Stories of Studying Torah

1. Rav Chaim Berman told a story in the name of the Ponovezher Rav, Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, a story he used to illustrate true ahavas haTorah. Rav Avraham Burstein was the rav of the city of Tevrig in Lithuania. During World War I. there was a curfew placed on the city. No one was allowed to have any lights in their homes lest the enemy be able to spot their homes and attack. Rav Avraham disregarded the warning and left on a very small light, enough to enable him to see the page he was learning. Nevertheless, the soldiers noticed it and barged into his home, accusing him of being a spy. Rav Avraham tried to explain that he was only using the light to study, but the soldiers would hear none of it. They demanded that he admit to his crime. Rav Avraham stood by his story and would not admit to any wrongdoing. ‘lhe soldiers, determined that he must be a spy. prepared to shoot him. But just before they did, Rav Avraham asked for one last wish: 15 minutes. In those 15 minutes, Rav Avraham opened a Rambam, explaining to the soldiers that he had been studying something and had not figured it out, so he needed a bit more time with it. This was his dying wish.A few moments later, a siren sounded to call the soldiers together; they needed to move on to the next village. They immediately left, leaving Rav Avraham alive to figure out his Rambam. (learning)  (Touched By Their Tears)

2. Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, came to discuss a matter with Harav Ovadia. He was ushered into the Rav’s study, along with his entourage and the media crews covering the visit. Harav Ovadia was studying a work on Hilchot Halla. Each time he reached a source, he would stop for a moment, scour his memory until he was able’ to recall, the exact words of the source, and then continue studying. Ijrime Minister Netanyahu was awed by the Rav’s complete iimmeirlsion in learning, and shocked that the hullabaloo of the camera crews jockeying for the best positions hadn’t caused him to lift his eyes from the sefer. After a few minutes, MK Eli Yishai, who had arranged the visit, told Mr. Netanyahu that he would inform the Rav that the prime minister had arrived. “No, No,”’Mr. Netanyahu said, waving him off. I never get to see anything like this.” By now, the cameramen had also grown enthralled by the sight, and they started snap- ping photos’ of Harav Ovadia engrossed in his sefer. Mr. Netanyahu continued watching in fascination, wondering how long it would take the Rav to notice the dozens of people in the room. Finally, after a long while, Rav Moshe Yosef explained that if no one interrupted Harav Ovadia, the prime mi ‘    would wait all day. Rav Moshe crouched down next to his father and said, “Abba, the Rosh Hamemshala is here. ” Harav Ovadia looked up in surprise, and said,’ “Ah, Baruch Haba, Baruch Haba. ”  (Rav Ovadia) (torah)

3. When R’ Meir Shapiro was a young child, his mother hired a melamed to study with him. When she ran out of money to pay the melamed, she pawned her jewelry. ”One day there was a big snowstorm and the melamed didn’t come. R’ Meir’s mother cried for a very long time that morning. “Young Meir tried to reassure his mother. ‘I’m sure the melamed will come tomorrow and we will make up what we missed today,’ he said. ”’Meir,’ she replied, ‘it is important that kvius (regularity) be maintained. It is a great loss to miss a day of learning. That’s why I’m so sad!” R’ Meir Shapiro later gave his mother part of- the credit for his idea of introducing the concept of Daf Yomi. (not to go to sleep until learn) (Rebetzin Kanievsky)

4. About seven years before his passing, Harav Ovadia was complaining of terrible stomach pains, and his son Rav David accompanied him to the hospital. The doctors ordered a battery of tests, and they uncovered an issue that required immediate laparoscopic surgery. But at his advanced age, and considering his weak overall medical condition, the doctors felt that it was dangerous to place him under anesthesia. “It will him take several weeks to recover from the anesthesia, ” they explained. “That’s when he’ll come out of it. ” They told Rav David that they would do the half hour surgery without anesthesia, but they warned him that the procedure would be extremely painful. ”We’re going to summon several staff members just to hold him down, ” they said, “and you must remain outside because you won’t be able to handle the sight of him suffering so much. If you want to remain right outside the operating theater, you may, but be prepared for his shrieks of pain. ” Rav David asked the doctors to describe to the Rav what the procedure would be like, so that he wouldn’t be shocked when the pain began. “B’seder, ” Harav Ovadia sighed upon hearing the plan. “If this is a pain that I have no choice but to suffer, it should be kaparat avonot (an atonement for my sins). But please bring me my Gemara and I’ll try to distract myself from the pain as much as possible. ” “I brought him his Gemara – he was learning Bava Batra at the time — and I left the room, ” relates Rav David. “A large group of doctors and other hospital staff entered the operating room, but I did not hear a single sound emanating from within. Finally, after about half an hour, the doctors came out and said, ‘We were shocked —‘ he didn’t utter a peep.’  ”I went inside and asked, Abba, how are you feeling?’ He looked up at me and said, slightly irritated, Ask the doctors how long they’re going to make me wait. Let them start already!’  ”He was so utterly engrossed in his learning that he had not felt them operating.” (Rav Ovadia) (torah)

5. Someone once asked the Chasam Sofer the secret to his success in Torah. “I became a talmid chacham in five minutes,” the Chasam Sofer said. “Really?” asked the man. “All those five minutes that go to waste in the course of one’s lifetime – I made sure to maximize the use of them. That is why I say I became a talmid chacham in five minutes. Five minutes here and five minutes there.” (learning) (Impact Volume One)

6. It is well known that the Steipler Gaon married the Chazon Ish’s sister. What is not as well known is that when the Chazon Ish’s sister arrived at the inn where they were going to meet, the Steipler had just recited HaMapil and was lying down to sleep before he met her. He decided to sleep a little bit and then come down to meet her. How did a bachur who had come to the inn to meet a prospective bride end up needing to sleep immediately upon arrival? The Steipler’s normal schedule was to be awake for thirty-six hours and sleep for six. This means he would wake up Sunday morning and learn Torah nonstop, except for basic needs, until Monday night, when he finally went to sleep. Then he would wake up Tuesday morning and learn until Wednesday night. When his shidduch was arranged, he realized that he had a six-hour train trip ahead of him. He didn’t want to waste the time, so on the night before the meeting he pushed himself to stay up all night learning, figuring he would sleep all six hours on the train. When he got on the train, however, he saw that the upholstery on the seats might be a forbidden shaatnetz mix. Rather than lying down to sleep, he stood the entire way and recited mishnayos by heart. When he arrived at the inn, he was understandably a bit tired.     (shatnez, learning) (Impact Volume One)

7. A talmid chocham brought the manuscripts of a sefer he had written on tefilla to show the Vilna Gaon, hoping to gain his approval. There was a rather simple idea presented near the beginning. The Gaon enjoyed the idea very much and told the author it would be worth publishing the book if only for that one vort. Someone asked the Brisker Rav why the Gaon was so excited. “After all,” said the man, “it really is a simple idea.” Answered the Rav, “lf the Gaon got excited about it, it means the vort is emes, and by emes there is no difference between small and big.” (emes, learning) (Impact Volume Three)

8. Why are there so many kollelim nowadays?” wealthy Mr. Tauber asked Harav Aaron Leib Steinman. “There were never that many back in the good old days.” “l’d like to ask you a question,” responded the Torah giant. “Why are there so many wealthy Jews nowadays? lt never used to be like that. The answer is that there are so many wealthy Jews because there are so many kollelim that need to be supported. If there were less kollelim, there’d be less wealthy Jews.” (Impact Volume Four) (torah, tezadaka)

9. A skilled goldsmith renowned for his expert craftsmanship was in heavy debt and was forced to abandon his home and family and to travel far away. He missed his loved ones dearly during his travels, and on more than one occasion let out a deep heart—rending sigh. One thought consoled him, however; that the day would come when he would return to his home and family, and provide them with a comfortable livelihood as he had in the past. Some time later, the man indeed returned to his home and the joy was overwhelming. But when he approached his worktable and opened his toolbox, he discovered that over the years that he had been away his work tools had rusted severely and were completely ruined. Needless to say, they were no longer useable. The more he looked around and observed the damage that had occurred, the more he realized just how sorry a predicament he was presently in… The man broke out into bitter sobbing and exclaimed, “All the days of my exile, I was consoled by the fact that I would one day be restored to my former stature; but now I realize that such a thought was mere fantasy.” Hashem, said the Dubno Maggid, vested us with precious abilities so that we would be able to perform all of the mitzvos to perfection. But because of our sins we have been exiled from our Land, and our Beis Hamikdash has been destroyed. Languishing in our bitter exile, we are unable to fulfill all of the mitzva and utilize our skills as servants of Hashem. It is therefore imperative to try to keep our tools fresh even in the Galus. This can be done by learning those halachos. (learning, beis hamikdash, tisha be’av) (Jewish Parables- A Mashal for Every Occasion)

10. A person would regularly shop in a certain store. One day, the storeowner glanced out the door and noticed his regular customer emerging from an adjacent shop. The individual would not necessarily be hard-pressed to explain his actions. He could simply say that he entered the second store in search of merchandise that he could not obtain in the store where he usually shopped. But if the first store carried precisely the same merchandise, how could the customer defend his actions? “On the contrary,” the storekeeper would claim, “tell me exactly which product you were shopping for that you would have been unable to find in my store!” You must have left because you want to avoid me. The same applies to the Torah, explained the Dubno Maggid. Everything is contained within the holy Torah, as Chazal state, “Delve in it [the Torah] and delve in it [the Torah] again, for everything is in it” lAvos 5:26)! Someone who wastes his time will therefore face the following claim: “Why was it necessary for you to graze in foreign pastures? What could you possibly have been searching for elsewhere which is not found in our holy Torah?” (torah, other wisdom) (Jewish Parables- A Mashal for Every Occasion)

11. Man is engaged in a constant war against his archrival, the yetzer hara. How can man emerge victorious? The Chofetz Chaim imparted the answer to us by means of the following parable: ‘I‘wo kings had oeen waging a fierce war for many years, with each one taking tums gaining the upper hand. One clay, the kings decided to put an end to their war. The two met and resolved to wage one battle that would last a total of four days. Whoever would emerge triumphant from this final clash would be proclaimed the victor, and the loser would submit entirely to the will of the conqueror. The kings began preparing for the deciding battle, and their finest generals taught the soldiers new war tactics and strategies. When the war commenced, it was clear that both armies were powerful, proficient, and of equal strength. Indeed, on the first day of the fighting, one of the armies proved triumphant, and on the second day, the other was victorious. Towards evening of the third day, one of the generals gathered the heads of his troops and exclaimed, “Men! Tomorrow is the final and decisive day of this war, and we must emerge victorious at any cost. However, as the sides are evenly matched, we must utilize a brilliant plan. Our spies,” he continued, “have reported that the enemy’s artillery is located in a specific storage room. lt occurred to me to send an elite team of soldiers to steal the artillery from the enemy’s camp. Without any weapons, the enemy is sure to be defeated.” Everyone agreed, and they implemented the plan. A squad of fierce soldiers secretly entered the enemy camp and stole their weapons. The next day, there was a loud trumpet blast and the war was on. But when one of the armies rushed to arm themselves, they were shocked to discover that their artillery room was empty. Left with no other choice, they surrendered. So it is with man’s war against the yetzer hara, explained the Chofetz Chaim. The yetzer hara battles a man all the days of his life. There are occasions when the yetzer hara emerges victorious and other times when man proves triumphant. It is at that point that the yetzer hara devises the shrewd strategy to steal man’s only artillery — i.e., the holy Torah, in the merit of which he is capable of defeating the yetzer hara. We must therefore take caution, concluded the Chofetz Chaim, that the yetzer hara not steal our lone weapon. For even if the yetzer hara has recently prevailed, man must not despair. Rather, he must gird himself to study the holy Torah, and only then will he triumph! (Torah) (Jewish Parables- A Mashal for Every Occasion)

12. A father had an only son whom he loved dearly, and subsequently catered to the boy’s every request. When the son grew older, he very much wanted his father to buy him a watch. The father went to a professional watchmaker and asked him to fashion a stylish gold watch with an engraved casing. When he presented his son with the watch, the young man’s joy knew no bounds. Now, the father was well aware of his son’s spoiled nature, and he knew quite well that the lad would quickly grow tired of the watch. He therefore devised a clever plan. The father, in his wisdom, forbade his son to open the case. After some time had passed, the son indeed grew tired of the watch. Only then did the father permit him to open the case. When the son caught a glimpse of the delicate hands expertly crafted by the skilled watchmaker, he experienced a new feeling of elation over the watch. Some time later, the son once again grew tired of the watch. The father therefore opened the back of the watch and showed his son the fine wheel movements which operated it harmoniously. In this way, the son enjoyed the watch for quite a long time. In His great love for the lewish people, said the Dubno Maggid, Hashem desired that we rejoice in the precious gift that He granted us — the holy Torah. He therefore concealed within it a plethora of novel ideas that are revealed day after day, which constantly renew the experience of Torah study. The more an individual exerts himself in Torah study, the more he reveals these extraordinary novel ideas that serve to gladden his heart. (torah) (Jewish Parables- A Mashal for Every Occasion)

13. Rav Shach’s insatiable desire for truth in Torah grew in his formative teenage years, and found expression in verbal debate. As Rosh Yeshiva, he said his shiurim in a manner that displayed his primary objective: He wanted the hachnrim to think, to chal- lenge, to argue. The Rosh Yeshiva was obviously influenced by his great cousin, Rabbi Aharon Kotler. Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetzky, described his initial entrance faher (exam) for Slabodka, which he took with Reb Aharon. The Rash Yeshiva, Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Epstein, explained a logical construct from the K’tzo.s Haclioshen (a classic commentary), and then chal- lenged the young men: “Now argue against it.” My grandfather recounted to me how he sat in shock: “We were taught that we cannot argue against a revered commentary like the K’tzos.” In contrast, Reb Aharon jumped from his chair: ”Shoin ein mohl veil ich dingin’ oif der K’tzos! I most certainly will argue with the K’tzos!” I remember a shinr klalli, in which Rabbi Shnch posed a difiiczilt question on the Rambam After the usual din, he opened the sefer of Reb Chaim HaLeoi (Soloveitchik) and began, “Zngt Reb Chaim. Scanning the content looks on the faces of the boys who were familiar with Reb Chaini’s brilliant answer to the question, he snapped the safer shut and declared, “Altz iz meyshushuv” Everything is resolved!” He then proceeded to move off the plat- form ns there were no need to think on our own Rel) Chaim did the thinking for us. After this rlranzatic gesture, the Rosh Yeshiva returned to point out the difficulties in Rob Chaim’s approach, and ojfier his own response to those issues. (learn torah) (Torah Leaders)

14. Reb lsser Zalman would say about Rabbi Shach, “If you would cut hisv veins, you would no see blood flowing; you would see Rashbas and Rav Akiva Eigers! (learn torah) (Torah Leaders)

15. As Rav Yechezkel Abrahamsky lay deathly ill in Sha’arei Tzedek Hospital, barely responding, the hospital’s director Prof. Mayer encouraged the talmidim who were staying with the Rav to speak divrei Torah near him so that he could hear them. Although there was no visible reaction, the monitoring equipment indicated that these periods of learning strengthened him and gave him energy. (torah) (In Their Shadow Volume Three)

16. A young married man who was studying full time was ready to leave his studies to begin a business. He approached his Rebbe, Rav Eliayu Ragoler, saying that he had money saved up from his dowry that he could use as capital to open a store. “Should I use this money to open a store in order to support my family?” he asked?  “Certainly,” answered Rav Eliyahu, “there’s no reason not to. Just tell me one thing: Do you have the necessary training to run a store?” “What kind of training do l need to stand behind a counter to sell dry-goods all day?” the young scholar asked in surprise. “What I meant is,” said Rav Eliyahu, “have you mastered the entirety of Shulchan Aruch? In order to run a store you need a thorough knowledge of all four sections of shulchan Aruch. This story is similar to another well-known incident about a pious shochet who once came to see Rav Yisrael Salanter. He told Rav Yisrael that he wanted to give up his job as a shochet. He was too afraid of the responsibility of deciding if the animal was kosher and was afraid  of improperly slaughtering an animal and thereby feeding Jews meet that was not kosher.  ‘Very well.’ said Rav Yisrael, but what do you intend to do for  living instead?” ‘I was planning to open  a store,” the shochet answered.  Rav Yisrael expressed amazement at this reply.   Listen to what you’re saying! You’ve lust told me that you don’t want to take responsibility to deciding about slaughtered animals. This mitzva is elaborated on extensively in the shulchan aruch and every detail is clarified through all of the commentaries in the shulchan aruch. And for shechita there is only one possible prohibition involved- eating nevailah. But when it comes to doing business you have to know many more halachos, the laws of interest, theft, cheating, overcharging, keeping your word, honest measures, the laws of modesty, to name a few. That is a much greater responsibility. (learning, shechita) (The Rosh Yeshiva Speaks)

17. Rabbi Shimon Schwab related how he was told by a young man, “At my school we are currently ‘doing’ (Maseches) Bava Kama.” Rabbi Schwab replied, “When I went to yeshivah we didn’t ‘do’ Bava Kama but Bava Kama did “something to us.”    (torah) (Five Great Leaders)

18. During the 1950’s a full-time Torah scholar who had an army deferment was not permitted to leave the country unless there were extreme circumstances, such as illness. On one occasion I questioned the prime minister and defense minister, David Ben Gurion, as to the need for this hard line. “The yeshivah students don’t serve in the army anyway…” I pointed out. “You maintain that Torah study protects the country more than the army does,” he replied. “So I want them to learn here and protect our country, not America…” He accordingly gave unequivocal instructions not to allow anyone exempted from army service as a full-time yeshiva student to leave the country.    (torah) (In Their Shadow Volume 2)

19. After hearing that all of the talmidim were exceptional, Reb Leib Rubin decided that the only way to find out for sure who would be a good student appropriate for his daughter was to check himself. Accordingly, he delivered a shiur in the yeshivah followed by a difficult question posed to the students. Left unsaid was that the one who could answer the question would earn his daughter’s hand in marriage. Silence, long silence, filled the room. No one in the hall crammed with supposed lamdanim could resolve the difficulty. It was therefore time for Reb Leib to depart and continue his search elsewhere. Rabbi Rubin had already loaded his wagon and was clippity-clopping out of Radin when a panting student, Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman ran up and begged, “Rebbe, , asked a difficult question, but what is the answer With that one dramatic act, which displayed his true thirst for learning, Yusha Kuhler had indeed answered his father-in-law’s question. (Builders)

20. Rabbi Kotler showed Bunim startling parallels among the three great waves of Jewish immigration to America. The seventeenth century’s Sephardic Jews brought a belief in avodah (prayer) to the new world and therefore built palatial synagogues, but they became empty in little more than a generation. Roughly two centuries later, the German Jews did not teach or support Torah; instead they stressed the supremacy of chesed (charitable works). They spent millions on hospitals, life care centers and Jewish alliances. But with no Torah to guide them, both the Sephardic and German Jewish communities saw their own children assimilate and their communities disintegrate. At the turn of the twentieth century, those Eastern European immigrants who had experienced dire poverty became staunch materialists. They too were engulfed by assimilation.“ Rabbi Kotler learned from history, and history showed that the only ground upon which the Jewish nation builds a solid future is Torah lishmah. Torah is the life-breath of the Jewish people,” he wrote, “the goal Jewish existence, its purpose and destiny. Jewry stands or falls in direct proportion to the measure of its devotion to Torah study.” He added, “There is only one way to produce Torah leaders: by concentrating every resource on Torah learning.”‘With American Jewry teetering on the brink of assimilation and European Torah centers crushed by Nazi madmen, Rabbi Kotler’s solitary goal was to transplant the once-renowned academies of learning to these shores, a goal which Bunim shared zealously. (torah) (A fire in his soul by Amos Bunim)

21. The following incident made a profound an impression on Reb Baruch Ber. When he was a very little boy he prayed at home and was crying during his prayers. His mother heard and asked his father “why is he crying”? Maybe need something that we haven’t given him maybe something is bothering him that we don’t know about it. his father answered her “I imagine he’s run across something in his learning he doesn’t understand. Reb Baruch Ber was just a child at the time but after hearing that exchange between his parents he realized that as far as his father was concerned if something was disturbing his little boy to the point that he was crying about it can only be one thing something in his learning was not clear to him. from his father’s response Reb Baruch Ber understood how much his father loved the Torah. Indeed his father’s words have been so natural so matter of fact what else could be bothering him? Having heard those words he prayed more intensely that God grant him understanding and have him grow steadily and succeed in Torah (torah, tefilla) (Reb Baruch Ber by Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Rosenthal)

22. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE the depth and breadth of the influence of Rav Baruch Ber’s shiurim. After a shiur”, there was not one talmid in the yeshivah who did not know precisely what Rabbeinu had said. For the entire day, to say one word about anything other than the shim” was virtually out of the question. According to the gaon R. Avraham Rhein, Rahbeinu’s shiur” would be the main topic of conversation for the entire week» in the beis midrash, while the bachurim walked to their lodgings, while they ate and any other time they conversed. Aside from reviewing his actual words, they would discuss and debate exactly what they thought he meant by each point and each part of the shiur”. The gaon R. Eliyahu Mishkovsky recalled that on “shiur” days,” he personally would be thoroughly exhausted at the end of the day. He had exerted himself to the limit, concentrating on every one of Rabbeinu’s words and listening for every nuance so as not to miss any detail. Regarding the bachurim’s great thirst to fully understand the shiurim, one of the talmidim related that once, after a shiur”, having not understood it sufficiently, he went to some of the yeshivah’s top bachurim and asked them to explain it to him. These were the bachurim who were specially selected to review the shiurim with the less-gifted bachurim to make sure that everyone understood. These bachurim tried their best, but the bachur still did not understand. He was so disappointed that he went to one of the side rooms and cried. It is not surprising that the yeshivah’s talmidirn knew the shiurim so well they would accurately say them over even many years afterwards.

23. One talmid recalled the bitter years of suffering in exile in Siberia, when he and other Kamenetz talmidim were forced to do hard labor. They had no sefarim, so they set up a system where they would take turns reviewing aloud Rabbeinu’s (The same talmid also related that they often sang songs that they remembered from Rabbeinu. This too, greatly helped uplift their spirits). One of the talmidim of that group, the gaon R. Chaim Shalom Leibowitz related that he contracted tuberculosis in Siberia. He lay in bed in the attic where he stayed, burning with fever. The day came when it was his turn to say a shiur”, but he was so ill, that he    felt it would not be possible. Suddenly, however, he remembered Rabbeinu’s recount of his days in Kremenchug during WWI. He recalled how Rabbeinu told the bachurim that despite the bullets whizzing through the city and the danger they posed to anyone in the streets, he would walk to the yeshivah anyway to say his shiur, so great was the importance of a shiur. R. Chaim Shalom then rose to his feet and went to say a shiur. After the shiur, when he returned to the attic to rest, he saw, to his amazement, that the attic had collapsed. In the merit of saying the shiur”, he had escaped death. (learning) (Reb Baruch Ber by Rabbi Chaim Shlomo Rosenthal)

24. In his speech, Rabbi Sherer pulled from his wallet a copy of an order, issued November 23, 1940, from the German High Commander I.A. Eckhardt to the German Army of Occupation on Poland, which he always carried with him. In it Eckhardt commands that the Ostjuden, the Eastern European Iews, must not be allowed to escape because they comprise the majority of the rabbis and “Talmud teachers.” If the “Talmud Lehrer” escape, warns the Nazi commander, they can bring about the spiritual regeneration of world Jewry, even American Jewry. Those words would prove as prophetic as those of another enemy if Israel, the prophet Balaam Rabbi Sherer, By Rabbi Yonasan Rosenblum, Published by Artscroll Mesorah, page 604 (torah)

25. Reb Menachem Mendel of Kotsk once made the following comment to his chassidim about his sonin- law, Reb Avraham of Sochatchov, the author of Avnei Nezer: “Do you know why the rav of Biala was privileged to be granted a son like that? “One Purim it so happened that all the tzaddikim and scholars were engaged in the mitzvah of eating their festive Purim seudah. That meant that there was no one anywhere studying Torah – except for the rav of Biala, who sat alone and studied. Heaven was well pleased with this, for if not for him the whole world at that moment would have been void of Torah study. “And that is why they granted him this gift – a son who would illuminate the whole world.” (Torah) A Treasury of Chassic Tales on the Festivals, By Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin, Published  By Artscroll Mesorah

26. Rav Tendler was asked to speak at the siyum for the sheloshim of his mechutan, Rabbi Pesach Skulnick’s father. The speech was given before a modern community. In the hadran, the special prayer recited· at a siyum, we ask that that the Torah not leave our mouths or the mouths of our descendants. If you had a choice of having a child who will be either a successful doctor who is not religious, or a child who will learn in kollel for his entire life, which would you choose? Chazal, in instituting this prayer, reminded us that learning Torah is what we want for all of our children. Pesach’s father, although his son had a profession by which he could support himself, understood that the main objective in life is to learn Torah, and sent him to Ner Yisrael. I Am Your Servant, By Rabbi Akiva Tendler, Published By Artscroll Mesorah  page 357 (Torah)

27. I heard a story from Rabbi Avigdor Miller, In his shul, the door was locked, and a certain masmid wanted to enter to learn. He attempted to climb in through a window, and in the process shattered the glass. When R’ Miller came to the shul, he heard this man studying in a loud and beautiful voice. He was learning Bava Kamma, which discusses the laws of damages and thievery. Obviously what he was learning did not penetrate his heart or guide him to correct his ways. I Am Your Servant, By Rabbi Akiva Tendler, Published By Artscroll Mesorah  page 263 (accept what learn)

28. Once the Chofetz Chaim and the Rav of Charkov needed to speak to R. Chaim, who was then living in Warsaw. The two arrived at the home of R. Chaim when he was in the middle of Shemoneh Esrei. They stood in the corner of the room, waiting for him to finish. In the meantime, a Jew entered who did not seem to be in full possession of his wits. “Rebbe,” he called out, “why are there so many disagreements in Shas?” R. Chaim was just finishing his Shemoneh Esrei. He took three steps back, thought for a moment and then turned to the man, “That is incorrect! In comparison to the many statements in Shas that are not disputed, the number of disagreements is fewer The Chofetz Chaim began his discussion with R. Chaim, and upon its conclusion he left with the rav of Charkov to get the train that would take them back to Radin. Normally the Chofetz Chaim was very talkative — he would constantly say divrei Torah and discuss the state of Yiddishkeit in the world and the possibilities of improving things — however, on this journey he was silent. To the surprise of the Rav of Charkov, for the entire way back to Radin the Chofetz Chaim was deep in thought. For many hours, he said almost nothing. Finally, as the train was about to arrive at their station, he awoke from his trance and exclaimed, “R. Chaim is a gaunt” Only then did the rav of Charkov realize that for the entire trip, the Chofetz Chaim had been reviewing all of Shas in his  mind, and had now finally come to the conclusion that R. Chaim was correct. The number of disagreements is indeed fewer than the number of places where there is no argument The Brisker Rav, By R’ Shimon Yosef Meller, Published By Feldheim page 50 (learn)

29. During a certain period, R. Chaim needed to take daily walks for health reasons. He would tell Velvele to “pack up provisions” for the walk. What were the provisions? A new kashe of R. Akiva Eiger. He would prepare the kashe, and then the two would set out, discussing it as they walked?“ The Brisker Rav, By R’ Shimon Yosef Meller, Published By Feldheim page 89 (learning Torah)

30. Rev Aaron Kotler once told a businessman who had a night learning session that it is important to have an early morning session when one’s mind is freshest. 1 hour in the morning is worth two at night he said (learn in morning)

31. From the following incident we can learn about the attitudes of previous generations regarding diligence in Torah studies. The Brisker Rav heard it from his father and would often share it with his fam­ily and friends: When R. Chaim was first married and he was unable to acquire  his own set of arba minim, he would  use those of his grandfather-in-law,  the Netziv. The custom was that the  congregation would not begin re­ citing Hallel until R. Chaim made  his berachah and shook his arba  One year, on the first day  of Sukkos, when it came time for   · R. Chaim to take the arba minim, he was nowhere to be seen in the shul. When the Netziv noticed his absence, he instructed the congre­gation not to wait any longer and to begin reciting Hallel. A few min’.'” utes later, R. Chaim appeared at the entrance to the shut, and the Netziv hurried over to give him the chance to make the berachah as was his custom. Surprisingly,, R. Chaim refused, saying that he would explain his behavior later.   When the prayers were concluded,, the Netziv asked him to  explain why he had not taken the arba minim. “Why is this year different from all other years?”  . R. Chaim answered that a she’eilah had arisen regarding the Netziv’s esrog. This question, he added, “applies only to me. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”  . “What do you mean?” asked the Netziv. “If there is a  she’eilah regarding the esrog, surely it applies to me the same as to you.”  Only then did R. Chaim explain his reasoning: “This year is the eighth year of the shemittah·cycle1 and your esrog came from Eretz Yisrael. Even thogh it comes from a non-Jew, neverthe­less, it was harvested in the seventh year, and I am machmir on myself in this.   “If so, said the Netziv, “Then it is a she’eilah for me as well.” .:  The next  day the second day of Yom Tov, at about four in  -‘. the morning, R. Chaim was awakened by a knock at his door. It was thesha1nmas of the Netziv, who had been sent to call for R. Chaim. R  .. Chaim was quite disturbed, wondering what could · be the matter necessitating his coming to the Netziv at such an early hour on Yom Tov. He got dressed without a word and rushed.to the Netziv’s hou.se to find him sitting among mountains of sefarim of Rishonim and Acharonim. The Netziv welcomed him with joy, announcing, “I have good news for you; you can    make a berachah on my esrog today with no problem. Immedi­ately after our discussion yesterday I sat down to analyze the question I have been at it since then, and I have concluded beyond any doubt that it is permissible to fulfill the mitzvah with my esrog.”  The Netziv began to elaborate the details of his reasoning,    but R. Chaim interrupted him, “I have not yet said  birchos haTorah.” ·He then stood himself in the corner of the room and began saying the berachos slowly and with great concentration,· as was · his custom. · ·   When he concluded his blessings, R. Chaim was astonished to see tears  flowing down the cheeks of the Netziv. “What is it?” he asked.·   “How will I not weep,” responded the Netziv, “when a young avreich like you has not said birchos haTorah by f9ur o’clock in the morning?! What will become of the next generation?!”  R. Chaim would tell this story to The Brisker Rav adding: Everyone knows about the principle of yeridas ha-doros, that sub­sequent generations lose something in comparison with the previous ones especially when it comes to ruchnius. But, I will tell    you something more: yerida ha-doros exists even from one gen­ eration to the next-look at the huge difference between the  Netziv and myself. He could not understand how a Jew could    hope to grow and become a gadol if he was still sleeping at four in the morning on Yam Tov. And this upset him so that he wept over it. And we … what do we have to say for ourselves?  The Brisker Rav, By R’ Shimon Yosef Meller, Published By Feldheim page 45 (wake up early)

32. Rabbi Avraham Pam compares people conversing in Torah to the newly engaged young woman who shows off her engagement ring to others. The girl is so excited that she wants to share the tangible evidence of her joy with everybody. Likewise, one who appreciates the sparkling beauty of the Torah’s wisdom wants everybody else to share in his joy. God remembers these moments of passion and repays man for them. (torah at a table) (The Pirkei Avos Treasury By Rabbi Moshe Lieber)

33. Rabbi Yisroel Salanter was invited to dine with a talmid who was known for having long Torah discussions during the Shabbos meals. R’ Yisroel agreed to come on the condition that they would not speak divrei Torah, and only sing ;the regular Shabbos songs. The talmid agreed. After the meal the cook went to R’ Yisroel and blessed him for the brief meal. “I work hard and am so tired that I cannot stand on my feet. Please come again next Shabbos.”

34. Some people like to stretch out the Pesach Seder. The wife is often very tired and there may be guests and children who have difficulty remaining awake at the table. Mishkal hachassidus suggests not prolonging the seder. Coming late to a chavrusa because of another mitzvah, or coming home late at night when the family is waiting and has not been told the reason, may not be what Hashem wants. Rav Tendler maintained that people who hire a babysit- ter must consider her before deciding to stay out later than arranged. I Am Your Servant, By Rabbi Akiva Tendler, Published By Artscroll Mesorah  page 219 (parech, Torah at table)