When I was in Bnei Brak, I met a Chashuva Rosh Yeshiva. His father had learned in Novardok, and I asked him for some stories about him. He told me that in Bialystok there were two groups, the Mussarniks and the learners. The Menahel [R’ Nissin Rozanker Zatzal] once described two of his Talmidim, the Steipler and R’ Gershon. The Steipler he called pure Torah, and R’ Gershon he called pure Mussar.
His father had been one of the Mussarniks, but he shifted and became the head of the learners. When the father moved to Bnei Brak, he became an eighth grade Rebbe. His son asked him why he didn’t look for a much higher level, since he was a big Talmid Chacham and he was capable. He replied that he felt that this is what he is good at, and he remained a Rebbe of thirteen-year old’s throughout his life.
The Talmidim loved him, and they followed him in the streets. He was busy testing them on the Shakla-V’tarya of the Gemara. Even during recess, he was busy with this. In general, he was not a Machmir in many areas of Halacha, except for when it came to Ikarim. This is why he insisted on spending his time with his Talmidim.
R’ Rotnemer once told me that the Velt can be involved in all kinds of Frumkeit and Chumros, but being Machmir in Inyanei Bitachon is rare to find.
Bitachon means true belief in Hashem, and without it you can be lacking in the most basic Yesod of being a Yid, Chas V'shalom. This is one reason why Novardok put so much Kochos in Davka this area, besides for the fact that living with Bitachon makes you calm and happy, healthy and successful. You see how Kavod meant nothing to this Yid.
This Yid in Bnei Brak was once approached by a super, top, top Bachur. He was considered to be a “rising star” in the Torah world, and he came to this Novardoker for Eitzos in Mussar and how to work on himself. This Bachur was such a “name brand”, that people considered it a tremendous Kavod to have any connection with him.
Yet, when this Bachur came to him, he said: “I'm not qualified” and refused to get involved in any way with this Gevaldige Bachur. In Novardok, status meant nothing. Of course, they were respectful of everyone. But they didn’t fall for the Velt’s weakness of worshiping “rising stars” and people of stature.
In the same way, he had no interest in a top shiur, and he was fine with teaching younger boys. Ratzon Hashem is number one in Novardok, not your personal Retzonos, which even in Ruchaniyus can be full of Negi'os. He was a major Masmid who also gave several Daf Yomi Shiurim daily. When he returned home at 11PM, he would disappear in a quiet room and learn Mussar B'hispa'alus for at least a half hour.
His Mussar Seder was fire, and many times his son heard him crying during this Seder. He was also very involved in constantly thanking Hashem for tiny Mitzvos, and every Amen he said was a big Simcha in his life.
