The image and spirit of HaRav Moshe Soloveitchik
zt"l still linger in the minds and hearts of his
many students and disciples. This great man, his
sterling character and personal integrity, his every
word and action infused with sanctity, left a lasting
impression on all. Perpetuating the heritage of his
righteous forefathers, the dynasty of Brisk, the memory
of Rav Moshe Soloveitchik, zt"l continues to
inspire.
The Hebrew biography Veho'Ish Moshe is the
product of some of Rav Moshe's many pupils who wished
to compile his many lectures, teachings, and inspiring
actions into one. HaRav Chaim Kanievsky supplied
comments and vignettes from his youth when he learned
together with Rav Moshe in the Lomza Yeshiva. This 300-
page compilation contains sections on Torah, Nach,
Bavli, Shabbos, Moadim, various topics in halacha,
and numerous discourses and lectures. The timeless
words and teaching of Rav Moshe Soloveitchik can only
be described as "Living words of G-d."
The following are translated excerpts from Veho'Ish
Moshe:
Rav Moshe related: When I was a youth learning in the
renowned Yeshivas Petach Tikva, I merited to spend a
seder in the presence of the Chazon Ish,
zt"l and the Kehillas Yaakov, zt"l. To my
surprise, both were hurrying to relate the story of the
Exodus in order to eat the afikoman before
midnight. In the midst of the seder, the Rav
asked one of the children present if he had any
questions, but the child, uncomfortable with the
attention, remained quiet. Nonetheless, I did have a
question. How could it be that year after year one
tells of Rabbi Akiva, Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya, Rabbi
Yehoshua and the others who related the story of the
Exodus all through the night, while the Chazon Ish and
the Kehillas Yaakov hastened through it?
HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, quoting his father's sefer,
writes that as the tannoim had been in Bnei
Brak, the home of Rabbi Akiva, they practiced according
to the opinion of Rabbi Akiva who held that sippur
yetzias Mitzrayim could be recounted throughout the
night. Today, however, we follow the majority opinion
that states that the afikoman must be eaten by
midnight.
*
The Rov zt"l was once asked to explain the common
practice of the many young men who study in a kollel
instead of supporting their families, and rely on
heavenly aid to provide their needs. This seems a
contradiction to the words of the Rambam, who writes in
Hilchos Shmittah, "Only one who wholeheartedly
dedicates his soul to the service of G-d, and who
follows the straight path without diverting from it,
will merit provision from heaven."
Rav Moshe responded that this applied only in earlier
generations, when people were, spiritually, on an
extraordinarily high level, and in which G-d related to
the world with justice. Today, in a generation as
spiritually weak as ours, G-d relates to the world with
mercy, and any individual who desires to learn the holy
Torah can merit heavenly intervention.
*
The Rov once commented to a woman who approached him in
reference to issues of sholom bayis that success
in parnossoh is granted to those who excel in
sholom bayis. The proof is in the Shemoneh
Esrei, "The One Who Blesses His Nation of Israel
with peace." The intent of this blessing is not only
for literal peace, but also in a figurative sense. Rav
Shimon ben Chalafta states in maseches Uktzin,
"The greatest vessel for acquiring blessing is
peace, as it is written, `Hashem Will Give strength to
His nation; Hashem Will Bless His nation with peace'
(Tehillim 29.)" Hashem bestows His blessing in a
place where there is peace. Hence, it is incumbent upon
us to reside in peace, thus creating the vessel in
which Hashem can bestow His countless blessings upon
us.
*
An influential community leader in Germany passed away
suddenly. The deceased had maintained close connections
with respected members of the German government, and
his widow wished an official government funeral.
However, the German Prime Minister was away and unable
to attend and the widow thus opted to delay the funeral
until his return. The rav of the community turned to
Rav Moshe for guidance, and Rav Moshe was adamant that
the funeral should proceed at the appropriate time.
Furthermore, he insisted that if the widow should not
abide by his decision, then the rabbi should play no
part in the service.
The widow was indifferent to the rabbi's warning and,
instead, sought the service of a reform rabbi who
agreed to perform the burial according to her liking.
The funeral was attended by the most esteemed members
of the German government, including the President,
Prime Minister, Chief Justice, and others, and was
broadcast throughout the radio and television stations
in the country. The reform rabbi, indeed, felt honored
to lead such a ceremony.
Soon after, to the shock of the community, it was
discovered that the deceased had been involved in the
embezzlement of tens of millions of German marks, that
had been reserved by the government as reparations for
Holocaust survivors. Again the funeral was broadcast
throughout all of Europe; this time, as the opening to
the government expose of his scandalous dealings.
Through the foresight and warning of Rav Moshe, the
only Jews present at the funeral of the crook were the
reform rabbi and his cohorts. As a result, a tremendous
chillul Hashem was averted.
*
A Jew who asked Rav Moshe if it is permissible to
declare falsely that he had sent his son to summer camp
in order to receive a large grant from the government.
Rav Moshe asked if the man was currently in financial
difficulty, and the latter responded in the
affirmative. The Rov then responded kindly, "If you are
in need, then come to me again tomorrow, and we will
together collect money in the Beis Midrash. This
is, indeed, a more respected manner of attaining
financial assistance!"
*
Rav Moshe related a tale of his youth. There was a
period in his childhood in which, every morning, a
chicken appeared in his family's garden, laid an egg,
and hopped away. This continued for some time, until,
one day, the children decided to follow it; yet, after
a few moments, the chicken disappeared. When recounting
the unlikely tale to their father, the latter
responded, "Perhaps there was an individual who passed
away while still in debt to me, and who has returned to
the world in this form to repay me." He immediately
searched through his receipts and discovered that,
indeed, there had been such a man. The next morning,
when the chicken appeared in his yard, Rav Moshe's
father approached her and declared, "If you are so-and-
so who owed me such an amount of money, then rest
assured. I forgive you, wholeheartedly." The chicken
never again returned to Rav Moshe's home.
*
Rav Moshe was once summoned to the city of Hegenheim to
participate as a sandak for the bris of a long
awaited son, born to a family of five daughters. The
joyous couple spared no effort in preparing a lavish
meal in honor of this great simcha. Yet, when the
Rov arrived with the mohel, the latter discovered
that the baby was badly jaundiced and that, under no
circumstances could a bris be performed that day.
Rav Moshe, sensing the anguish and embarrassment of the
couple, declared that, although the bris could
not proceed as scheduled, all the guests were to remain
and partake of the seuda and lectures in honor of
the birth of the child.
*
A young rabbi once sought the advice of the Rov,
whether to accept a position as the rav in a community
in which many of its members were not shomrei
Shabbos and in which the local shul had no
mechitza. Rav Moshe allowed him to assume the
post on the condition that he only lecture for the
congregation and not pray with them. Moreover, if after
a full year the congregants would not agree to erect a
proper mechitza, he should resign.
The following year, the rabbi returned to Rav Moshe,
proudly announcing that his congregation had agreed to
erect a mechitza according to the lenient opinion
of Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt"l. Rav Moshe was
adamantly opposed, explaining that the leniency could
sometimes be granted only to a shul that was
already founded on the precedents of halacha.
However, if a new mechitza were to be
constructed, it could only be erected according to the
highest standards of halacha. Though the rabbi
was compelled to resign his position, Rav Moshe stood
firm in his decision, emphasizing that, under no
circumstances, could halacha be compromised.
