I heard this from R’ Wainkranz. A person who is constantly learning Shaar HaBitachon and keeps reviewing: ָכּ ַמ ל ְד ה ָﬠ ֵב ַר די ְח ָמ ָנ ְל א ַט ָﬠ ב ֵביד ברכות ס ב whatever Hashem does is for the best, is a totally different creature. And the more times you review Emuna the better it is. I have seen R’ Gershon’s Talmidim in the worst situations, when life takes a turn for the worse, and their high level of Simcha and potential to always laugh; remained intact!
On the yahrzeit of the Satmar Rebbe, R’ Yoel Teitelbaum, R’ Gershon would fly to the states and come to Monroe, N.Y. He was an admirer of the Satmar Rebbe who wasn’t afraid of the Velt, and didn’t worry about public opinion when he expressed his Shita ideology against Zionism and a Medina State of leaders who are Godless. I was in Monroe to see R’ Gershon, and we were going towards the main room where everyone was sitting and eating L’chavod the yahrzeit. It was a large crowd, and you had to make your way through them, especially R’ Gershon who had a seat on the dais. He invited me to join him, and he stretched out his hand to take mine. He said with a smile: “It’s not easy in this place. Let’s hold hands and to together”.
A person who is always fighting the silliness of Kavod, becomes normal and Geshmak! He isn’t afraid to eat heartily in public. He isn’t afraid of public speaking, even if he isn’t a great speaker. He acts public without all kinds of inhibitions and phobias and worries about: ַמ ֹי ה ְמארוּ ַה ְבּ ִריוֹ ת what will people say about me? He is an Anav; and is a warm, natural person.
Once, I saw R’ Gershon at a Seudas Mitzva, and he was about to Bentch. He didn’t have his regular Ba’kovod’ike Homberg hat to Bentch with, so he took a Bachur’s hat, and put it on his head! It looked somewhat ludicrous, but in Novardok you did a “Prat” whenever you felt: םָצְמוּצְמ restricted in the jail of הַמ תוֹיִרְבַּה וּרְמאֹי approval of others.
R’ Gershon did all kinds of “Pratim” all his life, yet he never lost his dignity; and people respected him. That’s why it’s called a “Prat”. If people like us would do these things, it may Chas V’shalom become a “Klal”, meaning a reflection of your general mental balance.
Feeling uncomfortable has a lot to do with: תוֹיִרְבַּה וּרְמאֹי הַמ people will say: “Who is this guy?”, and you may feel somewhat under pressure. Notice how at any affair, nobody seems to eat at the dais. You don’t look Chashuv when you eat, and who wants to risk losing Kavod!
