The Baal HaTurim writes that since the holy Aron was constructed to contain the Luchos, it is symbolic of the talmid chacham, who contains the Torah inside of him. The measurements of the Aron were given in half amos (2.5 x 1.5 x 1.5) as compared with the other keilim, to reflect that a Torah scholar must maintain his humility inside and out and always see himself in half-measures (chatzi shiur) – not living up to his full potential. There’s always more to learn.
Once, an elderly talmid chacham came to Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer zt”l, author of Even HaEzel, and presented him with his “final Torah thoughts.” He explained that he had recently become blind and could no longer write. His doctors had told him that, physically, he had been blind for ten years already! However, he hadn’t noticed until now.
Rav Isser Zalman asked him what had changed. The man answered that he had always learned Gemara with great m’siras nefesh. He maintained a very demanding, exacting level of iyun. Recently, he started taking things a bit more easily, reciting Gemaros without seeing them inside and not analyzing them so deeply. Once he stopped straining himself, his eyes stopped working. For ten years, his m’siras nefesh granted him the miraculous ability to see!
The Rachmastrivka Rebbe, Rav Chai Yitzchok Twersky zy”a, was a talmid who learned under Rav Isser Zalman for a number of years. Renowned for his k’dushah and humility, the Rachmastrivka Rebbe was also an outstanding talmid chacham, with extensive knowledge in every area of Torah. Rav Shlomo Zalman Friedman shlita, the Santover Rav of Lakewood, recalls that he when he was bachur, he learned in a “Litvish” yeshivah under a renowned maggid shiur. During one shiur, the maggid shiur mentioned a s’vara, a particular concept, in the name of Rav Isser Zalman; later, he went and shared it with the Rachmastrivka Rebbe. The Rebbe, a talmid of Rav Isser Zalman, heard the s’vara and replied that it was not precise – it needed to be said with a different kneitsch, a slightly different emphasis than the way the maggid shiur had presented it. He told him how Rav Isser Zalman had really said it. Rav Shlomo Zalman went back and told him what the Rebbe had said, and the maggid shiur was stunned. “Who told this to you? Who did you hear it from?” He said he heard it from the Rachmastrivka Rebbe. The maggid shiur marveled, “Vos?? I never knew the Rebbe was such a lamdan!”
It was well known that many outstanding talmidei chachamim, great scholars and thinkers, including some misnagdim, would come to “test” the Rebbe after hearing that he was a tremendous lamdan. Subsequently, many of them became the Rebbe’s chasidim. One of the most eminent lamdanim in Yeshivas Bais Hatalmud, and later a maggid shiur in Bais Dovid of Monsey, once came to the Rachmastrivka Rebbe and began to speak with him in learning; he came back a few more times and was so amazed by the Rebbe’s penetrating wisdom and depth that he became one of his biggest chasidim. This once Litvish maggid shiur began to come almost regularly to the tish on Friday night
When the Rachmastrivka Rebbe visited Lakewood, New Jersey, many years ago, a large reception was held in his honor. The rosh yeshivah of Beth Medrash Govoha, Rav Yerucham Olshin shlita attended the event and sat down right next to the Rebbe. In his hand he held a large, framed photo, which he showed to the Rebbe. Of course, all the participants began to crowd around the dais, curious to see which picture the rosh yeshivah was showing the Rachmastrivka Rebbe.
Rav Yerucham showed the Rebbe the picture and told him that this photo hangs in his home: It was of his grandfather, Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, in the midst of saying a shiur to a group of bachurim, many of whom were visible in the picture. The rosh yeshivah said that he never found out who were the people in the shiur and, since the Rebbe was a talmid of his zeide, he was hoping the Rebbe could tell him the names of the bachurim who appeared in the picture.
The Rachmastrivka Rebbe gazed intently at the picture and began to name the bachurim one by one. Then he stopped when he reached one face. He smiled and remarked, “Ich mein ich bin dos, I think this is me.”
Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
