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.
