Rav Shteinman Shlita And ... Menachem Begin

Rabbi Amichai Gordin in the Shabbat Bi-Shabbato weekly flyer.

"One who is impatient and does not wait until the proper time will not receive his due. But if somebody lets time take its course, the appointed hour will wait patiently for him." [Berachot 64a].   * * * * * *   The death of Rav Yehuda, the Rosh Yeshiva of Pompedita, in Babylon, left the yeshiva with the difficult task of choosing somebody to replace him. There were two very worthy candidates, Rabba and Rav Yosef. Should they choose Rabba, who was very skilled in his analytic abilities – "one who could uproot mountains" – or would the better choice be Rav Yosef, who was a fund of encyclopedic and broad knowledge – a trait known as "Sinai"?   The rabbis of Pompedita sent a question to the wise men of Eretz Yisrael. Their answer was simple: Sinai is to be preferred. Both characteristics are important, but broad knowledge serves as the basis for everything else. Only at a later stage does the ability to analyze come into play. And the choice was made, and Rav Yosef was told that he would be appointed.   But Rav Yosef refused. He explained, "The length of time when I will serve as Rosh Yeshiva is strictly limited. The longer I wait before I take on this appointment, the longer I will live. What will be in the end will be. I will not be impatient." Rabba was given the job of Rosh Yeshiva, and he served for twenty-two years, until his death. He was then replaced by Rav Yosef. * * * * * *   1913 – A small town on the border between Poland and Lita. The town had about three thousand inhabitants, some Jewish and some not. On Shabbat after the fast of the Ninth of Av a son was born to the secretary of the Jewish community. A few months later, a son was born to the gabbai of the synagogue. Both babies were cute and lively.   The difficult situation at the time of the birth of the two babies did not seem to promise much hope for them. The First World War wrapped their childhood in an envelope of destruction and storms. Nobody expected either of them to develop into great men. The thunder of the cannons drowned out the sound of the heavenly voice that declared that both of the men would become leaders. * * * * * *   The rabbi of the town was very strongly opposed to Zionism, a leader of the opposition movement. But the secretary of the town did not follow his rabbi. He taught his son to love Zion. It is no surprise to hear that the son was more famous than his father. The son was very active for the Zionist cause. Twice during the Second World War the Soviet government put him in prison. When he was released he moved to Eretz Yisrael, where he was an active participant in the war against the British. His entire being was dedicated to the struggle for establishing a Jewish state. * * * * * *   The gabbai's son took a different path. He spent all of his energies on another plane – the study of Torah. During the Second World War he fled to Switzerland, where he served as a rabbi. At the end of the war he moved to Eretz Yisrael, where he continued his dedicated Torah study. Later on, he was given a job as the head of a yeshiva for young men. * * * * * *   1977 – Jerusalem. Chaim Yavin, the top newscaster in the country, announced that the election had led to an "upheaval." After thirty years in the opposition, the son of the secretary of the European community, Menachem Begin, was elected Prime Minister of Israel. When he entered the office for the first time, he was asked, "Can you tell us what your style as Prime Minister will be?" Without batting an eyelash, he immediately replied, "In a good Jewish way." Begin's style was very different from the previous Mapai approach of native-born Israelis. While he was in office he emphasized the Jewish character of the country. The day he was elected, Menachem Begin visited the Western Wall, where he recited the Kaddish in memory of his family members who had perished in the Holocaust, including his father, the secretary of the town in Europe.   Six years later, Menachem Begin announced, "I cannot continue anymore." He resigned from his position and secluded himself in his home. Nine years later, Menachem Begin, the sixth Prime Minster of Israel, was buried on the Mount of Olives. As he had requested, he was buried as a simple Jew. * * * * * *   During all those years, the gabbai's son held the position of Rosh Yeshiva. He taught Torah to thousands of students. When the Council of the Great Men of the Torah was established five years after Menachem Begin passed away, Rav Shteinman was chosen as one of its members. In the year 2001, after Rabbi Shach passed away, Rav Shteinman was recognized by all as one of the leaders of the Chareidi community.   Av 5772 (2012) – Thirty-five years after Menachem Begin was elected Prime Minister, Rav Shteinman was chosen as the leader of the Chareidi community. At the age of 98, the son of the gabbai in Brisk became the leader – thirty years after the son of the secretary of the Jewish community in Brisk ended his public career.   * * * * * *   Both of these two important but very different figures had great patience. Begin waited in the opposition for thirty years until the doors of the Prime Minister's office opened up for him. Rav Shteinman waited for many decades until his time came. Patience is worth the effort. When the time comes, the doors will open. * * * * * * "One who is impatient and does not wait until the proper time will not receive his due. But if somebody lets time take its course, the appointed hour will wait patiently for him."