Memories
One day at Yeshivas Kol Torah, the talmidim in Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach’s shiur were awaiting his arrival to begin his daily shiur. Rav Shlomo Zalman entered the room but did not begin his shiur as he usually did. Instead, he said to the talmidim, “Did my students see the first page of the Hamodia this morning?”
The bochurim were shocked. – they didn’t usually hear questions like this from Rav Shlomo Zalman. The Rosh Yeshivah continued, “Did you see the article on the public examination which was organized by “Degel Yerushalayim” of Rav Menachem Porush?”
Rav Shlomo Zalman then removed a piece of newspaper from his pocket, and showed his talmidim the article. He said, “Listen to what’s written here – I’ll read it to you word by word. ‘Silence descended in the hall at the moment that Maran Hagaon Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, the splendor of the generation, entered the hall. All those present stood on their feet with great excitement and broke out in song, ‘Siu Shearim Rasheichem.’ When the Maran arose to leave, the entire audience again stood on their feet and accompanied the Gaon with great respect, and the singing in his honor continued for several minutes following his departure from the hall.'”
Suddenly, Rav Shlomo Zalman arose from his chair and turned to the talmidim, “I want to ask you – does anyone in this shiur think that the honor they showed me in the hall is true honor? If there is somebody here who thinks that way, he doesn’t belong in my shiur!” But don’t think that a person who learns Torah does not merit honor; I will tell you what true honor is. When I arrived home, I saw my family waving to me from the window. They called out to me that an urgent phone call was awaiting me. I ran up the steps and took the phone and I heard the voice of Maran Hagaon Rav Moshe Feinstein, who was calling from America.”
“That day, Rav Moshe had been asked a complicated halachic question, and had toiled for several hours, delving into the rishonim and acharonim in order to provide a clear answer. However, he didn’t want to send them an answer until he heard my opinion.” “I ask you, my dear talmidim. What is the bigger kavod – The ‘silence which descended in the hall’ described in the newspaper, or the fact that Rav Moshe Feinstein waited to hear my opinion? As Chazal say, ‘There is no kavod but Torah!” (Barchi Nafshi)
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During the Chasam Sofer’s old age, it became difficult for him to give over a shiur for the yeshivah, and he requested that his talmidim appoint his son, the Ksav Sofer, who was still quite young, in his place. His talmidim were dismayed by his suggestion. They couldn’t imagine that the Chasam Sofer’s young son was capable of transmitting a shiur on the caliber of his father’s shiurim. However, after the talmidim heard the Ksav Sofer’s shiurim, which were brilliant in their depth and clarity of thought, they were astounded by his genius. They hurried to the Chasam Sofer to praise his son. “Our Rav is fortunate that he was zocheh to such a brilliant son,” they said.

Tears of happiness appeared in the Chasam Sofer’s eyes. He replied to them, “Do you think that I was zocheh to such a son for nothing? You should know that I was zocheh to him through a vessel of tears. From the day that my son was born, a tefillah did not pass by that I didn’t cry copious tears that He should succeed in Torah! This is the secret of his success! (Chut Hameshulash, Chayim Sheyash Bahem)

This week is B’Zchus: Rabbi and Mrs. Prevalsky on the birth of a boy.

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