he thinks b’hashkafa rishona, (at first thought) then he will tell you to come to me. You do not have to. I assure you that Rav Schach’s hashkafa rishona is exactly the halacha! Follow that directive and you will be successful.”

The Steipler constantly said that since Rav Schach did not move daled amos without Torah, the Ribono shel Olam gave him the ability to pasken in every aspect of this generation’s needs.

All over the world, Rav Schach’s opinions on all matters became the Da’as Torah for all B’nei Torah.

Rav Schach’s reverence and love for Gedolei Yisroel were legend. His relationship with my Zeide, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky Zt’l, was warm and mutual.

In the early 1980s Rav Yaakov suffered an angina attack and his doctor strongly recommended that he undergo an angiogram, a difficult and sometimes dangerous procedure for a man of his advanced age. At the time my brother Reb Zvi was a talmid in Ponovez. He immediately resolved to approach the Rosh Yeshiva with a request to pray for Reb Yaakov’s welfare. My brother knew he had to present Rav Schach with his grandfather’s name, Yaakov and the name of Reb Yaakov’s mother. That was no easy feat for my brother Zvi had no clue of her name. Reb Yaakov was over 90 years old at the time and in excellent health. Reb Zvi could not recall a time where he had mentioned our grandfather’s name in the Mi Shebairach for the sick. He simply was embarrassed to approach Rav Schach without Reb Yaakov’s mother’s name, so he went on a search expedition through B’nei Brak attempting to contact people who would know the name of Reb Yaakov’s mother. Finally he went to a nephew of Rav Yaakov who lived in Bnai Brak who told him that Rav Yaakov’s mother was named Etka. Armed with the information and an update on my grandfather’s condition he approached the home of Rav Schach. The elderly gaon invited my brother into his sparsely furnished dining room and asked him to take a seat.

When he inquired about the welfare of our grandfather, Rav Yaakov, my brother turned white. “That is exactly why I came,” he stammered. Immediately Rav Schach’s face filled with consternation. My brother continued, “you see, my grandfather was not feeling well and must undergo a procedure. I came to inform theÉ” Rav Schach jumped up from his chair and exclaimed. “We must say be mispalel for Reb Yaakov ben Etka!”

My brother stood opened-mouthed and could not contain himself. “Rebbe,” he began meekly. “The last 12 hours I have been trying to find out my grandmother’s name in order to present it to the Rosh Yeshiva. Now I see that the Rosh Yeshiva knows the name of my great-grandmother. How is that?”

Rav Schach explained. “Years ago your grandfather visited Eretz Yisrael. After meeting him I asked him for his mother’s name. I could not imagine a Jewish world without a healthy Reb Yaakov and there is not a single day that goes by that I do not say a special prayer for his well being!”

Rav Schach’s love for Gedolei Yisrael extended to an excitement in the mere possession of their seforim.

One of Rav Schach’s grandchildren received multiple copies of Chidushei Rav Akiva Eiger for his bar mitzva and told his grandfather that he was planning to exchange them for different seforim. Rav Schach was aghast.

“What!” he exclaimed in wonder, “how can you give back a sefer of Rav Akiva Eiger?”

The Gedolei Torah totally subjugated themselves to his Da’as Torah.

On the day Rav Schach declared that the Olam HaTorah must work for Degel HaTorah, a delegation representing Rav Chaim Kanievski, Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkovitch and Rav Asher Lichtshtein, came to see him. “Whatever the Rosh Yeshiva needs in terms of help. We are here.”

Rav Michel Yehuda explained to his talmidim, if Rav Schach can close his Gemara, then we must close our Gemaras as well.

Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapira explained that fulfilling Rav Schach’s will is fulfilling the will of the Vilna Gaon. Rav Schach is a Talmid muvhak of the Brisker Rav who is the Talmid muvhak of Rav Chaim who carried forth the Mesora of Volozhin as propagated by Rav Chaim Volohziner the Talmid muvhak of the Vilna Gaon.

Rav Schach spoke about that mesorah, not only in declaring daas Torah, but in strengthening others as well. A boy from a traditional home came to Rav Schach and told him that he desperately wants to learn in yeshiva but his father won’t permit him to do so. Rav Schach told him to bring his father to him. The father came with his son to Rav Schach and later said, “I only had two sons, one was killed in army and if this son will go to yeshiva, my life is not worth living.”

They came to a compromise: the boy would go to college during the day and at night he would hire someone to learn three hours of Gemara with him. The boy began to cry because he saw that he would not get into yeshiva and he did not like the compromise.

Rav Schach got up and kissed the boy and said, “This is a kiss that I received from the Chofetz Chaim and now I am giving it to you.”

The father was so moved by Rav Schach’s warmth that he decided to develop a kesher with the Rosh Yeshiva.

After a half a year the boy was studying full time in yeshiva. Today he is a mashgiach in a yeshiva in Eretz Yisroel.

During the Gulf War, some talmidim approached Rav Schach to ask whether they should adhere to the directives of the government and use gas masks in Bnei Brak. Rav Schach thought for a moment and said that it would be the right thing to do.

Later, they met Rav Chaim Kanievski who told them that he felt it wasn’t necessary. When told that his opinion seemed to contradict that of Rav Schach, Rav Chaim smiled.

“I know something that Rav Schach does not know?”

“And what can that be? “asked the astonished talmidim.

“I know that we have the z’chus of Rav Lazer Schach here in Bnai Brak! I am sure that as long as he is here, nothing will happen to our city!”

Rav Schach’s influence was felt by the entire world.

Often decisions that would determine the makeup of Israel’s government, the balance of Knesset power and thus relations with Arab countries and the United States rested on his shoulders.

During the period when Egyptian President Anwar Sadat visited Israel, the bochurim were enthralled by the amazing and startling events. Some would sneak out of Bais Medrash to hear news tidbits and morsels of information about the goings and comings of the leaders and politicians.

Rav Schach sat and learned with total immersion. His shiurim were given with extreme passion and excitement. I was there and cannot remember that he even left his seat in the Bais Medrash.

I cannot forget how during that period, government officials had to come to the Bais Medrash and asked Rav Schach if he can please step out as they wanted to ask him some weighty questions. They stood in the upstairs anteroom before the Bais Medrash. Rav Schach took a few minutes to step out and perhaps, help shape world history and then returned to his place in the Bais Medrash as if nothing had occurred. For us, it was the greatest lesson in the supreme reverence and importance of Limud Torah.

A Rosh Yeshiva, a talmid of Rav Schach, was once asked by his own student if the bracha, specifically designated for unparalleled Talmidei Chachomim, “Shechalak maychachmaso l’yiraiav, Blessed is He who has imparted from His wisdom to those who fear Him,” can be recited over Rav Schach. The answer came back quickly in the affirmative. Indeed, the Rosh yeshiva added with a smile, you can make the bracha, “Shekocho U’Gevuroso Malei Olam, as well!

Rabbi Asher Bergman, Rav Schach’s grandson, relates that Rav Chaim Kanievsky would appear in Rav Schach’s apartment every thirty days to recite anew the bracha of “Shechalak M’Chachmaso L’Yraiov”.

Actually, in 1993, Rav Chaim Kanievski, once said that although the bracha of Shechalak maychachmaso l’yiraiv, was designated for those with Torah wisdom of those whose capabilities exceed anyone in recent generations, one can still make a bracha with Shaim U’Malchus on Rav Schach. The Gadol haDor, has a special siyata d’shmaya and is always worthy of that bracha. “Rav Schach,” said Rav Chaim, “is the Gadol HaDor.”

DA’AS TORAH

Rav Schach’s Daas Torah was so methodically meted. Each situation was analyzed and dissected. A yes to one person could be a no for another.

Some people were told to battle, while others were directed to quietly accept the antagonism thrust upon them.

He told teachers of some students who were becoming religious to go to certain schools, while other students were directed toward different ones.

Once a group of people in a frum section of Yerushalyim were protesting that their street should be closed on Shabbos because there was a religious majority living in the area.

Rav Schach stated that the concept of majority should not be used as an argument. They must fight for the truth because of its inherent value. Otherwise, in the sections of Tel Aviv and Petach Tikva where transgressors are the majority, they will sell treifos and desecrate Shabbos openly with impunity!

To a group of Rabbanim considering the opening of a new type of yeshiva that would function half a day as a trade school, Rav Schach told the following story: Upon returning from a visit to Germany one of the Brisker talmidim came to Rav Chaim Brisker and described the culture schools that he saw there. These were Jewish schools that taught a minimum of Jewish religion, but were an improvement over the non-Jewish high schools where most of the Jewish students studied. He suggested that such a school be opened in Brisk, as an alternative to the totally secular gymnasiums.

Rav Chaim banged his fist on the table and exclaimed, “In Germany it is necessary and will not hurt, but in Brisk where it is not needed, it will only cause harm.”

“From here we learn,” continued Rav Schach, “that in every generation, in every point in time, one must evaluate the needs of that generation and whether or not it is possible to do something. Concerning the school you are interested in founding until now I would have said to stay away from this like one stays away from fire. But we have reached the point today where a twelve or thirteen year old boy who is not happy at home or in the yeshiva can disappear for three months at a time and no one will know were he is. Therefore, with the following conditions, open the school.” Rav Schach proceeded to list several conditions.

His daas Torah was a part of every decision, chinuch, Klal and even medical.

A woman was very sick and the doctors told the family that there were two ways to save her life: One was put a trachea in her neck for her to breathe through. She would not be able to talk but would be able to eat and drink normally. In the second she would be able to breathe and talk normally, but would only be able to eat through a tube inserted into her stomach.

When the family spoke to Rav Schach, he answered that it is the power of speech that makes a person different from an animal. Therefore, that is what should be saved.

“My mother ate with a tube for the next fourteen years until she passed away,” recalled her daughter, “but she was able to daven and speak with us. During those fourteen years we were able to receive her guidance and be strengthened by her emuna. You could say that she really lived during those years.”

THE PERSONIFICATION OF HUMILITY

In amazing contrast to awe and reverence in which he was held, the Rosh Yeshiva remained the paragon of humility.

Once a Talmid brought Rav Schach a sefer that included chiddushei Torah of Rav Chaim Soloveitchik, the Chazon Ish and Rav Schach.

On the title page Rav Schach’s name was preceded by the title Maran while the names of Rav Chaim Brisker and the Chazon Ish were not.

Rav Schach was terribly upset. How can you use the title Maran for me on the same page where Rav Chaim’s name and the Chazon Ish’s name appear.

He asked the author how many copies were published and then gave him enough money to erase the word Maran from every single copy.

Rav Schach was extremely makpid never to take advantage of others. He would never allow the bachurim to help him find a sefer. It was not unusual to see the Rosh Yeshiva standing on a chair to retrieve a sefer from a high shelf by himself despite being surrounded by talmidim who would have considered it a privilege to get the sefer for him.

Every day before shiur he would look at his watch. Then he would strain to see the time on the Yeshiva’s wall clock. He did not want to extend the daily shiur into the bochurim’s lunchtime and so he synchronized his watch with the Yeshiva’s.

Even when he was close to ninety, he would regularly shlep 10 to 15 seforim from his home to the yeshiva and refused all offers of help.

FATHER OF A BATTERED PEOPLE

Though Rav Schach’s leadership of the Torah community was universal and his direction a beacon to other Gedolei Roshei Yeshiva, Rav Schach was still concerned with the simplest Jew no matter how far he may have strayed from Yiddishkeit. Even after 1995 when he grew weak and officially relinquished his position, declining to sign any more letters or issue further directives, thousands of people still came to him to seek advice.

About ten years ago, when Rav Schach was already in his 90s, he participated in an important meeting in Bnai Brak. After the meeting, one of the rabbonim ordered taxis for all in attendance. But when the taxis came, Rav Schach had already left. One of the other rabbonim ran after him, but Rav Schach insisted on walking home. He did not want anyone to serve him.

The Rav apologized to the taxi driver who was supposed to have driven Rav Schach home and offered to pay him for his time. But the driver, a secular Israeli, would not accept the money. “I used to drive Rav Schach home every day after he delivered a shiur in Tel Aviv,” he said, “and I have some amazing stories to tell you about those trips.”

The driver told the Rav how 40 years before, in the early 1950s, he once was driving Rav Schach home from Tel Aviv, when a horse and wagon driving next to them turned over. Although it was fiercely cold and pouring rain, Rav Schach-who even then was not a young man-insisted on helping the driver pick up his wagon.

“I will never forget it,” continued the taxi driver. “Rav Schach returned home dripping wet and shivering from the cold. I knew that he would not have time to rest-he had to quickly change and deliver another shiur in Ponovezh. But he could not bear to see another Jew suffering.”

Once, Rav Schach was riding around in a taxi and a watermelon peddler’s wagon overturned. Rav Schach immediately stopped the taxi, jumped out and started picking up the watermelons.

A rebbe once had a fine talmid, who, for some unknown reason, was having difficulty finding a Yeshiva Gedola that would accept him. Several months after the school year had ended, the rebbe happened to meet this boy on the street. The boy happily told his rebbe that he had been accepted into an excellent yeshiva in Bnei Brak.

The teacher asked him how he found a place that would accept him. The boy told him that he had gone to ask Rav Schach for his help. Although Rav Schach had never met the boy before, he tested him in learning and then told him to tell the Rosh Yeshiva of a certain yeshiva, “Rav Schach said you should accept me.”

But the Rosh Yeshiva was skeptical. He told the boy that there was no one for him to learn with, nor was there space available in the dormitory.

When the bachur returned to Rav Schach and told him what the Rosh Yeshiva had said, Rav Schach answered, “Tell the rosh yeshiva that there is no problem. I will become your chavrusa and you will be able to live in my home.” Shocked, the younger Rosh Yeshiva accepted the boy on the spot.

Several years ago, when Rav Schach was already well in his 90s, he helped a young couple who were experiencing marital difficulties. The husband often came to speak with Rav Schach but the wife never came with him.

Once, Rav Schach asked the man why his wife never came to their meetings. The husband explained that she was embarrassed to speak with the Rosh Yeshiva. Rav Schach put on his coat and personally went to visit her.

Rav Schach had a special affinity for American bochurim who chose to grow in Torah and remain immersed in learning.

American boys, dressed decidedly different than the Ponovezh bachurim, would often come to Rav Schach and receive warm embraces and chizuk to continue their Torah studies.

A girl from the United States suffered from an eating disorder. Her family brought her to Rav Schach for a bracha. Rav Schach spent quite a while speaking to her about the importance of eating properly and then called her regularly long distance to ask her what she was eating and to give her chizuk.

The pain of Klal Yisrael, from the entire nation to the individual, was his personal pain!

Once a prospective rabbi, interviewing for a position in a modern shul in New Jersey was derided by the interviewing committee for a strong stance he took against secular Zionism.

“You are from Rabbi Schach’s school of thought,” they said to him in a derogatory manner.

Not one to listen silently when the Gadol HaDor is being besmirched, he said to the group, “I just want to repeat two stories about Rav Schach and then I’ll leave. These are the stories:

“When I was a bochur, I was in Rav Schach’s house on a Monday, the day before his shiur klali. “When the doctor came in to see him, he sent everyone out of the room except for his gabbai. Since I was curious to hear the conversation, I hid in the closet.

“I heard the doctor telling the Rosh Yeshiva that he has a growth in his foot that must be operated on immediately. Although the surgery would take a few hours the anesthesia would knock him out for the rest of the day.

“Impossible!” said Rav Schach. “I must give the shiur klali. If I cannot be back by Tuesday I refuse to have the surgery.”

“There is only one way you can be done by tomorrow: if you agree to surgery without anesthesia, right here in your home.”

“Rav Schach readily agreed. I came out of the closet and offered to help. The gabbai and I both helped Rav Schach to remain still as the doctor operated on him, cutting open his leg without any painkiller or anesthesia. Though Rav Schach was in tremendous pain, he didn’t utter a sound. Soon the surgery was over and the doctor left. Rav Schach warned his two helpers not to tell anyone what occurred. The next day he was back in yeshiva with no one being the wiser.

“The second story: Once, while Rav Schach was sitting in the Bais Medrash, a man came over and whispered in his ear. Rav Schach began to cry, heartrending sobs. Later the man told the talmidim that he informed Rav Schach about a helicopter accident involving Israeli soldiers who were all killed. Rav Schach had such depth of feeling for every Jewish soul that he cried bitter tears over these soldiers he never met.

“These two stories happened to the same person,” said the talmid. “Rav Schach was strong enough to handle surgery without anesthesia, yet sensitive enough to cry over the loss of soldiers he never met. I would like to know which Zionist cried over that tragedy!”

There was a particular European Yid who had been a man of tremendous means and an amazing Ba’al Tzedoka as well. Toward the end of his life downturns in the market and other financial changes, brought his fortunes tumbling. Terribly depressed, the Yid was almost despondent. The man hailed from a Chassidic background, but he was respectful of al Gedolei Torah and so his children took him to see Rav Schach for chizuk. They felt that if there was someone on this earth who could give him chizuk, it would be Maran.

The man and his children traveled to Bnai Brak to the address known by the great and downtrodden alike; the home of Rav Schach at 27 Ra’avad Street.

The man began to tell his story. In the course of the conversation, the man told Rav Schach that his family were chassidim of a particular ‘Rebbistive’.

“Oy!” exclaimed Rav Schach, “that particular Chassidus have a beautiful niggun!”

He named the tune and implored the man to sing it with him. Rav Schach asked the children to join in and together they all began to sing. A few moments later, Rav Schach stood up and exclaimed again. “This niggun is not done justice with just singing! It needs a Rekida (dance) and together, the 90 year old man and his European guests danced around the rickety table in Rav Schach’s tiny home. They continued to do so until a huge smile broke out across the poor visitors face. He allowed the realization to sink in that his travails were only a fleeting moment in this temporal world. The man was niftar soon after, content with his lot in life.

When Rav Schach founded Lev L’Achim the members of the Hanhalla told Rav Schach that they wanted Rabbi Eliezer Sorotzkin, a prominent Rav in Netanya and respected Torah activist, to assume leadership of the organization.

Rav Schach agreed that it was a good idea and prevailed upon Rav Sorotzkin to accept the monumental responsibility this position entailed. But then Rabbi Sorotzkin posed the question that had been bothering him all along: “What about Netanya?”

“Rav Schach put his head down and it looked like he was asleep,” recalled Rabbi Sorotzkin. “Then he raised his head and said, ‘Efshar lekayem es shteihem,’ ‘You can do both.’

“He shook my hand and ushered me out before I could argue. By the time I reached the door I had become a new person. Rav Schach’s confidence was my assurance that we would be successful.

Rav Sorotzkin recalled another occasion in which he brought a newly religious family to see Rav Schach and was surprised at the Rosh Yeshiva’s response to their situation.

Rav Schach had a special cupboard filled with treats to give to the children that visited his home. He always gave enough for them to have extras to share with their brothers and sisters.

Those candies were well known to all who visited Rav Schach. Rav Yaakov Bender related how a few hours after visiting Rav Schach he received a call from one of the grandchildren asking if he could come back. If it was not a big bother, Rav Schach wanted to send something to America with him.

Rav Bender ran back thinking that he was going to be entrusted with an important mission on behalf of the Rosh Yeshiva. Instead, Rav Schach gave him some candies and asked him to get them to a family in Flatbush that needed chizuk. It wasn’t what Rav Bender expected but to Rav Schach it was indeed an important mission.

A yungerman who learned in Ponevez had a child with Down’s Syndrome. For his upsherin, the couple brought the child to Rav Schach for a bracha. Rav Schach gave him candy, but the child refused to accept it. Rav Schach said that this was a very good sign-that he wanted greater things in life-and he gave beautiful blessings to the young boy.

This meeting made such a deep impression on the child that today, over 16 years later, he still talks about it.

Another woman told a similar story about how a neighbor of hers went with her young child to receive a bracha from Rav Schach on the day of his upsherin. Rav Schach’s ahavas habrios was so great that he ran around the house searching for a candy to give to the child and only after he found some almonds did he return to sit with his guests.

Rav Schach’s hakaras hatov had more ramifications than a simple thank you.

Ponevez tradition maintained that any bachur who would help build Rav Schach’s succah would become engaged within the year. Girls who wanted to become kallos would help decorate the succah and would likewise receive the Rosh Yeshivas bracha to soon build a bayis ne’eman b’yisroel.

KIRUV RECHOKIM

Dr. James David Weis had been attending Rabbi Berel Wein’s classes for a while and though he was not committed to Yiddishkeit in all its aspects, he was truly fascinated by the amazing insights and the spiritual impact that Torah study had made on his life. In fact, although he was a shiur regular and his wife was committed to Torah observance as prescribed by the Shulchan Aruch, the doctor had not yet made the commitment to observe Shabbos. Towards the summer, Dr. Weiss mentioned to Rabbi Wein that shortly he would be visiting Israel. The doctor had heard Rabbi Wein’s stories of his experiences accompanying Rabbi Yosef Kahaneman, the Ponovezer Rav, on his fund-raising missions in the United States. In many of his lectures, Rabbi Wein had related his close relationship with Rav Kahaneman and Dr. Weiss excitedly told Rabbi Wein that he would soon visit the Ponovez Yeshiva. Dr. Weiss did not know that the Rav had passed away a decade earlier, so he enthusiastically offered to send Rabbi Wein’s regards to the Ponovezher Rav. Not trying to discourage the visit, Rabbi Wein smiled enigmatically and said, “you could try.”

Dr. Weiss arrived at the Ponovez Yeshiva and after marveling at the beauty of its gilded Aron Kodesh and nearly 1000 talmidim, he asked a boy to direct him to the Ponovezer Rav. Since the Rav had passed away a decade earlier, they directed him to the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Schach, who was surrounded by many bochurim talking with him in learning. Dr. Weiss waited until the revered gadol looked up and greeted him. Dr. Weiss stuck out his hand and with the remnants of the Yiddish he had salvaged from his youth, he addressed Rav Schach.

“Sholom Aleichem! My name is Dr. Weiss I study with Rabbi Wein and I come from America with regards from him.” Rav Schach looked at him quizzically.

“I don’t know a Rabbi Wein.” “Don’t you remember?” asked Dr. Weiss in shock. “Rabbi Berel Wein,” he repeated. “He would often drive you when you visited Miami on behalf of the Yeshiva.” Rav Schach smiled. “I don’t know Rabbi Wein and I have never been to Miami. My name is Schach.

“I think you meant to see Rav Kahanamen, but unfortunately he has passed away.”

Rav Schach then looked him in the eye and said, “Uber du, du bist ah yid? He answered “avadah, avadah, gevis.” Rav Shach responded with a kind smile and said “Uber gedeinkt der iker zach mit a yid iz tzoo zein shomer shabbos. Doz is der iker zach.” Rav Shach then smiled at the good doctor and said “Zulst doo zein ah gebentchter yid.”

Dr. Weiss was speechless, “How did he know who I was and where I was holding. Although 93 at the time he had a penetrating intelligence and used it to size me up fearlessly but gently, telling me the truth about myself. I could not be a Jew without Shabbos.” Dr. Weiss returned home and began keeping Shabbos and all the mitzvos. All because of an encounter with Rav Shach.

Rav Schach once visited one of the great Torah askanim who was ill, recovering from surgery in the Cardiac Care unit of the hospital. The chairman of the department approached Rav Schach and asked to be photographed with him. Rav Schach gladly acquiesced, but used the opportunity to converse with the prestigious professor and bring him closer to Yiddishkeit. Do you have a car, asked the Rosh Yeshiva.

“Certainly,” he responded, “in fact just last week I got rid of last year’s model and upgraded to a new one. It has the latest and most innovative technology! Rav Shach smiled as he held the doctor’s hand. “Tell me, if they were to give you a choice to upgrade your heart from the model created by the Creator since the beginning of creation, would you want to see a different model?

The doctor smiled in the realization that there is nothing that can compare with the handiwork of the Creator.

Rav Mordechai Gifter told the story of how a group of Conservative Jews who he knew from Cleveland, approached him before a trip they were to make to Eretz Yisrael. “Is there anyone you would like us to see or send regards to?” they asked.

“Yes,” Rav Gifter replied. I’d like you to visit a Rabbi Schach in Ponovez Yeshiva.

“What’s his address?” they inquired. Rav Gifter laughed. “You will not need an address.”

A few weeks later they came back to Rav Gifter. “We met your Rabbi,” they said. “What a wonderful man. He truly loves Jews.”

“What makes you say that?” asked Rav Gifter.

“Well we can hardly speak Hebrew or Yiddish and he surely knows no English. But when we mentioned your name, he brought us into his home and greeted us so warmly. Then he took out an apple and cut it into pieces and made a blessing together with us. He seems to be so busy, yet he had time to treat us royally!”

Rav Gifter’s face shone. Then he declared in his inimitable accent. “You think I’m a fanatic. Well according to your leaders, that Rabbi is the head of the fanatics. That Rabbi of whom you just said, ‘must love all types of Jews.’ He’s the one your Conservative Rabbis are railing against!”

The men’s attitude toward lomdei Torah and their Gedolim, was permanently changed.

Rav Schach’s ahavas haTorah transcended time and language. His Ahavas Yisroel likewise was apparent to all who were privileged to bask in the glow of his presence.

SUNSET

During the last years of his life Rav Shach removed himself from the public eye. Tired, and spent after a century of ceaseless yegiah in Torah and mesiras nefesh for the Klal, he remained at home. He made no pronouncements and addressed no rallies but in his last will and testament he left us with a parting message:

“Since a man does not know when his time will come, I said that I should make an accounting with myself about everything that has come to pass, especially all of the hidden things regarding which it is possible to err and to cause others to err, whether for good or evil, to think that this is a mitzvah, when in fact, it is an aveirah. These deeds emanate from negative traits and are the cause of all sorrow. Woe to us from the day of judgment! Woe to us from the day of rebuke! Who can justify himself before You in judgment?

“Therefore, I request of all the talmidim who know that they benefited from me, whether it be in Torah, or in Yiras Hashem, or in midos, that they be kind towards me and learn for the elevation of my neshama-even one mishna, or mussar thought. This will have made it all worth it, for I, too, dedicated myself completely for the sake of your success in learning and if I will be able to do and to advocate on your behalf, I will do so, bli neder.

“I pray that I will merit to stand before Hakadosh Baruch Hu in a state of teshuvah sheleimah.

“Yours,

“The one who parts from you, with love.”

Elozar Menachem Man Schach

THE LEVAYA

Torah Jewry was were overcome with grief as they learned of the passing Thursday night, 16 Cheshvan, of Rav Shach.

On Thursday night Rav Shach, who was already in critical condition, took a turn for the worse. Students in yeshivos throughout the world were asked to daven for his recovery. They responded by organizing Torah-study and tefilla shifts in his merit. Jew everywhere also tearfully recited prayers and Tehillim for his sake.

In Eretz Yisroel, a huge prayer rally was held at the Kosel, with thousands of Jews of all stripes davening that Hashem forestall the petira of the great tzaddik who had guided and steered Klal Yisroel for the last generation.

At 2:40 AM Rav Shach took his last breath. As his soul departed, his family and close students surrounded his bed in the Sheeba Hospital in Tel Hashomer and tearfully recited Shema Yisrael and Hashem Hu HaElokim.

The news of Rav Shach’s passing quickly spread to Jewish communities throughout the world. At daybreak, the news reached all of Eretz Yisroel. The Ponovezh Yeshiva and the surrounding streets soon overflowed with people.

Tzetelach notices were posted throughout the country, calling on all Klal Yisroel to feel the pain of this great loss. Transportation was organized in all of the country’s main cities and Torah centers, and hundreds of thousands of heartbroken and bereft Jews headed to Bnei Brak to accompany the gadol hador to his final resting place in the Netzivei Ponovezh cemetery.

Two hours after the petira, Rav Shach’s mitah was brought into Ponovezh’s heichal. His students tore kriya over their beloved mentor, who had taught in Ponovezh for over 50 years. The mitah was then placed on the bima, which was surrounded by yahrtzeit candles. Thousands of students, who had stood on their feet the entire night reciting Tehillim, sobbed bitterly.

As the time of the levaya approached, all the streets and paths leading to the yeshiva’s heichal overflowed with mourners. Hundreds of buses brought tens of thousands of people from all over the country to Bnei Brak. All of the country’s gedolim, poskim, roshei yeshiva, rabbanim, admorim and dayanim came to pay their final respects to the gadol hador. Bnei Brak was closed for many hours prior to the levaya, and the city’s batei din ruled that no work could be done during the actual time of the levaya. An hour before the beginning of the procession, the mourners in the eshiva’s heichal began to recite Tehillim, while the throng that filled the area responded verse by verse.

The levaya began at 10:00 AM with a recitation of Tehillim, led by Rav Tzvi Eisenstein, Rosh Yeshivas Tiferes Tzion. This was followed by a resounding recitation of the Yud Gimmel Middos, Selichos, Ezkera Elokim, Shema Koleinu and Hashem Melech. For nearly half an hour, heartrending cries pierced the air and resounded in the nearby streets. All Bnei Brak seemed to be at a standstill. Over 500,000 Jews wept the loss of the gadol hador and bemoaned the great void left in the world as the result of his petira tzaddik. Tears of a generation that had lost its glory, its grandeur and its splendor flowed like water.

After the recitation of Tehillim, Rav Chananya Chollak announced that, in accordance with Rav Shach’s tzava’ah, no hespedim would be delivered. Rav Shach’s son-in-law, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, spoke of his sorrow at the Rosh Yeshiva’s passing.

In his stirring address, Rav Bergman described Rav Shach’s greatness and cried, “Yesomim hayinu v’ein av,” “We are orphans and we have no father.”

“We have lost the gadol hador,” said Rav Bergman. “We lack the tools with which to assess his greatness, such hasmada in Torah, such as his yegia, which transcended all natural bounds, such as integrity, such as lofty character traits.

“We have lost our rebbi, who was the student of the gedolim of the previous generation: the Chofetz Chaim, Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, the Brisker Rav and the Chazon Ish. We have lost the most upright of men, one who scrutinized every one of his deeds. We have lost Rabbeinu Hagadol, who could truly lift his hands to Shamayim and testify that he never derived even the slightest amount of pleasure from this world.”

Rav Bergman concluded by reading parts of Rav Shach’s tzava’ah. During the reading, anguished cries were heard throughout the yeshiva’s heichal. In the will, Rav Shach conducts a scathing cheshbon hanefesh.

“Since no man knows when his final day on earth will transpire,” the tzava’ah begins, “I have decided to make a cheshbon hanefesh-to review my past, and to scrutinize every detail and every one of my deeds that might be interpreted as mitzvos, but are really aveiros.ÉWoe to us from Yom Hadin. Woe to us from the Day of Rebuke. Who will be considered upright before You in the din?

“I also ask that those students who know that they benefited from me in Torah, yiras Hashem or in middos do a chessed for my neshama and study at least one mishna or one mussar thought a day for my sake. That will be my reward, for I was also moser nefesh for the sake of your success in Torah study. Similarly, if I am able to intercede in Shamayim on your behalf, I will do so, bli neder.”

Rav Shach closes his will, saying, “I pray that I will merit to stand before Hakodosh Boruch Hu after having done teshuva shelaima. I part from you with love.”

Rav Bergman also noted those who loyally served Rav Shach in recent years, among them Rav Yechezkel Eschayek and Rav Shach’s grandson, Rav Chaim Bergman.

Rav Bergman then asked that Rav Shach be a meilitz yosher on behalf of the Torah world and the entire Jewish Nation.

Following Rav Bergman’s emotional words, Rav Shach’s son, Reb Ephraim Azriel, recited Kaddish. The levaya then proceeded through Vilkomirrer, Saadya Gaon, Rav Dessler and Chazon Ish streets until reaching the Netzivei Ponovezh cemetery.

The procession moved slowly and the massive throng refused to leave the yeshiva’s hill, in its desire to come close to Rav Shach’s mitah. His many students didn’t want to part with him and clung to his mitah in the bais medrash, refusing to believe that Rav Shach was leaving the yeshiva where he had learned and taught Torah for 50 years.

Finally, after the ushers pleaded with the throng to make way so that the mitah could be taken out of the bais medrash, the mourners moved aside. The procession left the yeshiva at 11:30 a.m. It was headed by Rav Yosef Shalom Eliyashiv, the members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, hundreds of roshei yeshiva, marbitzei Torah, dayanim, morei hora’a, admorim, rabbanim and talmidim.

Talmud Torah children stood alongside their rebbeim. Thousands of women who had left their Shabbos preparations and tens of thousands of Bais Yaakov students also gathered in special sections.

Prior to the levaya, hundreds of policemen had been deployed throughout the city and had closed its entrances to traffic so that the entourage would not be disturbed. Police helicopters also flew above the procession, making valiant efforts to maintain order and to direct traffic in the main arteries.

The massive stream of mourners reminded many of the words of Amos, “In all the streets there is mourning.” At a certain point, due to the ongestion, the bier could no longer be carried and was transferred to an ambulance that was followed by the throng until the cemetery.

The procession moved slowly along Chazon Ish Street, and many preceded the throng to the cemetery. The cries and wails could be heard nearby.

Rav Shach was buried in a special plot purchased by his son-in-law. Beside the grave, his son, Reb Ephraim, delivered stirring words of parting.

NISHBAH ARON HAKODESH

“The angels and the tzaddikim of our generation were wrangling over the Aron Kodesh. Both wanted the Sefer Torah to remain with them.” The malochim wanted the tzaddik’s holy body to remain with them, while the tzaddikim on this world wanted the tzaddik to live amongst man.

The Aron Kodesh alludes to the holy body of the Tzaddik Hador, which contains the Sefer Torah, his pure neshomoh. His brilliant mind, encompassing the entire Torah, which was written “Black fire on white fire,” burned within. This was the mesorah from Har Sinai until today.

This is the fire which was transmitted from one dor to the next, from one Torah giant to the succeeding generation. Yet we did not merit to keep this flame. Over the past few years, the pure flame flickered, preparing to return to its source. The neshomoh of the gaon hador wanted to depart from this world and join the giants of Klal Yisroel in the Olam HaEmes.

The gemara says, “The upper and lower worlds both wanted Rebbe Yehuda Hanasi to join them.” The meforshim explain, “The nefesh of man desires to join its source. All man’s inner kochos accompany him. Yet the talmidei chachomim on this world want the tzaddik and his Torah to remain with them.”

Talmidei Chachomim, Marbitzei Torah, Roshei Yeshivos, were all mispalel, sensing that the holy Sefer Torah which illuminated the world, was about to depart. They yearned to have the tzaddik remain in this world. Tehillim was said, prayers at Kivrei Tzaddikim, combined with the tefillos of pure young children. All davened, “let the lower worlds triumph over the upper worlds.” Yet the godol hador was taken from us.

The children’s tefillos of “Yomim al yemei melech tosif,” reverberated to the Shaarei Shomayim. “Ribono Shel Olam, leave the tzaddik with us. We cannot bear to part with him.”

He was the ship’s captain of Klal Yisroel, the sailor who guided the ship through the stormy seas. Children and yeshiva students across the world were mispalel, crying “Ribono Shel Olam, give the tzaddik additional years. Although we cannot benefit from his Torah, his kedusha still illuminates the world. When the tzaddik is in the city, his presence brings forth light and joy. Hu hodoh, hu zivoh, hu hadorohÉ”

As the Chovos Halvovos in Shaar Haprishus explains, “There are only a handful Gedolei Hador who guide the Torah world, who function as the role models and advisors. They are compared to the sun whose radiance illuminates the world. As the possuk says, ‘v’nososi l’chol hamokom baavorum,’ Hashem will forgive the entire city in the merit of the tzaddikim.”

Dovid Hamelech says in Tehillim, “Lulei Moshe BechiroÉ” If not for the merit of Moshe Rabenu, “the world would have been destroyed.” A tzaddik hador protects the world from Hakodosh Boruch Hu’s wrath.

Klal Yisroel did not want to believe that the gaon hador, who raised thousands of talmidim, has passed away. He built the koach haTorah v’hakedusha throughout the world. Sadly, the malochim won the struggle. He was niftar on Erev Shabbos of the parsha where Hakodosh Boruch Hu assures Avrohom Avinu, “ki yodativ l’maan asher yitzaveh es baiso v’es bonov acharov v’shumru derech Hashem.”

The Gemara says in Sotah, “Ruach Hakodesh calls out, ‘mi yokum li im mirayim, mi yisyatzev li im poaeli oven?’”

Who shall remain behind? Who can compare to him, to his k’vod haTorah? We are left orphaned and bereft.

He was a giant amongst giants, who encompassed three doros of talmidei chachomim. He fought against every change to the mesorah. He was steadfast in maintaining every minhag of the previous generations.

Shomer Hagecheles Haneeman-Keeper of the Flame

The Gemara Rosh Hashonoh teaches, “In the days of old, when rosh chodesh was declared, a representative of Bais Din would go up on the mountaintop and light a torch. Whoever would see the flame would light their own flame, until the entire Eretz Yisroel was lit up by hundreds of fires.”

Maran Zt’l was the shomer hagacheles, the giant who was left from the previous generation of giants, spent his life lighting the fires, fanning the sparks within us. He lit the fire that was dormant within our hearts, the fire of mesores avoseinu, the mesorah of “maatikei hashmuah,” the gaonim of the previous generation; the Chofetz Chaim, the Brisker Rav. With holiness and trepidation he stood guard over every minhag, every spark of the mesorah.

He was ever vigilant, ready to guard against a breach of the age-old chinuch habonim v’habanos, limud haTorah, and every facet of Jewish life. He felt that he was appointed min hashomayim to be the roeh neemon. “Shomrim Hafkeid l’ircho kol hayom v’chol halayloh.”

All the Roshei Yeshiva and mechanchim who came to consult with him were told: do not move away from darkei avoseinu. Every drasha and public appearance had the same message: Let us keep the mesorah alive. Until the entire golah was lit up by a powerful light. Every single Jewish community was afraid to break away, to change anything, due to the influence of Maran Rosh HaYeshiva. This fire is transmitted from father to son, along with the aimah and yirah that characterized Maran Zt’l.

“Al Tigoo B’mishichai, Eileh Tinokos Shel Bais Rabon.” Limud HaTorah, the age-old derech of transmitting Torah from generation to generation, may not be changed by a hairsbreadth.

There were no p’sharos, no halfway measures. Torah with purity, like the pach shemen of Chanukah, the pure cruse of oil which remained. Toras emes, without any foreign strain. He kept the pikodon entrusted to him, returning it in the same condition. He raised a mighty army-thousands upon thousands of Bnei Torah who carry the “aish tomid tukad al hamizbeach.” Bnei Torah who will continue to carry the same mesiras nefesh to derech avoseinu.

The hundreds of thousands who followed the Aron Kodesh, crying bitter tears “al shelokach aron Elokim” cried “Ovi, ovi, rechev Yisroel uporosho.” We are all orphans, having lost our father, our role model, the general who fought against those who wished to infiltrate our camps.

We were all mekabel to follow in his footsteps, to be mechanech our children with the ‘charodas kodesh,’ the sincere thirsting for Torah, and mesiras nefesh for Yiddishkeit.

We repeat the words of Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer Zt’l, who wrote to Rav Meir Karelitz Zt”l when he sat shivah for his brother the Chazon Ish. Rav Isser Zalman wrote, “Due to my failing health I was unable to be melave your dear brother the gaon Yisroel to his final restÉthe hefsed that we all have lost with his petirah is ‘ayn l’shaar v’ain l’haarich,’ it cannot be described in mere words.”

And he comforts himself with these words, “Our only hope is to Hashem, that in the zechus of this great neshomoh, let us merit the geulah sheleimah. May we see him again in the World of Truth.” (Sefer P’ninei Chein.)

This is our tefilah and hope, that the zechus of the ‘lochem milchemes Hashem’ who was constantly concerned with Klal Yisroel, will not rest in the Olam Hoelyon, rather be ‘maarish olamos’ on our behalf. In his zechus, may we merit the geulah sheleimah without the tzoros of chevlei Moshiach. “Mi Sheomar l’olomo dai, yomar l’tzorosainu dai.”