This Shabbat, I took some time to read a wonderful and inspiring book that has been sitting in one place on my bookshelf for too long. I skipped around the book, and by hashgacha alone, I came upon a eulogy given by Rav Hershel Billet for "The Rav" which is recorded in the book Memories of a Giant.
I thought that I would share the two of the final three paragraphs of the eulogy with you. I think the memory of The Rav speaks for itself and provides us a model to emulate. There is nothing to add, but must reflection to make and action to be inspired and taken.
The Rav often criticized his students for being too selfish. He said that we only learn for ourselves and that was an undesirable trait. He wanted us to learn with dedication and share generously as well with others.
The Rav's love Torah study translated itself in his support of other Torah institutions. At the request of Rav Aharon Kotler zt"l, the Rav worked hard for Chinuch Atzmai. He spoke at their dinner in honor of Rav Aharon. When Rav Aharon took ill, the Rav personally raised funds for Lakewood Yeshiva. He sent a letter on his personal stationary on behalf of Yeshiva Torah Vodaas when they had financial problems. He worked tirelessly to see to it that Maimonides School in Boston always met its payroll on time.
5 comments:
I think that it is fair to say that the Charedi world has engaged in a campaign of denigration of RYBS and his Talmidim Muvhakim. How else can you explain why Chiddushei Torah of RYBS are attributed elsewhere, sefarim are written without mentioning RIETS as where RYBS gave shiurim and without any of RYBS's hashkafic insights.
Memories of a Giant, RHS's Sefarim and the book edited by R M Genack are excellent sources of how RYBS dealt with his Charedi contemporaries.
The campaign of denigration is so sickening, as well as so unnecessary. As a (Modern) Orthodox Jew, I realize that I need the Yeshiva world and the Chassidish world. I need what they have to offer, and I think that they also need a lot of what the Modern world has to offer.
I really loved this excerpt from "Memories of a Giant" because it showed ahavah and inclusiveness that I think we lack today.
It's important to keep in mind the basic tenets of Judaism while placing such a big emphasis on learning. Unfortunately, nowadays things like viahavta lereiacha kamocha and kol yisroel ereivim zeh la zeh are often forgotten. Great point to bring up, Sephardilady. All the Torah learning in the world is worthless without applying it to bein adam lichavero.
To add to what Steve Brizel wrote, the Rov and the Lubavicher Rebbe had a decades long friendship that began when they met in graduate school in Berlin.
To add to what Sephardilady wrote, I also hear far too much LH against the left wing of MO from people who think they are in the right wing of MO -- and vice versa. Not so much the rabbis, but laypeople. There is no excuse for any of this.
Good point Charlie. I see this all the time when I try to make shidduchim. It is amazing the walls that people will put up to get themselves in a box.
Definitely all shomer Shabbat Jews should have more in common than not. It would be nice to use that commonality to find solutions together.
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