InTribute Experiencing and Loving God (Torah scholar). In the study of Torah barely able to whisper but nevertheless For the Rav, teaching Torah was a pro- In commemoration of the Rav’s one-hundredth birthday and tenth yahrtzeit, Jewish Action will feature articles on the Rav throughout the year. Shebe’al Peh, a talmid chacham becomes still defending the Rambam and Rav found religious experience. Often he one entity with the Torah he studies. It Chaim. His lectures were now delivered would quote the daily blessing “Baruch becomes a part of his very soul. This is bekol demamah dakah, in a soft whisper. Atah Hashem hamelamed Torah leamo the meaning of the holy light that Yisrael, Blessed are You God Who teach- shone from Moshe Rabbeinu’s face. It

Photo courtesy of Department of Communications and Public of Department Photo courtesy Affairs, University es Torah to His people Israel,” and point was the light of Torah Shebe’al Peh radi- out that while God gave the Torah to ating from his inner soul.” For the Rav, to the Jews at Sinai thousands of years ago, When the Rav was well on in years and the blessing is in the present tense,“Who suffering from Parkinson’s disease, I could study Torah was to teaches Torah.” That’s because God con- not talk to him about anything except the tinues to teach Torah to Jews today,1 he Oral Law. I remember visiting him once experience God. would explain. When one studies Torah and attempting to discuss various things it is as if he is receiving it directly from going on in the Jewish world, but the Rav’s The Living Torah the Giver of Torah Himself. eyes started to droop and he appeared to be In the Rav’s shiur, the ba’alei mesorah On innumerable occasions, the Rav falling asleep. At one point I mentioned a were living participants. On the first would tell us students, “I feel God Rambam, whereupon the Rav opened his of , the Ran questions A whispering to me as I sit and prepare A eyes and began discussing it with me. an opinion of Rabbeinu Tam and writes: my shiur. He asks me, ‘Berel, what do Relatives of the Rav have told me that “I am perplexed with him, how can a you think Rambam is really saying?’ often when his illness so debilitated him holy mouth say such a thing!” When And when I humbly suggest my inter- that he could barely talk, a family mem- the Rav taught us this, he exclaimed, pretation to Him, I hear him whisper ber would place his ears near the Rav’s “If I were writing this, I would have PosheterPosheter back to me, ‘How beautiful, you are lips and hear him whispering perushim written it in the second rather than in right.’” For the Rav, to study Torah (explanations) of the Rambam. the third person, so that it would read was to experience God. as follows: ‘I am perplexed at you, how teaches that studying With Thunder and a Whisper can a holy mouth say such a thing!’” Torah lishmah—Torah for its own Torah was given twice at Sinai, the For the Rav, Rabbeinu Tam was alive in By Hershel Reichman Melamed sake—is the ultimate expression of love first time amidst kolot uberakim (thun- the room, arguing his halachic position. Melamed for God. “It is clear that love of God der and lightening), the second time, cannot be bound into the human soul bekol demamah dakah (in a whisper). The Brisker Method “When I pray, I talk to God; when I learn Torah, God talks to me” (The Rogotchaver Gaon) unless one occupies himself with it Likewise there are two types of teachers In his never-ending study of Torah, always, and abandons everything in the of Torah: the first teaches with kolot the Rav relied heavily on the Brisker If, with all his knowledge in so many areas, the Rav defined himself as a melamed, then surely it is appropriate to focus on his world except this, as it is written, ‘Love uberakim, the second, bekol demamah method—an analytical method of role as one. Moshe Chaim Luzzatto writes that learning Torah is the most precious influence God bestows on man (Derech your God with all your heart and soul.’ dakah. The Rav was the former type. study which focuses on dis- Hashem 4:2). It provides the most intense connection with Him. Though the Rav studied and knew many things, learning Torah One cannot love God except through His classes were full of excitement and cerning the underlying principles of was his primary preoccupation and greatest love. In the ongoing Torah dialogue, man is paradoxically both recipient and contrib- knowledge and study. Therefore a per- drama. His voice was loud and his halachic logic. The Rav once described utor. Nothing is more exciting than this Man-God interaction, and, as the melamed par excellence, the Rav became a critical son must dedicate himself single-mind- emotions visible. I remember, as a this approach as one in which the stu- link in the mesorah, the transmission of Torah from one generation to the next. Ed. edly to pursue, to the best of his ability, young boy, staring in fright as the veins dent doesn’t just read the lines, he the knowledge and understanding which in his head bulged to double their reg- reads what is between the lines. This will enable him to know his Maker.”2 ular size. I used to worry that, God for- methodology can be traced back to Torah was the Rav’s great love, but the bid, his head might burst. Many times Rabbeinu Tam (12th century, Germany) The Rav, Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, philosopher, scholar, communal schedule; from Tuesday to Thursday essence of this love was his passion for his face would turn red from the enor- and the Ramban (13th century, Spain). has been characterized as a lamdan leader and symbol of Orthodoxy. he would teach in New York at mous energy he mustered to engage in At the turn of the twentieth century, (scholar), posek (halachic decisor), God Himself. However, whenever asked about him- Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan, the milchamah shel Torah, the intellec- Rav Chaim (late 19th-early 20th centu- self, the Rav always said, “I’m a and from Friday to Monday he would Ish Mesorah tual wars between the Rambam and ry, Lithuania) revolutionized Torah Rabbi Reichman is a rosh yeshivah at posheter melamed,” a simple Torah teach in Boston at Maimonides The Rav had a particular enthusiasm the Raavad, between and learning by applying this analytical Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan. teacher. While he was certainly School and other institutions. for Torah Shebe’al Peh (the Oral Law). Rabbeinu Tam, between the Rav’s approach universally and most signifi- He was a student of the Rav from 1962 deserving of the various titles Whereas a typical rosh yeshivah shiur Often, he would say, “We study Torah beloved grandfather Rav Chaim Brisker cantly to the study of Rambam. until the mid ‘80s as well as his personal bestowed upon him, if we are to truly lasts for about forty-five minutes, the Shebichtav (the Written Law) as well as and other . In the Rav’s view it was this classical assistant for a number of years. He is the understand the Rav, we must see him Rav’s would extend for at least two or Torah Shebe’al Peh. But there’s a differ- I will always remember my first analytical approach that saved Torah author of four volumes of collections of primarily as he saw himself. three hours. Moreover, when deliver- ence. Torah Shebichtav is written in ink zeman in the Rav’s shiur, and twenty- learning. Thus, despite his great admira- the Rav’s lectures. The volumes, Being a melamed was not just the ing a yahrtzeit shiur, the Rav’s lecture on the parchment of holy scrolls. But five years later, my last. In the former, I tion for Rambam, the Rav once said, Rishimot Shiurim, are available in Rav’s vocation; it was his love. For would last practically the whole day, Torah Shebe’al Peh is engraved in the saw the fire, thunder and lightening “Whereas as an individual, the bookstores or by calling 718-377-0047. years he had a rigorous teaching up to seven or eight hours. heart and mind of the talmid chacham and in the latter, a tired and sick man, Rambam was perhaps the greatest

Spring 5763/2003 JEWISH ACTION JEWISH ACTION Spring 5763/2003 scholar among the , he did not halachah properly. Without Rambam, Rav Moshe Tzvi Neriya, zt’’l, the following: first, that we be righteous imperative but learned in the principle of make the greatest contribution to meso- the Torah would have survived. But founder and dean of the Israeli net- and not wicked, and second, that we as defined by Maimonides, to be rat haTorah (the transmission of the without Rabbeinu Tam, Torah scholar- work of Bnei Akiva yeshivot, once never feel that we are righteous. The acquainted with E-l Mistater and with Deus Torah). This was done by Rabbeinu Tam ship would, God forbid, have been lost.” speculated, “Why didn’t the Rav come Rav further states that this oath ren- Absconditus, E-l Nigleh and Deus Revelatus. to live in Israel? I believe that this was ders all of us shelichim—agents of God. The Rav was an intellectual, with an The Universal Melamed because it was the Almighty’s desire Just as Moshe Rabbeinu was given a abiding respect for all knowledge and a “Untold numbers There is an old controversy3 among that the Rav remain in Galut (the mission—to take the Jews out of commitment to the principle set forth Torah scholars regarding whether the Diaspora). He was needed to stem the Egypt—each of us has our own mis- by Maimonides in his commentary on of Jews would highest levels of Torah learning should tide of Western assimilation. Untold sion to fulfill in this world. the Mishnah: kabeil et haemet mimi be open to all students or restricted to numbers of Jews would have been lost What was the shelichut assigned to sheamrah—accept the truth from have been lost to the very best. The Rav would say, to American universities and culture, the Rav? Perhaps no one knows better whomever it comes. He was even known “The Vilna Gaon felt that he should were it not for the Rav who showed than the Rav himself: “You ask me to be an avid reader of the most worth- American univer- teach Torah only to the very best, as them that was intellectu- what I am?” he used to say. “Ich bin a while books on The New York Times did my uncle Reb Velvel of Brisk. ally superior. Israel’s loss was world melamed—I am a melamed, a teacher.” best-seller list, perusing them while com- sities and culture, However, today’s times demand that Jewry’s gain for many generations.” The Rav taught us rigor and organi- muting between New York and Boston. we teach everyone in this advanced, The Rav’s shiurim have spread zation. His mind was as organized as Then there was his absolute integrity were it not for the analytical way. Only by showing the throughout the globe and are studied it was breathtakingly deep and broad. in the presentation of knowledge. masses the depth, rigor and beauty of by tens of thousands of Jews. Thus, He used to end every shiur with the Once during shiur, while explaining a Rav who showed halachah, can we hope to stem the he, like Moshe Rabbeinu, Rabbi question: “Vos haben mir gelerent, particular topic in the Talmud, the tide of assimilation and inspire our Akiva, Rambam, Rashi, Rabbeinu Tam What have we learned today?” He Rav built up a magnificent analytic them that Torah people to keep the halachic way of and Rav Chaim, is still very much would then cite the major principles structure. Toward the end of the shiur, life.” He would further say, “Our alive. He lives on as a “posheter of the two-hour shiur: “We have a student noticed a discrepancy study was intellec- method of analysis is the finest in the melamed of Torah” to the Jewish peo- learned one, two and three.” His stu- between what the Rav was teaching world. Let our people experience it ple. Yehei zichro baruch. JA dents, having been overwhelmed by and what we had learned with him tually superior.” and they will flock to it.” his erudition and having copied down several months earlier. He gently And so he taught everyone—young Notes every word in the hope of being able asked: “, how does this fit with who developed and taught the analytical and old, committed and not-yet-com- 1. Pirkei Avot, chap., 3. to understand it fully later, would the analysis that we developed some method studied by the Ba’alei Tosafot. mitted. Today, the Brisker method, as 2. , Hilchot Teshuvah, then realize that only three or four months ago?” The Rav’s eyes opened Without this method, we are simply popularized by the Rav and others, has 10: 2-3,6. major points were made. Suddenly, widely and he said to the embarrassed incapable of understanding Torah and become the norm in most yeshivot. 3. Berachot 27. the mass of information was clear to student: “You are right, I am wrong. Photo courtesy of Maimonides School even the average student. Do you hear students? He is correct; I The Rav believed that everyone—regard- am incorrect. I’ll have to go home and less of gender—is entitled to the best educa- relearn the entire subject and present it time for, his family, including nieces tion. In 1937, he established Maimonides again tomorrow.” It would have been and nephews as well as their children. School as a coeducational institution with easy for this Talmudic master to shout He gave his students signals of his AA MissionMission FulfilledFulfilled the highest academic standards in all down an inexperienced student. It humanity during more playful spheres, which it remains to this day. would have been easy, but it wouldn’t moments. Not too many years ago, He expected his students at Yeshiva have been Rav Soloveitchik. when a former student of his was dri- University to be steeped in Torah and yet ost of the Rav’s students did ving him home from a wedding, he aware of existentialist thought. He wanted not quite appreciate the warm began asking the Rav all kinds of ques- them to be familiar with Rudolf Otto’s The M and loveable human being he tions (as we all used to do when we Idea of the Holy and at home with the con- was. He was not easy to get close to, were in a car with the Rav). The Rav cept of kedushah in Nachmanides; to be but that was not his doing; it was ours. listened patiently to a series of ques- cognizant of Immanuel Kant’s categorical He appeared to be so brilliant and tions beginning with “What does the learned that he was intimidating; but Rav think about...?” and finally turned Rabbi Lookstein is the rabbi of if one made the first move, the Rav to the student and said good- Congregation Kehillat Jeshurun and the was there—gentle, concerned, accessi- humoredly, “I’ll tell you what the Rav principal of the Ramaz School in ble and, in a way, loving. He was shy thinks; he thinks you should keep by Haskel Lookstein Photo courtesy of Department of Communications and Public Affairs, Manhattan. He attended Rav Soloveitchik’s and therefore happy to be approached. both of your eyes on the road.” shiur at Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak He used to write Rosh Hashanah Once a young administrator at YU he Talmud says that a moment wicked. And even if the whole world In an essay entitled “Shelichut,”1 our Elchanan from 1954 to 1958. This arti- notes to everybody by hand—never interrupted shiur to tell the Rav that before birth, an angel adminis- tells you that you are righteous, you revered teacher, Rabbi Joseph B. cle was adapted from an essay that using a printed card—until he wasn’t there was no reservation for him on T ters the following oath to every should consider yourself wicked in Soloveitchik, of blessed memory, appeared in the Kehillat Jeshurun able to hold a pen anymore. He was the flight to Boston. (It was his fetus: “Be righteous and do not be your own eyes” ( 30b). explains that this oath necessitates the Bulletin in spring 1993. extraordinarily attached to, and made responsibility to arrange the Rav’s

Spring 5763/2003 JEWISH ACTION JEWISH ACTION Spring 5763/2003 us, however, recall the teshuvah safeguard the lives of the 2.5 mil- Rav writes that Moshe Rabbeinu plead- shiur he gave in September of lion Jews who were living in Israel ed with God to be allowed to continue 1967 at the 92nd Street Y in at that time. his task and God answered him: Manhattan where he cautioned us These are among the most pro- I tell you... Generations will accept about the euphoria following the found lessons that the Rav, as a mes- your mission upon themselves and they Six Day War, and the tendency of senger of God, taught to his family, will fulfill the tradition until the end of rabbanim to render it halachically his students and to the generations time. Now, Moshe, your request: “May I forbidden to give land to the blessed by his presence. He taught cross (the Jordan) and see the Land” has Arabs. The Rav assured the thou- powerfully by words, but with equal no significance whatsoever. You see full sands who packed the auditorium magnificence by example. He was a well that a human being can never com- that he knew very well what majestic melamed—riveting, mesmer- pletely fulfill his mission in this world kedushat Eretz Yisrael was and izing, almost hypnotic in his presenta- and, therefore, it is incumbent upon you that he understood clearly the dif- tions. One could listen to him for to give up your soul immediately.2 ference between the kedushah that hours and barely realize the passage of “And Moshe died there, the servant the land intrinsically possessed time. To have the privilege of watch- of God…by the mouth of God” from the time of Abraham and ing him in informal moments or to sit (Deuteronomy 34:5). the kedushah gained during the with him at a dinner table was to Our rebbe’s life ended ten years ago, periods of Joshua and subsequent- absorb lessons in humanity, compas- on the fourth night of Pesach. It is our ly, Ezra. He said, however, that sion, integrity and nobility, which are task to take upon ourselves his she- there is a kedushah that is greater beyond description. lichut and fulfill his tradition until the than that of the Land of Israel In the same essay mentioned above, yom acharon, the end of time. JA and that is the kedushah of the the Rav writes that shelichut from God is aimonides School people of Israel. The Rav strongly endless, in the sense that one has never Notes recommended that the decision to completely fulfilled his mission. While 1. Joseph B. Soloveitchik, Yemei give land to the Arabs should be the shaliach would like to go on and Zikaron, translated by Moshe Krone based on whatever Israel’s military continue his life’s work indefinitely, this (Jerusalem, 1986). hoto coutesy of M leaders determined would better is not possible for a human being. The 2. Ibid. P (l-r) Rabbi Levi Horowitz (the Bostoner rebbe), Rav Soloveitchik, Morris Borkum and Samuel Feuerstein, president of Maimonides School. Circa 1960. flights.) “What name did you ask for?” Radcliffe, and that he would make the Rav questioned. “I asked for Rabbi sure that it was possible. And it was. Joseph B. Soloveitchik,” the adminis- His approach to pesak—decision- He used to write trator responded. The Rav laughed making in matters of Jewish law—fur- and said, “I never make reservations in ther demonstrated his compassion. Rosh Hashanah that name. Nobody knows how to When studying Yoreh Deah with us, spell it. Ask if there is a reservation for the Rav said that when presented with notes to everybody Joe Solo!”–whereupon the class, along a question in kashrut, it was not the with the Rav, erupted in laughter. rabbi’s job to say treif, throw out the by hand until he The Rav was a ba’al tzedakah, gener- dishes. Rather, it was his job to search ous to a variety of causes and individu- for opinions that would help spare wasn’t able to hold als. He gave of his time to people who people losses and hardship. needed him, granting advice in times of The Rav was a centrist; he was a pen anymore. crisis and comfort in times of tragedy. opposed to extremism in religion and In the early years of Maimonides politics. He was tolerant of those with School, one of the seniors was accept- whom he did not agree and had cerned about the tendency to ed to Radcliffe. The student came friends in other movements of make political decisions on the from a home of modest means, and it Judaism. One such friend was Rabbi basis of messianic expectations. was expected that upon her high Joseph Shubo, a Conservative rabbi in He saw the State of Israel as a his- school graduation she would work to Boston, about whom the Rav spoke toric opportunity, and believed it help support the family. When the and to whom he dedicated a shiur should be appreciated as a mani- Rav heard of this, he called her par- upon the friend’s passing. festation of Divine providence as ents into his office and told them, He was passionate about the he wrote most eloquently in his kindly but firmly, that she must go to State of Israel but extremely con- essay “Kol Dodi Dofek.” Many of

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