After WWI there was upheaval all over Russia; the whites and reds were killing each other, and the streets were dangerous and bloody. The whites were especially anti-Semitic. The Alter of Novardok Zatzal was at a train station, and a train full of whites pulled up. The Alter’s Talmid was standing next to him, and his face paled with fear. So the Alter Davka went over to the General, and asked him for a light for his cigarette!
I was told that R' Gershon would not kick out the tough Talmidim who gave him trouble. He had great hopes for them. And Novardokers pride themselves with their ability to tolerate chutzpa. Of course, everything has its limits. But a lot of their Talmidim don’t bother them at all. It goes over their heads, and they Shteig in working on their Middos.
They say that the best thing you can do for your child [or Talmid] is to show your own control over yourself. When you are involved in disciplining others, you don’t realize how your own age-old Ga'ava, Ka'as, Ak'shanus, and taking N'kama gets involved. R' Nosson Wachtfogel Zatzal once told me that with bad Middos you can’t be M'chanech children. Of course, there is a time for being strict; and as soft as Novardokers can be, they still believe that children should know their place and should have Hachna'a.
R' Gershon was able to make a rag out of himself, and still maintain his dignity. If a different person would put himself down the way R' Gershon did, it could be a disaster. He was a Melech and a general, and at the same time he was as soft as butter and sweet as can be.
He was a non-stop smiler, because of the Simcha and sheer pleasure that all his hours and hours of Mussar gave him. He was once trying to be M'karev a depressed person, and he gave him loads of Kavod, since he considered the lack of Kavod to be the #1 cause for depression. Then he smiled to this person, hoping that his own Simcha would affect this person’s sour mood.
He would do Pratim non-stop. Every move he made; was anti-Kavod. Most of his Pratim were normal behaviors, but they do the job of rebelling against the lust for recognition. Like leaving a button open, or eating heartily in public. You would never see him with a Gemara; only a Chumash or Mishnayos. However, when a beginners-Gemara was printed [it had a special translation for beginners] he would get one and make sure to be seen with it. He told me that he’s embarrassed to be seen with it. It’s hard to believe that he was embarrassed the same way we are. He was “doing his thing”, in his lifetime-war against Kavod. No wonder he was so happy at all times! ַה ִק ְנ ָא ַה ה ַתּ ֲא ָו ְו ה ַה ָכּ וֹבד מוֹ ִצ ִאי ֶא ןי ָה ת ָא ָד ִמ ם ָה ןעוֹ ָל ם “Kavod” [literally] takes a person out of the world! Someone was once having a Machlokes with him, and he remarked: “How can you be upset with an Am-HaAretz like me?”
The Alter of Slabodka Zatzal suffered from a terrible rebelliousness in his Yeshiva, and he went through Gehinom. Yet, he never got angry, and always continued to love everybody and see good even in the worst people.
Savlanus, Savlanus, Savlanus. R' Gershon used to tell me how he tries to copy Hashem who tolerates so much evil, and yet He still gives and gives. Kindness non-stop. Always giving in. No debates!
