HOW RAV AHARON BECAME A TALMID OF THE BERDITCHEVER
Rav Yitzchok Neshchizer related one Shabbos during the month of Menachem Av how the holy Rav Araleh (Aharon) of Zhitomir was originally a talmid of the Vilna Gaon. However, that path was unacceptable to his heart. He heard that in Zelichov there was a certain Rav Levi Yitzchok who ran a Yeshiva there. (The Berditchever was still Rav in Zelichov at the time).
Rav Araleh visited his Yeshiva, and there the Berditchever saw him from far away, five seats away from him, and did not even turn toward him at all. Even though all of Rav Araleh’s questions were good and right on target, Rav Levi Yitzchok initially paid him no heed and he did not answer him. He said that as long as he had in him even a vestige of haughtiness or arrogance, he would not draw him close.
Afterward, when the Berditchever felt that he had refined himself enough, he drew him close and sat Rav Aharon next to him. They studied together the Gemora that relates that if one finds a bill of debt that proves liability, why should he not return it? The Berditchever explained this to Rav Aharon as: “If you find your own liability, why should you not return to Hashem and repent fully?!”
(Zichron Tov – MeAvodas HaTzaddikim #4, Page 12).
