By Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum
Rav Chaim Greengrass z”l studied in the yeshiva Tiferes Yerushalayim for nearly forty years and enjoyed a personal chavrusa (study partnership) with the Mashgiach, Rav Michoel Birnbaum zt”l. Of course, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, the Rosh Yeshiva, was around in those days. Rav Chaim personally attested to the following incident involving Rav Moshe.
A disagreement arose between two individuals, and it was decided to present the matter to Rav Moshe, who would give the final ruling. After doing so, Rav Moshe received a phone call. “I am Rav so-and-so,” said the man calling, “and I want to mention that with regard to the Din Torah which the Rosh Yeshiva ruled on, it’s contrary to an explicit Gemara!” Rav Moshe wanted to ask which Gemara he was referring to, but before he could, the phone went silent.
Rav Moshe Gave a Glowing Haskama
A few months later, the same Rav who had called approached Rav Moshe seeking a haskama (approbation) for a sefer he had just written. Rav Moshe went on to give the Rav a glowing haskama, well beyond the expectations of someone who had just recently disrespectfully phoned him.
Eventually, it was time for the Rav to go, and Rav Moshe seized the opportunity. “Please tell me,” asked Rav Moshe, “what is the explicit Gemara you were referring to?” The Rav looked at Rav Moshe confused. “I have no idea what the Rosh Yeshiva is talking about. I never made such a phone call to the Rosh Yeshiva.”
As it soon became clear, an imposter had called Rav Moshe, using the name of this Rav.
But one question still lingered for Rav Moshe. “Being that all along you thought this was the Rav who made that phone call, how did you go on to give him a haskama, let alone such a warm and praiseworthy haskama?”
Rav Moshe responded rather simply. “It didn’t make a difference. That night, before I said Krias Shema Al Ha’Mitah (the Shema before retiring to sleep), I forgave him. And therefore, I had no ill feelings against him anyway, so even if it was him, I let it go and I gave him the haskama.”
Every night, before we nod off to sleep, we have the opportunity to remove from our heart any ill feelings that might remain entrenched in our heart. Sometimes it might be easy, sometimes it might be hard. But it’s always worth it.
Reprinted from the Parshat Shelach 5784 email of the Torahanytimes.com Newsletter.
