85th yahrtzeit: 11 Tammuz
BURIED: Near Kovno, Lithuania
Reb Elchonon was one of the most famous Roshei Yeshiva before the Holocaust. His yeshiva was in the city of Baranovich. His sefer, Kovetz Shiurim, is one of the most popular seforim in the yeshiva world and is still learned today. Sadly, Reb Elchonon was killed by the Nazis together with the bochurim of his yeshiva. There was one survivor who recorded the tremendous kiddush Hashem he made as he accepted upon himself ohl malchus shamayim right before he was killed.
Reb Elchonon once traveled to America before the war to collect money for his yeshiva. While there, he visited a family he knew from Europe.
The mother of the family later shared what she saw with her own eyes. Her husband traveled around selling goods, so she was often home alone with the children. Because she was nervous about strangers, she bought a watchdog. Whenever someone came to the door, the dog would bark and alert her.
When Reb Elchonon approached the house, the dog barked once. But as soon as Reb Elchonon came closer, the dog became completely quiet. It stood by the glass door and simply stared at him. While Reb Elchonon was inside speaking with the family, the dog did not make a sound. Only after Reb Elchonon left did the dog suddenly begin barking again!
Reb Dovid Povarsky once said that when he learned in Baranovich, he saw how Reb Elchonon would give shiur. The talmidim in the first rows sat on benches, those in the next rows stood, and those behind them stood on the benches! The bochurim in the very back even put shtenders on top of the benches and stood on them. Why? They wanted to be able to see Reb Elchonon’s facial expressions and hand motions while he gave the shiur. They felt it helped them understand the shiur much better!
I WANNA BE LIKE …Reb Elchonon
Let us learn Torah with some of the yiras Shamayim, sincerity, and dedication that Reb Elchonon had!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 86.