The Lomza Yeshivah [in Poland], founded in 1883, was unique for many reasons, among them - in its later years - the unusual tzidkus and yashrus (saintliness and integrity) of the Mashgiach, R’ Moshe Rosenstain zt”l. [1881-1940]
Whoever learned in the Lomza Yeshivah will never forget the way the Mashgiach walked the aisles between the shtenders for hours on end. The Yeshivah probably had one of the longest batei medrashim of all the yeshivos in Europe, stretching scores of meters lengthwise from the entrance door at the rear to the “Mizrach vant” (Eastern Wall) all the way upfront.
For hours, the Mashgiach would pace that aisle back and forth, for miles - literally - every single day. Among the products of his pure intellectual searching was his intense love for Hakadosh Baruch Hu. One of the talmidim recalls: “We talmidim knew that before us stood a holy man of the highest madreiga, whose mind never entertained a machshava beteila (idle thought).
A Genius in Mussar and Kedusha
In spite of his effort to hide his tzidkus, we were keenly aware of his genius in mussar and kedusha. We were certain that he had overcome any tendency to material, earthly desires, for he was totally immersed in spirituality and the ways of Hashem.”
The city of Lomza was located on a hilltop, at the foot of which runs the Narev River. Every morning, R’ Moshe would stand at his window, quietly contemplating and watching the sun rise across the river, to appreciate the glory of the renewal of Maaseh Bereishis, the Almighty’s act of Creation.
Able to Perceive What Others Could Not See
Through his great Yiras Shamayim and humility, he was able to perceive things that normal human beings could not. Unlike the common practice of swaying during davening, he would stand motionless, ramrod straight, during the entire davening.
His Shemona Esrai was a lesson in total devotion and concentration. One Friday morning, after Shemona Esrai, he suddenly broke out weeping, whispering, “We’ve lost him!” Nobody knew what he was referring to. Four hours later, a telegram arrived that the holy Chofetz Chaim zt”l was niftar.
One day, as R’ Moshe was walking back and forth in the Yeshivah aisle, he suddenly stopped and announced, “This week no one should go swimming!” (During the summer, the boys would go swimming in the river, especially on Fridays.) One boy did not hear the Mashgiach’s statement - or for whatever reason chose to ignore it and went swimming - and drowned.
The Professor’s Question
R’ Moshe’s ability to “read” faces was legendary. Once a professor of psychology met him and asked how one can recognize the face of a murderer. Sometimes his facial features and expressions are so delicate, you would never think that the man is capable of brutality.
R’ Moshe replied, “To a murderer, killing a person is like slicing a piece of challah, like killing a fly. Yet, at some point in his life, this same man is struck with a spark of remorse, a moment of teshuvah, and then there is a change in his face. He no longer has the face of a murderer. That is the sensitivity you discern.”
One of the bachurim in Lomza was a boy named Aaron Gildin, a happy fellow whose face was always graced with a smile. He would greet people with a pleasant countenance and kind words, a pure and gentle soul.
On one occasion, he entered the Mashgiach’s room to ask him if he would like to send a telegram to a talmid in honor of his chasuna (wedding). R’ Moshe was happy to oblige and after he wrote the text for a message, the Mashgiach dismissed the boy. Suddenly, he turned to his son-in-law, R’ Leib Pruskin zt”l, who was present in the room at the time, and asked him if he had noticed anything unusual about Aaron Gildin’s face.
R’ Leib replied, “No. He seems as happy as ever.”
The next day, Friday, Aaron began to experience terrible pains. A doctor was summoned, but he could not determine the cause. On Shabbos, the boy requested to see the Rosh Yeshivah and the Mashgiach. The Rosh Yeshivah, R’ Yehoshua Zelig Ruch zt”l, came at once (R’ Yechiel Mordechai Gordon zt”l was then in America).
The bochurim hesitated disturbing the Mashgiach, but R’ Leib Pruskin, recalling his father-in-law’s remark the day before, called R’ Moshe at once. After talking to the boy for a minute, the Mashgiach asked everyone to leave the room, and then continued to talk to Aaron for several hours. The bochur then turned his head to the wall, and returned his pure neshama to heaven, leaving this world in a state of teshuvah.
Reprinted from the Parshas Beha’alosecha 5782 email of Rabbi Dovid Hoffman’s Torah Tavlin.