NOVARDOK
Ratzon Hashem is #1 in Novardok; Not Your Personal Retzonos
In Novardok, status meant nothing. Of course they are respectful of everyone, but they didn't fall for the Velt's weaknesses of worshipping “rising stars” and people of stature. We recently spoke about a certain Yid who had learned in Novardok. After the war, he lived in Bnei Brak and became an 8th grade Rebbe. We mentioned how he ran away from Kavod, and refused to get involved in any-way with a brand-name bachur.
In the same way, he had no interest in a top shiur, and he taught younger boys. Ratzon Hashem is #1 in Novardok; not your personal Retzonos, which even in Ruchaniyus can be full of Negi'os. He was a major Masmid, who also gave several Daf Yomi Shiurim daily. He came home every night at 11:00 pm, and he used to disappear in a quiet room and learn Mussar B'hispa'alus for at least 1½ an hour.
His Mussar Seder was fire, and many times his son heard him crying during this Seder. He was also very involved in constantly thanking Hashem for tiny Mitzvos, and every Amen that he said was a big Simcha in his life. He was always learning Masechta Kiddushin with his Talmidim. Once, his son mentioned to him that people will think that all he knows is Kiddushin.
He told his son that he learns what's good for his Talmidim. He was most familiar with the Shakla V'tarya of Kiddushin, so he decided to spend his life testing children Davka on that Masechta. R' Avrohom Pam Zatzal was a Gadol B'torah, and yet he spent the lion's share of his time with the Masechtos that catered to his Talmidim.
R' Galinsky Zatzal was a big admirer of Rav Pam Zatzal. R' Pam indeed hated Kavod. Despite his greatness, he never wore a long Beged that is fitting for a Rosh Yeshiva, and he wore a simple bent down hat. I once asked him for a Bracha, and he got upset and he said, "Maybe I should get a Bracha from you?"
He was once speaking publicly in Lakewood, and he quoted a Yerushalmi. Then he laughed and said “I barely know Bavli, and here I am quoting Yerushalmi?!” He ran away from Machlokes like a true Anav who admits that everyone is better than him. He also had plenty of Menucha and Simcha, and he wasn't the type who jumps all over the place trying to take over the world.
21 אורחות צדיקים (שער השמחה) לכן ישים כל אדם שמחתו על התורה בעת שיעשה המצות ישמח בלבו על שזכה להיות עבד למלך עליון אשר בני מעלה ישתחוו לו. וכן אמר דוד (תהלים קיט קסב) שָׂשׂ אָנֹכִי עַל אִמְרָתֶךָ כְּמוֹצֵא שָׁלָל רָב. וכל העושה מצוה בשמחה יש לו שכר אלף ידות יותר ממי שהמצוה עליו למשא. כאברהם ודוד שכל היום כולו היו עוסקים בתורה ומפארים ומשבחים בשירות ותשבחות להקב"ה להרים קול בשמחה. ואז מצליח בכל דרכיו וטוב טעמיו ושולח הקב"ה רוח הקודש בקרבו ולבו שמח ומתמלא אהבת הקב"ה ונפשו קשורה בגילה, ומגלה להם רזים וחידושים של מעלה לפי שהיה ירא השם ב"ה.