The Brisker Rav’s Broken Heart

Similarly, the esteemed gaon, Rav Zundel Kroizer zt”l, once told me that he merited to pray Ma’ariv on Motza’ei Shabbos with Maran the Brisker Rav zt”l, standing close to him during Shemoneh Esrei. When the Rav reached the blessing of Shome’a Tefillah, he confessed quietly: “Please, Hashem, I have sinned, I have transgressed, etc.” He enumerated his sins softly, but three times he cried out with a broken heart: “Oy! Oy! Oy!” — and this was not on a “Selichos Shabbos,” but an ordinary Motza’ei Shabbos in the middle of the year.

Woe unto us from the Day of Judgment, woe unto us from the Day of Rebuke!