Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner and Rabbi Aharon Kotler of blessed memories
Rav Shimon Finkelman relates a story that Rav Yitzchak Hutner, zt”l, the Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivah Chaim Berlin, once related to Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, the Rosh Yeshivah of Bais Medrash Gavoha.
In the late 1800’s, a Lithuanian Jew was looking to find a Shidduch for his daughter. Someone suggested a certain young man who was known to be a Yirei Shamayim and was very diligent, who was learning in a Lithuanian Yeshivah. However, his intellectual abilities were below average.
The man wondered if he should consider this bachur for his daughter, and he decided to seek the advice of Rav Yehoshua Leib Diskin, zt”l, the Rav of Brisk. Rav Yehoshua Leib listened to this man’s question, and he responded, “Chazal have taught us in Pirkei Avos (4:11) that whoever fulfills the Torah through poverty, will ultimately fulfill it in wealth.
“The Meforshim make it clear that in this context, ‘poverty’ also refers to one who is lacking intellectually. One whose natural intellect is deficient, but he learns Torah Lishmah with diligence, will ultimately be given new capabilities for learning that is far beyond what he is naturally able to do. He will then learn in ‘wealth,’ and grow great in Torah.”
Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin, zt”l
The man listened to Rav Yehoshua Leib, and the shidduch was made, and the wedding took place shortly after. And just as Rav Yehoshua Leib had said, this young man eventually reached greatness in Torah. He was Rav Yosef Zundel Salant, zt”l, the Rav of Aishishok, and the Mechaber of Chedrei Dei’ah to Shulchan Aruch and other works.
Rav Kotler was Crying Profusely
As soon as Rav Hutner finished telling this story, Rav Aharon Kotler hurried out of the room. He did not return, so Rav Hutner went to see if something was wrong. He looked for a little, and he found Rav Aharon crying profusely.
Rav Hutner asked what the problem was, and Rav Aharon, barely able to speak as he wept, responded, “This sort of wealth that you mentioned, I did not merit it.”
Years later, Rav Hutner explained that Rav Aharon was born a genius, and he could not possibly “learn Torah in poverty”, as he had never known such poverty. However, through his own diligence and toil, Rav Aharon merited to experience a special delight in learning Torah, that actually radiated from within him, and this was visible to everyone.
The Joy of the Saying the Word Torah
In his love for Torah, he cried over his inability to merit the aspect of wealth in learning Torah that comes from learning that is accomplished in “poverty.” Rav Hutner would note that if one paid close attention, he could detect the pleasure Rav Aharon got from learning Torah, simply from the way he would say the word “Torah”!
When Rav Hutner would have discussions with Rav Aharon, he would intentionally express himself in a way that would bring Rav Aharon to use the word “Torah” in his response. Rav Hutner noted that whenever Rav Aharon said the word ‘Torah,’ his voice was filled with every measure of sweetness that exists. He added, “Each time that I heard him utter the word ‘Torah’, I felt that I had gained something special!”
Reprinted from the Parshat Behalasocho 5784 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
