By Rabbi Yechiel Spero
Yoram Eliav, a popular fifteen-year-old, did what all normal irreligious teens do. That is, until his family became more and more interested in learning about Torah, Shabbos, and Hashem, and Yoram came along happily.
Tragically, just as he and his family were getting their bearings in Yiddishkeit, Yoram was hit by a car and killed. Three thousand people showed up to his funeral. His family spoke about his sweetness and the purity of his soul. And instead of turning their anger toward the Al-mighty, they did the opposite.
Knowing how much Yoram loved Torah and Yiddishkeit, they began to host classes for young men and women in their home in his memory. One day, they invited Rav Aryeh Schechter, talmid of the Chazon Ish and the Brisker Rav, who was also a featured lecturer for Arachim and other outreach organizations, to inspire the gathering.
About 200 teenagers showed up. Rav Aryeh was supposed to speak for a half-hour, but the audience encouraged him to continue. He continued for another half-hour, and when he saw they were still thirsty for more, he spoke for yet another half-hour.
Notebook with Stunning Compilation of Inspiring Songs
At the lecture’s end, Yoram’s friends showed Rav Aryeh a notebook, a stunning compilation of nine songs written by Yoram two months before he died. Rav Aryeh flipped through the notebook and was amazed at what he saw. The songs were thoughtful and deep. But one song stuck out.
“When we were younger, we would think. But when we got older, they gave us toys so we would stop thinking. But I was not convinced. I continued to think. Chashavti ve’chashavti, chashavti ve’chashavti — I thought and I thought, I thought and I thought, until I reached a conclusion. It was worthwhile for me to come to This World to reveal Who created it.”
Rav Aryeh could not believe what he was reading. A fifteen-year-old with such an exalted soul! And now, thanks to Yoram’s yearning and longing, all of these teenagers had just spent an hour and a half listening to a Torah lecture from Rav Aryeh. Who knew how far it would lead?
Years later, Rav Aryeh was invited to give a series of classes in Rechasim on the topic of faith, based on the Chazon Ish’s sefer, Emunah U’Bitachon. In the course of his speech, he told the story of Yoram and the magnificent songs he wrote. He even repeated the song “Chashavti,” which he had memorized long ago.
After the class, two men came over to him and asked if he remembered them. He looked at them and tried to recall when and where he had met them, but he could not.
“We came to the class you gave after Yoram died.”
Rav Aryeh still did not recognize them — because they looked quite different. Back then, they were irreligious teenagers. Now, they were yungeleit! Then they added, “You will never believe what happened. Just about all 200 teenagers who came to that lecture became baalei teshuvah and are raising beautiful, Torah’dike families.”
Rav Aryeh contemplated, “Who is the one responsible for all of them returning to their roots? It all goes back to one teenage boy who decided to make a cheshbon hanefesh. Yoram gets the credit.”
TAKEAWAY: We can all grow, as long as we stop for one moment and think. Who knows how far it will take — not just us, but others who will be swept along as well?
Reprinted from the Parshas Re’eh 5783 edition of At the Artscroll Shabbos Table. Excerpted from the Artscroll book – “The Eternal Wisdom of Pirkei Avos.”
