The Torah World and Lomdei Dirshu Bemoan the Loss
of Maran HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, zt”l
By Chaim Gold
Introduction
The passing of HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, zt”l, has left Klal Yisrael bereft. Rav Shteinman was a gaon in Torah, a gaon in tzidkus, and a gaon in hanhaga and leadership. He embodied the grandeur and beauty of a synthesis of Torah, middos tovos, absolute selflessness, and mesirus nefesh for the klal to the extent that his own personal cheshbonos and negius didn’t exist.
One of the most deeply moving images of him that impacted the hearts and minds of all was his entry three years ago into the Dirshu World Siyum of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha (marking the completion of the entire Mishnah Berurah) in 2015 at the Nokia Yad Eliyahu Stadium in Tel Aviv.
He was over 100 years old. As the diminutive gadol slowly made his way to his seat at the head, the crowd of lomdei Torah could not contain their excitement. The eruption of simcha and ecstasy defies description as all craned their necks to catch a glimpse of the Rosh Yeshiva’s holy countenance.
There was a hush as Rav Shteinman, in his soft voice, cited a Chazal that “A gathering of tzaddikim is good for them and good for the world. A gathering of reshaim is bad for them and bad for the world.” Rav Shteinman said forcefully, “It is good to make gatherings like this! They strengthen us all, especially in [difficult times] like this. In this zechus may all of us merit kol tuv!”
Every step took effort, but he made the effort and was literally mafkir himself, his strength, his pain, his honor, and his time for his beloved Klal Yisrael and beloved Torah. If it would strengthen Torah, Rav Shteinman was there. That is why he attended and addressed so many Dirshu and Acheinu events and gave so much of his time to advise and guide the hanhala of Dirshu on virtually every major policy issue and new initiative and program that they undertook.
Klal Yisrael has lost a leader, guide, and shield. Together with Klal Yisrael, lomdei Dirshu and hanhallas Dirshu and Acheinu mourn and bemoan the irreplaceable loss of our father, our Rebbe, and guide. We will never forget Rav Shteinman’s unique combination of tzidkus, temimus, chochma, and astuteness that he utilized to guide us together with an entire generation.
Mi yitein lanu temuraso!
Torah, Torah and More Sweet Torah Learning!
It was a powerful and memorable moment and message. At Dirshu’s 10th anniversary celebration at Yad Eliyahu Stadium in Tel Aviv, the entire assemblage sat at the edge of their seats latching on to every word of the venerated rosh yeshiva, Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman. In his message, Rav Shteinman asked why Chizkiyahu HaMelech was punished for not saying shira after Hashem destroyed the army of Sancherev in one night. “Was Chizkiyahu not the same king who brought unprecedented Torah learning to Klal Yisrael? Is not Torah the greatest shira in the world?” Rav Shteinman answered that witnessing the great miracle from Hashem should have given him an even greater understanding of Hashem’s greatness. It therefore should have spurred him to sing shira. Every new hasaga that a Jew gains into the greatness of Hashem requires a new, higher level of shira. Rav Shteinman implied that the more we grow in Torah and the more Torah is learned and understood, the greater our requirement is to express our thanks to Hashem!
At that gathering and on countless other occasions, Rav Shteinman’s message was always one of growing in Torah. For Rav Aharon Leib, anyone and any organization that was enabling more people to learn Torah, know Torah, and acquire new chalakim in Torah was something for which he said shira and encouraged others to say shira as well.
Why Rav Shteinman Encouraged Daf HaYomi B’Halacha
When the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program was starting, he gave guidance that provided insight into his thinking. He said, “A person must strengthen himself in learning halacha every day because the yetzer hara comes every day. Countless times each day, the yetzer hara tries to pull a person away from Hashem and the only antidote is to strengthen limud haTorah and limud halacha!”
In a conversation with Dirshu’s nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, held at Rav Aharon Leib’s humble apartment in Bnei Brak, Rav Aharon Leib told Rav Hofstedter that being able to enrich Klal Yisrael requires tremendous siyatta d’Shmaya. He then cited the well-known Gemara (Megillah 28), “We learned in the beis medrash of Eliyahu that one who learns halacha every day is assured a place in Olam Ha’Ba, as it says, ‘Halichos olam Lo [the ways of the world are His]’—do not read the word halichos, but rather halachos.” Rav Shteinman asked, “Why didn’t the passuk just say the word ‘halachos’? Why did it have to say halichos in such a way that a drasha is necessary in order to learn that it means halachos?” Rav Shteinman answered, “The way a person walks in this world and where he will be in the next world are all dependent on how he observes halacha. When a Yid lives in accordance with halacha, and all of his halichos, all of his comings and goings in this world are in accordance with the Torah, he will merit that he will also walk in Olam Ha’Ba!”
Without a doubt, however, Rav Shteinman’s love and guidance was provided because he so deeply believed that the only way to achieve success in ruchniyus, in chinuch, and in any spiritual undertaking is to cultivate a love of Torah, a love of the sweetness of Torah.
“How does one cultivate love of Torah and the ability to taste the sweetness of Torah? By learning more and more Torah.” Rav Shteinman elucidated, “The more one learns, the sweeter it becomes!”
The Imperative to Chap Arein and Engage in Kiruv!
Rav Aharon Leib’s Message to Lakewood via Live Satellite Hookup at Acheinu’s Lakewood Asifa at the Bais Faiga Hall, 2010:
Morai v’rabosai, in our times, the most important thing is zikui ha’rabbim. The Chovos Halevavos says that a person can work on himself and reach such heights to the extent that he can attain the spiritual level of a malach, an angel. Still, this [exalted level] does not reach the lofty level that one can attain through zikui ha’rabbim.
There has never been as many baalei teshuva as there is today, in our times. What happened? What has changed? I think the answer is because Mashiach is almost here. Once Mashiach comes there will be no more opportunity for us to bring them back. The message to us is that before Mashiach comes we must chap arein, seize the opportunity. We can still save them. Afterwards it will be too late!
This is why Hashem has created a special desire among not-yet-frum people [to come closer to Hashem]. He has made it easier to become a baal teshuvah today. Once upon a time it was extremely hard. To make a baal teshuvah was akin to a kriyas yam suf—a splitting of the sea. Today the neshamos come closer much more easily, much quicker. Otherwise, chas v’chalilah, these neshamos will be finished, they will be lost.
Therefore now is the time to chap arein. Baruch Hashem there are Yidden who are involved in [kiruv]. There are those who have made this their area of expertise, their life’s mission. Baruch Hashem because of them, we merit to hear every day about more and more Yidden coming back from the worst of places. All they need is a small push [and they return].
It does not happen, however, on its own. We have to do something too! We cannot think it will happen completely on its own.
All of the other tactics in kiruv do not help. The ikar, the main thing, is Torah. Only with Torah, through learning Torah [with them], can we be mekarev. With Torah we are mekarev Yidden to the Ribbono Shel Olam so that they will not remain lost forever.
May Hashem help that we will be able to be mekarev, bring close, as many Yidden as we can to Hashem and may we be zoche that they do not chalilah become lost forever.