אליו תשמעוןנביא מקרבך מאחיך כמני יקים לך ד' אלקיך
“A prophet from your midst, from your brothers, like me, shall Hashem your G-d establish for you – to him shall you listen.” (Devorim 18:15)
A biography was once written about Rav Yehoshua Leib Diskin. Before publication, the manuscript was shown to the Brisker Rav for his comments and suggestions. After reading it, he commented that everything he read was accurate and appropriate to be printed except for one anecdote. The author recounted that the Brisker Rav’s father, Rav Chaim Soloveitchik, had such respect for Rav Yehoshua Leib that he remarked regarding him, אליו תשמעון – “you shall listen to his words”.
The Brisker Rav argued that an expression reserved by the Torah for a prophet of Hashem may not be used, even colloquially, in reference to a human being, no matter how great he was.
Although the author insisted that the story was true and confirmed by witnesses, the Brisker Rav held his ground, and the passage was removed.
They told this incident to the Satmar Rebbe (Rav Yoel Teitelbaum). The Satmar Rebbe heard this and he said “And what about Rabbi Akiva Eiger?”
The person then asked the Rebbe what he meant by that question. The Satmar Rebbe explained: I was referring to the Rabbi Akiva Eiger in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 125. The Shulchan Aruch rules that when reciting Kedusha, only the chazan says “Nakdishach...” or “Nekadesh...” and the rest of the congregation is silent. Only at “Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh” does everybody chime in. Rabbi Akiva Eiger writes in his glosses to the Shulchan Aruch that the Arizal, disagrees and says that everyone should also repeat the opening pasuk (either “Nakdishach” or “Nekadesh“) and Rabbi Akiva Eiger concludes, אליו תשמעון – “you shall listen to his words”.
The sharp mind and phenomenal recall of the Satmar Rebbe allowed him to immediately remember where the great Rav Akiva Eiger had quoted this phrase in reference to the Arizal. Nevertheless, he suggested that this comment posed no challenge to the position of the Brisker Rav, as the Arizal was but an angel in human guise, for whom such words are fitting.
