LIVED
1878–1953
73rd yahrtzeit
15 Cheshvan
BURIED
Bnei Brak
The famous Chazon Ish was the one of the foremost gedolei hador after the holocaust. He lived in the then new city of Bnei Brak, which he played a huge role in building into a city of Torah and Mitzvos. He was famous for his total immersion in Torah study. Unfortunately he didn’t have biological children but he left over a very rich legacy. His seforim and pesakim are renowned worldwide up to this day!
Besides being famous for extreme concentration in learning, the Chazon Ish was also able to become entirely engrossed in davening. Once, the Chazon Ish’s nephew, Rav Shmuel Greinman, had an urgent question to bring to the Chazon Ish, a true matter of pikuach nefesh. Back then, davening took place in the Chazon Ish’s home. Rav Shmuel ran in just as they had finished kaddish before the shemone esreh of Maariv. As he ran up to the Chazon Ish, he heard him saying the words “Hashem sefasai tiftach,” the opening words of shemone esreh. He then whispered into his ear, “I have a matter of pikuach nefesh,” but the Chazon Ish didn’t answer. He assumed the Chazon Ish hadn’t heard him, so he said it more loudly, but still no answer. He kept raising his voice, but it didn’t help. Finally, he pulled on the Chazon Ish’s shoulder with force, and only then did he notice. Such was the power of the Chazon’s Ish concentration in davening!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 103.