HaGaon R' Elchonon Bunim Wassermann zt'l Hy'd used to
leave Baranowitz each year at the beginning of Elul to be in
the proximity of the Chofetz Chaim, where he remained until
after Simchas Torah. After the death of the Chofetz Chaim,
from the beginning of 5694 (1933), he began visiting Kelm
during that period, and continued to do so until his
death.
When R' Elchonon was asked why he felt the need to leave
"Ohel Torah," the tent of Torah in Baranowitz, and travel to
Kelm, he said: "Yeshayoh prophesied as follows, `Thus says
Hashem: the heavens are My throne and the earth is My
footstool. What is the house that you can [presume to] build
for My name . . . For this is what I shall look at: to the
poor and the dispirited and he who is anxious over My word.'"
He interpreted `heavens' as all the heavens and spiritual
spheres. All these are the throne of the A-mighty, while the
`earth' represents the world below with all of the creatures
inhabiting it. These, he said, are Hashem's footstool.
And if we were to ask: what is most significant in the eyes
of Hashem? the answer is, says Yeshaya, "For this is what I
shall look at." There are certain people whom it is advisable
to study. And he would indicate R' Doniel Movshovitz Hy'd,
rosh yeshivas Kelm of that period. "To the poor and
dispirited and one who is anxious over My word." This, he
said, perfectly exemplified R' Doniel.
R' Chaim Dov Silver zt'l, one of the disciples of
Yeshivas Kelm (which was called the Talmud Torah), and later
one of the heads of Vaad Hayeshivos in Eretz Yisroel, would
at various occasions tell his family about the period in
which R' Elchonon visited Kelm. These are the impressions he
conveyed:
When anyone was called up to the Torah in Kelm, no title
would be used, not even HaRav, with no exceptions made. When
R' Elchonon was called up the gabbai said simply,
"Elchonon Bunim ben Naftoli Hirsch," and a tremor swept
through the congregation, even though they knew that this was
the practice to show that all are equal before the Torah, and
who knows what real title we have earned up in Heaven . . .
(See Chochmoh Umussar, Part II, Essays 350, 351).
*
During the days that R' Elchonon stayed in Kelm, he imparted
a most interesting fact about the Chofetz Chaim, which R'
Silver was privileged to hear. It also, incidentally,
revealed a fascinating practice of R' Elchonon that he
carried on throughout his life.
R' Elchonon told him, "I have proof that the Chofetz Chaim
possessed ruach hakodesh."
How was that? During the period he was in Radin, his
designated place was by the western wall of the beis
midrash, behind the bimah. The Chofetz Chaim
himself sat on the eastern wall near the aron
kodesh.
One evening, R' Elchonon extended his prayers and the Chofetz
Chaim also prayed longer and more fervently than was his
wont. When the latter had finished, the beis midrash
had already emptied out. The Chofetz Chaim passed by R'
Elchonon's place, stopped, and said, "It is not enough to
recite the Thirteen Principles of Faith twice a day if one
truly wishes to fortify that faith." He then continued on his
way.
R' Elchonon tells how he stood transfixed on his place in
sheer amazement, for it was, indeed, his practice to recite
the Thirteen Principles twice daily, after the morning
prayers and again, after the evening service. But he did so
secretly, and had been certain that no one was aware that he
was doing so. Yet here, the Chofetz Chaim had mentioned it in
passing, as if it were such a commonly known fact . . .
*
In Sivan 5700, Russian forces invaded the streets of Kelm and
the skies of Lithuania clouded over dismally. The security
situation, as well as the spiritual condition, deteriorated,
and R' Chaim Dov Silver was given the opportunity, as a
British citizen, to escape Kelm and join other British
nationals who were being transferred to distant Australia. R'
Chaim Dov consulted his mentor, R' Doniel Movshovitz, who
gave his blessings to this plan, but advised him nonetheless
to consult with R' Elchonon, who was in Kelm at the time.
R' Chaim Dov encountered R' Elchonon as he was leaving the
building of the Talmud Torah, and laid out the details of the
plan. R' Elchonon listened, and when he heard that R' Chaim
Dov was scheduled to pass through Japan, he said, "Now that
is problematic. If Japan enters the war, you are in
danger."
R' Elchonon grasped his head in his hands and sank into
concentrated thought. Suddenly, he looked up and said, "I
don't know. I don't see anything . . . I can't see a thing,
so don't ask me about this any more. It is a difficult matter
for me to decide. But remember this, in any event: wherever
you are, you will not be able to escape the tribulations of
Moshiach, for they will be everywhere . . . " With these
words, R' Elchonon concluded the talk and blessed him with
success in whatever way he chose to follow.
Later, R' Chaim Dov Silver would relate how he went to
Australia and, indeed, the Japanese did invade it. Fear was
rampant, and he could not help being reminded of R'
Elchonon's words, that chevlei Moshiach would be
experienced throughout the world. The war eventually came to
an end, thanks to heavenly mercy, and all turned out for the
best.
*
R' Moshe Portman shlita, a survivor from the Kelmer
yeshiva, tells that when R' Elchonon used to come to Kelm in
Elul to be near R' Doniel, each day after the morning
prayers, he would go over to him and the two would spend a
long time discussing weighty matters.
HaRav Mordechai Zuckerman shlita notes that only two
men were permitted to address the students of the Kelmer
Talmud Torah, outside of their own roshei yeshiva, and
these were R' Elchonon Wassermann and R' Aharon Baksht
Hy'd.
