By Avrohom Barash
Rav Yechezkel Sarna
One man in the Chevreon Yeshiva kollel was a great talmid chochom, yet lived in dire poverty, having failed in every business attempt. Someone suggested to R’ Yechezkel Sarna, the Rosh Yeshiva, that he be hired to say kaddish for donors who paid the yeshiva for this service. R’ Yechezkel refused. Kaddish, he explained, was usually said by the shamash, and giving such a task to a talmid chochom might be demeaning.
Instead, R’ Yechezkel astonished everyone by announcing that he himself would say the kaddish. No one questioned him. Four weeks later, the reason emerged:
R’ Yechezkel asked the secretary to tell the impoverished talmid chochom, “The Rosh Yeshiva has been saying kaddish but no longer has the strength. He would like you to take over.”
Since R’ Yechezkel had done it first, the role carried no shame—only dignity. (Gut Voch)
Reprinted from the Parshas Vayechi 5786 email of The Weekly Vort.
