14th yahrtzeit 28 Tammuz
BURIED Har Hamenuchos, Yerushalayim
Rav Elyashiv was one of the most renowned gedolim of the previous generation, known as a leading posek in all areas of Torah. Thousands streamed to his modest home in Yerushalayim to seek his guidance and hear his opinion. He also delivered a famous daily Gemarah shiur, which he made sure never to miss. He passed away at the remarkable age of 102.
One day, a man and his son arrived at Rav Elyashiv’s home seeking a bracha. Upon arriving, they were told that Rav Elyashiv was not receiving visitors that day. The man approached one of the gabbaim and quietly told him something. The gabbai looked surprised and immediately allowed him inside. When he entered, the man told Rav Elyashiv that a few years earlier he had been the non-Jew to whom Rav Elyashiv had sold his chametz. After witnessing Rav Elyashiv’s beautiful middos and noble demeanor, he was so inspired that he decided to become a ger. Now he stood before him together with his young Yiddishe son.
Rav Elyashiv’s family once decided to buy a new heating system. After it was installed, they discovered that there was not enough electricity in the apartment to support it. They called an electrician to upgrade the electrical system. Before the work began, Rav Elyashiv found out how much such a job normally cost and insisted on paying the regular price.
On the very day the electrician finished the job, Rav Elyashiv’s daughter sadly passed away. Before leaving for Bnei Brak for the levayah, Rav Elyashiv made sure to call the electrician and pay him. Even during such a difficult time, he was careful to fulfill the mitzvah of paying a worker on time!
FUN FACT
A daughter of Rav Elyashiv related that while she was growing up, the family always feared that her father would pass away at a young age because his health was so fragile. One of his doctors even said that there was nothing that could be done for him and that there was no chance he would live a long life. Yet she explained that although he was always physically weak, whenever he began learning, he seemed to draw on otherworldly strength, learning with tremendous fervor for hours on end.
I WANNA BE LIKE …
Rav Elyashiv
Let’s use our time carefully for Torah and mitzvos, while also making sure to think about and help other Yidden!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 89.