HaRav Walkin is a well-known and admired figure in Israel's
yeshiva world today. A grandson of one of the gedolei
Yisroel in prewar Europe, HaRav Aharon Walkin of Pinsk,
zt'1, Rabbi Walkin embodies a unique and authentic
mussar tradition passed down through the generations.
His father, HaRav Shmuel David Walkin, zt'l was a
disciple of the Chofetz Chaim in Radin and head of the Jewish
community as it traveled through the Far East and settled in
Shanghai during the turbulent years of World War II.
Rabbi Walkin himself was born in Shanghai and learned in
Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland where he was close to its
roshei yeshiva, HaRav Chaim Mordechai Katz, HaRav
Mordechai Gifter and especially HaRav Boruch Sorotzkin. He
later moved to Eretz Yisroel and spent over a decade learning
at Yeshivas Mir under HaRav Chaim Shmuelevitz, HaRav Beinish
Finkel and HaRav Nochum Percovitz.
For the past twelve years Rabbi Walkin has been mashgiach
at Yeshivat Ateret Yisrael in Jerusalem, one of Israel's
largest and most respected yeshiva gedolos. In this
role, his warm and affectionate style has endeared him to his
students, the author of this review being one of them.
Through his shmuessen and personal example, he has
literally inspired thousands to develop themselves into Torah
personalities, and to turn their avodas Hashem into a
deep, heartfelt connection to HaKodosh Boruch Hu.
Rabbi Walkin's Hebrew Daas Chaim has been one of the
most popular and respected contemporary mussar works
of recent years. Its wide dissemination and high regard are
almost unique amongst contemporary works. The World
Within, the English version of Daas Chaim,
rendered into English by his wife Mrs. Henny Walkin, is an
excellent translation of that valuable text, making its gems
available to the English-speaking public, which is sorely
lacking in such important works.
The author comments that we have been fortunate to witness a
renaissance of Torah study and scholarship. We are able to
easily observe stringent levels of kashrus. On a
deeper level, however, we sometimes miss the point: our deeds
seem superficial. In many aspects of observance, the heart --
the fundamental core of Torah and mussar -- is just
not there.
What constitutes this world within? "Every person is born
with his own individual personality, unique talents, and
spiritual inclinations." We can use them for good, or G-d
forbid, for evil. This individuality is referred to by our
sages as an olam, a world, and our place in the Next
World depends on our realization of our inner world. Yet the
"inner world is a fragile and sensitive one -- and needs much
care and supervision for its protection and development, in
order to truly recognize our potential, and use our unique
qualities to their fullest."
For example, readers are guided through the process of Torah
study. Unlike other acquisitions which require only one
transfer, Torah requires long-term uninterrupted acquisition.
The author explains well that Torah study is not just a means
towards ever-increasing knowledge, but also a goal in and of
itself.
One of the most precious gems of this attractive work is its
section on Emunah and Bitochon. There Rabbi
Walkin is at his greatest, bringing complex subjects into the
understandable, and lofty ideals into practical reality.
Basing himself on many sources, he writes that the "first
commandment. `I am Hashem your G-d,' establishes that a Jew's
fundamental obligation is trust and belief in Hashem, always
and in every situation. The other commandments, including
their specific obligations and requisite performance, are
derived from this first commandment." With trust in Hashem
firmly implanted, all of life's trials and difficulties
become easier, for one is aware that Hashem is with him
always.
The World Within introduces us to the necessary
building blocks of the inner world: mussar, Torah,
yiras Shomayim, emunah and bitochon, avodas Hashem,
penimiyus, hashgacha, and tefillah. Possibly its
greatest strength is the bridge that Rabbi Walkin creates
between ancient statements of our sages and our lives today,
helping us understand their teachings and apply them to our
lives.
R' Doron Kornbluth is an avreich in Jerusalem and a
close talmid of Rabbi Walkin's.
