A student in the Mir Yeshivah once approached Rav Chaim Shmulevitz and asked why the previous generation had produced outstanding gedolim like the Chazon Ish, Rav Aharon Kotler, and the Brisker Rav, but his own had not produced anyone of that caliber.
Rav Chaim answered, “The people that you mentioned had the opportunity to see Rav Baruch Ber, witness his extraordinary hasmadah, and learn from it.”
In Rav Baruch Ber’s time, soldiers would show up unexpectedly to forcibly draft yeshivah bachurim into the army. Once, a bachur was told that a group of soldiers was looking for him. He immediately jumped out the window and ran to Rav Baruch Ber’s house. The rebbetzin answered the door and told the bachur that her husband was in the middle of learning and could not be disturbed. The bachur pleaded to be allowed in and explained that he was in grave danger, and the rebbetzin relented.
The bachur quickly told Rav Baruch Ber about his plight. The rosh yeshivah, totally immersed in a sugya, was unable to tear his attention away from his learning. He asked the bachur several times to repeat what he was saying. Finally, Rav Baruch Ber apologized. “I am not the right person to help you. I am so focused on my learning that I am unable to offer any practical advice. Go to the mashgiach, Rav Reuven Grozovsky; he will know how to help.”
Reproduced from Living Kiddush Hashem by Rabbi Shraga Freedman with permission of the copyright holders, ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications, Ltd.
