Rav Dov Katz, the author of Tenuas Hamussar, writes about the Beis HaTalmud of Kelm. Much of the information is attributed to Rav Elya Lopian, who learned there.
One of the values emphasized in Beis HaTalmud was the importance of cleanliness and order. The talmidim were always neat and organized; their clothes were spotless, shoes shined, and they adhered to modern etiquette. The Alter of Kelm, Rav Simcha Zissel, considered this part of promoting kiddush Hashem and increasing respect for bnei Torah.
Beis HaTalmud did not hire cleaning staff. Maintaining order was the job of the talmidim. Different talmidim would be assigned to keep the yeshivah’s premises organized, to sweep and scrub the floors, and to draw water from the river. It was considered an honor to be assigned one of these tasks; occasionally, the coveted assignments were sold on Rosh Hashanah, and the competition was intense.
Rav Elya himself faithfully followed the teachings of his rebbe until the very end of his life. Even at the age of 83, when he was blind in one eye, he always dressed immaculately. Although he lived in an area plagued by fierce winds and a high dust content in the air, which left layers of dust on most people’s clothing, his own garments were always spotless.
Reproduced from A Life Worth Living by Rabbi Shraga Freedman with permission of the copyright holders, ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
