הרה"ג מו"ר ר' אהרן שעכטר זצוק"ל ז' אלול תשפ"ג
I have no words to express my lifetime admiration for this Tzaddik. I have a few stories that I personally experienced. I was in Camp Morris, standing next to a Chashuva Yungerman after davening Mincha, and R' Ahron Zatzal pointed to me, hinting that becoming friendly with this person would be good for my own self-esteem. I had the same experience with R’ Shia Fishman Zatzal, who encouraged me (as a lonely Bachur) to become friendly with a Chashuva Bachur who was “one of the boys”.
This is extremely important! Don’t be an “Anav” who hangs around those easy relationships (of course sometimes this is the biggest Mitzva). Hanging around Chachomim and more “in” types can give you more Chochma (especially in Limud HaTorah). It will help you improve your invaluable Yesod in all Avodas Hashem...Gadlus HaAdam!
Story
I saw him in Camp Morris in a wheelchair, with all kinds of medical paraphernalia around him, and I wished him a Refua Shleima. He yelled: “Who says I’m a Choleh?!” This is very much my M'halech, and it has saved me (and others) loads of times from serious problems, Chas V'shalom. This is why I avoid doctors. They make a person an official Choleh, which makes things worse, Rachmana Litzlan.
The Steipler Zatzal avoided doctors, and said that he wouldn’t be alive at his age had he gone to them. He said that he had many potential maladies, and with time they disappeared. Of course, every person is on a different level. I had Rabbeim who guided me.
When Mesivta Rabeinu Chaim Berlin was in Far Rockaway, the Yeshiva was a block away from my house. Once, I was standing on a ladder building a succah in my backyard, and suddenly some of my friends popped in to visit me. I was perhaps overly Lebedik as a teenager, and I screamed: “Hey! Hey!” Just then, R' Ahron happened to be there, and my friends started laughing, somewhat embarrassed. Of course, I was turning colors, being “caught in the act.” R' Ahron laughed, and said: “Kol Terua!” Then, he added: “Aderaba, this shows: רֵ יעוּת friendship and camaraderie”. Here you have an example of the Slabodka Ayin Tova and good humor. This is the Derech. You can always turn a: גְנַאי minus into a: שְבַח plus, and you always look to find good. זְכוּתוֹ יָגֵן עָלֵינוּ, אָמֵן May his merit protect over us, Amen.
