Anything For A Talmid - Monthly Gedolim Stories
We are now well on into Sukkos. With the memories of the first few days of another great Yom Tov already immortalized and etched into our minds, hearts and souls, we now turn our attention towards Hoshana Raba, Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah. We look forward towards more great memories, more wonderful moments and more beautiful experiences in the next half of this glorious festival.
It is with much excitement now, that I present the first installment of this years "Monthly Gedolim Stories" segment. This one, while it is a story from long, long ago, has within it timeless beauty, elegance and light and is especially beautiful for this time of year because it is about Simchas Torah.
Originally featured in Rabbi Yechiel Spero's first book "Touched by A Story Volume 1, the story features two saintly Gedolim - the legendary Chafetz Chaim and his equally legendary talmid, the great Reb Elchonon Wasserman.
I hope you enjoy the story.
Wishing you all the very best with the hope that the rest of this great Yom Tov is filled with bracha and joy for you and your families.
All the absolute greatest blessings,
Your Friend,
Yitzy Schweitzer
It was to be the last Simchas Torah of the Chafetz Chaims life. He was ninety-two years old, and his strength was diminishing by the day. For this Yom Tov, for these joyous days, one of his closest disciples, Rav Elchonon Wasserman, who himself was considered a leading figure of the time and one of the Gedolei Hador, came to Radib to be with his Holy Rebbe. The short distance to the Beis Medrash would not normally be a problem for the great Chafetz Chaim and would never stop him from attending Hakofos, but now, so weak and frail was he that he could no longer manage the walk.
There was much begging and pleading from those surrounding him, yet the aged sage would not be persuaded. It was then suggested that a few young men carry their Rebbe on a chair into the Beis Medrash. They would not ask him to stand and dance but rather, sit and lend his presence. Still, the holy Chafetz Chaim refused to go.
Finally, Reb Elchonon spoke to his beloved Rebbe. It was surreal, unforgettable. Reb Elchonon, a towering figure, speaking to the Chafetz Chaim, a spiritual giant, buy yet diminutive in appearance. As the Chafetz Chaim peered up at his talmid, Reb Elchonon spoke, his eyes and voice suffused with love and devotion. The Rebbe and talmid spoke briefly, and immediately afterwards, the Chafetz Chaim agreed to attend Hakofos.
What had Reb Elchonon said? What could have possibly changed the mind of the Chafetz Chaims mind?
The students lifted him up on a chair and carried him out of the house, down the street and into the Beis Medrash. The moment they brought him in, the entire room lit up with an energy, a light, an excitement unlike anything anyone present had ever felt or experienced before. The electric atmosphere sparked up the dancing as circles formed around Reb Elchonon and his Rebbe. The towering talmid danced in front of his mentor by first crouching low, as low as he could in front of him, and then as he came closer, rising up like a tidal wave to stand tall and energised facing his saintly twacher. The Chafetz Chaim, frail and weak, sat almost motionless, a warm smile on his face.
Then, it was over. Over, with the memories, energy, and holiness of that night, etched into the minds of all who were privileged to see it.
Reb Elchonon, together with a select group of talmidim, carried the elderly sage home. As they brought him back into the house, the exhausted Chafetz Chaim wished them a 'Gut Yom Tov' and bid them farewell. Walking out the door, one of the younger students turned to Reb Elchonon, who now took on the appearance of the teacher he was and not the student he had just been. "Rebi, how did you convince the Chafetz Chaim to come celebrate Hakofos with us when none of us were able to do so?"
It is with much excitement now, that I present the first installment of this years "Monthly Gedolim Stories" segment. This one, while it is a story from long, long ago, has within it timeless beauty, elegance and light and is especially beautiful for this time of year because it is about Simchas Torah.
Originally featured in Rabbi Yechiel Spero's first book "Touched by A Story Volume 1, the story features two saintly Gedolim - the legendary Chafetz Chaim and his equally legendary talmid, the great Reb Elchonon Wasserman.
I hope you enjoy the story.
Wishing you all the very best with the hope that the rest of this great Yom Tov is filled with bracha and joy for you and your families.
All the absolute greatest blessings,
Your Friend,
Yitzy Schweitzer
Anything for a Talmid - Monthly Gedolim Stories
There was much begging and pleading from those surrounding him, yet the aged sage would not be persuaded. It was then suggested that a few young men carry their Rebbe on a chair into the Beis Medrash. They would not ask him to stand and dance but rather, sit and lend his presence. Still, the holy Chafetz Chaim refused to go.
Finally, Reb Elchonon spoke to his beloved Rebbe. It was surreal, unforgettable. Reb Elchonon, a towering figure, speaking to the Chafetz Chaim, a spiritual giant, buy yet diminutive in appearance. As the Chafetz Chaim peered up at his talmid, Reb Elchonon spoke, his eyes and voice suffused with love and devotion. The Rebbe and talmid spoke briefly, and immediately afterwards, the Chafetz Chaim agreed to attend Hakofos.
What had Reb Elchonon said? What could have possibly changed the mind of the Chafetz Chaims mind?
The students lifted him up on a chair and carried him out of the house, down the street and into the Beis Medrash. The moment they brought him in, the entire room lit up with an energy, a light, an excitement unlike anything anyone present had ever felt or experienced before. The electric atmosphere sparked up the dancing as circles formed around Reb Elchonon and his Rebbe. The towering talmid danced in front of his mentor by first crouching low, as low as he could in front of him, and then as he came closer, rising up like a tidal wave to stand tall and energised facing his saintly twacher. The Chafetz Chaim, frail and weak, sat almost motionless, a warm smile on his face.
Then, it was over. Over, with the memories, energy, and holiness of that night, etched into the minds of all who were privileged to see it.
Reb Elchonon, together with a select group of talmidim, carried the elderly sage home. As they brought him back into the house, the exhausted Chafetz Chaim wished them a 'Gut Yom Tov' and bid them farewell. Walking out the door, one of the younger students turned to Reb Elchonon, who now took on the appearance of the teacher he was and not the student he had just been. "Rebi, how did you convince the Chafetz Chaim to come celebrate Hakofos with us when none of us were able to do so?"
"I tried to persuade him like you did, and nothing worked," Reb Elchonon responded. "But then I told him that the talmidim would be saddened if he did not come. When I mentioned their disappointment, he immediately changed his mind because to the Chafetz Chaim, nothing in the world was as important as a talmid."
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