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10 Cheshvan 5767 - November 1, 2006 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Opinion & Comment
HaRav Shach: At the Helm of the Yeshivos Hakedoshos

by HaRav Dovid Cohen

I once asked Maran ztvk'l for his opinion regarding accepting to yeshiva gedolah students who had previously studied in schools that did not conform to the accepted daas Torah norm. Perhaps such students had true potential for becoming bnei Torah and it would do them an injustice to deny them acceptance; perhaps they had gone to such schools only because their parents had insisted on it.

He mulled over the question for several moments and then said, "If the said student is yirei Shomayim and has genuine aspirations to grow in Torah, one cannot reject him only because his father had forced him to study there. But this applies only if it is very clear that his personal drive is to acquire Torah knowledge. In any case," he added, "such students should only be accepted on a very individual basis and certainly not in any organized group."

Between the Doctor and the Yeshiva

I was once informed that Maran had gone to see an eye specialist in Shaarei Zedek Hospital but that he wished to tell me something. I went there at once and Maran began speaking to me. I accompanied him on his way and when we entered the office, the doctor asked Maran if he would allow his son, who was studying in a yeshivas hesder, to attend the Ponovezh Yeshiva for a week.

The Rosh Yeshiva told him he could come on Rosh Chodesh Nisan and then remain in yeshiva for a week.

"But that is already bein hazmanim! The yeshiva is not in session, then!" the doctor said in surprise.

"Even at that time, there is a large group of talmidim studying in the beis medrash. He will still be able to get an impression of the place. He will be able to learn and also strengthen himself spiritually at that time."

The doctor continued to plead with Maran to let his son come during regular session. Maran was adamantly opposed and stood firm as a rock.

There is no doubt that this cost him a great deal of effort, especially since his sense of gratitude and obligation to the doctor weighed against that decision. He was also, after all, dependent on the doctor's good will and services in treating him. But when it came to the best interests of the yeshiva, Maran would not back down. He could not, under any circumstances, allow a boy from a hesder yeshiva to come during the regular session, not even for one week.

A Golden Opportunity for a Position

During my first years of marriage, I was offered a position as meishiv in a new yeshiva which had opened the previous year and had proven very successful in raising its already excellent student body to great achievements. With time, it would expand and would need a greater staff; a position in this yeshiva was a very promising, enticing offer of a chance for rapid advancement.

I traveled to Maran to consult with him. Maran asked me if I was currently satisfied with my own studies in kollel; if I, personally, was making good progress. Was I immersed in my studies or did I experience any degree of laxity and slowing down?

I replied that I was still fresh after marriage and very satisfied with my studies in kollel. I was not really looking for a job yet, but since this special opportunity had been offered to me, I was really in a dilemma and did not know what to do.

Maran said: "From the Torah viewpoint, there is no such thing as a `special opportunity.' No one can appropriate an iota of what is prepared for his fellow man; everyone gets what he deserves and you never lose out. Chazal say that `you will be assigned your proper seat/position,' no matter what."

He then repeated that if one does what is right and proper, only good can result. "You will see," he insisted, "that you will get the seat that suits you."

Yissochor and Zevulun

I once went in to Maran together with one of the most important Yerushalmi talmidei chachomim who wished to know whether to agree to enter into a Yissochor-Zevulun partnership with a certain wealthy person. It would afford him the peace of mind to immerse himself wholly into study without other worries.

Maran took out his copy of Evven Ho'ezel from the bookcase and showed him that Maran R' Isser Zalman Meltzer ztvk'l had produced it by means of a Yissochor-Zevulun agreement with a wealthy man who had provided the funds for publication. Maran added, "What was proper and good for R' Isser Zalman can also apply to every ben Torah."

I asked him if there was any difference between funding a publication of a Torah work and a study agreement; he said there was no difference whatsoever.

The fifth yahrtzeit of Maran HaRav Shach is on 16 Marcheshvan.


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