From right to left: HaRav Bergman, HaRav Zochovski, HaRav Efrati
The Knesset Members of Degel HaTorah, members of its administration, representatives from local councils and heads of Yated Ne'eman gathered in a memorial meeting, headed by HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rosh Yeshivas Rashbi and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and also son-in-law of HaRav Shach, together with the chairman of Vaadas HaRabbonim of the movement, HaRav Nosson Zochovsky, and HaRav Yosef Yekusiel Efrati. All of these came together on the eve of the twentieth yahrtzeit of the late Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Shach, to commemorate him in special speeches and reminiscences, to study his path and his words and gain from them through their relevance to these times as well and acquire wisdom in guiding their path in his light.
HaRav Bergman was the main speaker.
"I feel a duty of publicize this in order to show that everything he did was 'for the sake of Heaven', without personal interests, which is why we congratulate public representatives by saying, "Fortunate are you for involving yourselves in the deeds of the righteous: Degel HaTorah and Yated Ne'eman, which were founded through sanctity and purity, and fortunate are you in sharing a pert thereof.
"I would like to add another point. A kollel avreich with a large family once came to the Rosh Yeshiva and said that he was saddled with many debts to the municipality and that his water had been cut off. The Rosh Yeshiva advised him to go to a certain person who would take care of everything. The young man said, 'It's two o'clock and it isn't imperative right now because I took water from a neighbor. I can take care of it later today.'
HaRav Shach was adamant. 'Go now and ask that your water supply be renewed.'
The avreich did as he was told, noticing that HaRav Shach had put on his hat and was leaving the house. 'I'm going with you,' he said.
When they reached that person's house, he said, 'I will wait here by the stairs while you go and ask.'
The avreich went up and knocked on the door. The man opened it and began shouting, 'I am resting now. I have an office. Come to me later in the afternoon!'
HaRav Shach was pained by this and said, 'A public servant doesn't understand that he has to be on call at all times?' When the official heard the Rosh Yeshiva's voice, he sent someone down to explain his standing on the matter but Maran refused to accept his excuse and insisted, 'A public official must, first and foremost, be accessible to solve the problems of the individual citizen.'
"I couldn't understand why the Rosh Yeshiva had to accompany the avreich to begin with, or why he decided to remain at the bottom of the stairs. I guessed that the Rosh Yeshiva felt that he, too, was like a public servant, and if someone came to seek his help, he was obligated to provide it. It was not enough for him to advise the avreich to go to the official but that he had to show that he, too, was prepared to forego his comfort and do his duty, hoping that his example would convince the official to do what he could to help, in spite of the discomfort."
"We are aware that the representatives of Degel HaTorah also follow this example on all accounts. I tell this in order to reinforce them. We all pray that they continue to act thus and that together, we shall merit seeing 'a new light shining upon Zion', and may the merit of Rabbenu stand us by so that we live to see the salvation of the public and the individual."
It is common knowledge that the Rosh Yeshiva had to subordinate himself before establishing
Degel HaTorah by circulating among Torah leaders asking them to join him. When election time came and great miracles were needed for success, no one understood how the Rosh Yeshiva expected to succeed in his goal. But Hashem helped him.
I said in my hesped at the funeral, which took place on a Friday, that when a talmid came to him on election day asking if he should vote for Gimmel or for Eitz, which was then the symbol of Degel HaTorah, he said: 'You are a chossid. Go and ask your Rebbi.'
When the man replied that he was told to vote Gimmel, Rav Shach said: 'Go and vote Gimmel.' What greatness can be seen here!
"And when he founded the newspaper Yated Ne'eman, he worked very industriously to make it succeed. He borrowed a million dollars from Reb Moshe Reichman and approached many American magnates for funds, explaining to them that it was to be considered as if investing in a stock which would prove itself when the newspaper began appearing. He had to humble himself and sacrifice himself in the process.
It is well remembered how he shouted in his famous speech, 'I have nothing.' No one understood what he meant but this was his code: no personal interests!
"Listen to a story which the public is not familiar with but which I wish to publicize on his yahrtzeit. I was present when the Admor Pnei Menachem came to him and said, 'Let us make peace between us and work together.'
Rav Shach replied, 'I also am all for this but there is one point regarding our outlook which must be resolved.
The Rebbi said, 'If this stands in the way, I am prepared to mend it. But if I mend it, will you close down Yated Ne'eman?'
The Rosh Yeshiva said: 'Yes', upon which the Admor rose to his feet and said, "If so, we shall meet again. The Rosh Yeshiva will yet hear from me.' And he left the house.
Now this was after the paper was already established. Several days later, however, the Admor very suddenly passed away. This goes to show to what extent the Rosh Yeshiva built Yated Ne'eman without personal interests that he was ready to close down an operating newspaper if it served the purpose of 'lesheim Shomayim'."
