They say that R’ Gershon made 1,000 Shiduchim, and not one divorce. He would pick out a Bachur and a girl at random, and match them. A son of such a union told me that his father and mother are totally incompatible, yet there is 100% Shalom Bayis. Also, his Talmidim were taught about breaking Middos, and they pride themselves with always being M’vater. R’ Gershon once met an Adam Gadol, who was a Rosh Yeshiva of a famous Yeshiva. The Rosh Yeshiva boasted about his high Madrega in Torah. But R’ Gershon boasted that he had zero divorce rate.
I knew a Novardoker Adam Gadol who was married to an extremely difficult woman. She had suffered in WWII, and was not 100%. He never had an argument with her. Once, she once told her daughters (in his presence) to wear manlike pajamas (pants) in front of him. He didn’t say a word to her, but privately he told his daughters that this isn’t allowed. People once asked him why he doesn’t divorce, and he replied that the children wouldn’t be safe under his wife’s care.
He said that a couple without arguments produces Menucha, which is like Gan Eden.
R’ Chaim Mordechai Wainkrantz was once approached by a woman who told him that her son was in a lot of pain. He glanced at the boy’s face, and he asserted that this is because he is M’chalel Shabbos. The boy was in total shock. He used to take hot showers on Shabbos, in a place that was impossible to be seen. As soon as he stopped doing this, his pain disappeared.
R’ Wainkrantz once had had a massive heart attack. The doctor said that his heart was made out of paper, and it was impossible to live like this. Yet, he led a long and productive life. A Baal Bitachon gets different service. Once he was in the hospital getting potassium shots, an excruciatingly painful procedure. Yet, they couldn’t see the slightest pain or discomfort on his face.
They asked him about this, and he said that it’s a pleasure to have some more pain in THIS world rather than Gehinom. This is what 3-4 hours Mussar daily produces. (He used to insist on the Ma'ala of 3 hours of Mussar, in the name of R' Chatzkel Levenstein Zatzal). I personally believe in the possibility of these Madregos, if you work on believing in the power of Tefila.
I have been davening that Hashem should help us bring back Novardok: ב כ לֹֹתוק פ הֹֹּ ו ה ד ר ֹהּ in its full gloryּ. Recently, a Vaad was formed in Monsey where 7 Yungerleit get together 5 times weekly with good old Novardoker Birur HaMiddos, and they all love it. They also learn Mussar B'hispa'alus for half an hour each time. I never believed such a thing was possible. Keep davening!
R’ Gurwitz used to do the Russian Kazatske at all Chasunas. This was called a “Prat” in Novardok, when you are Mafkir your Kavod; especially when it is M'sameach others. He was a very handy person (R’ Gershon encouraged: מ יל יֹֹד ע ל מ א general know-how, like knowing how to drive a car). The Alter held that just as only potential Chametz can be Matza (Gemara ...)
