Kavod Chachomim

One of the yesodos upon which our mesorah stands is the respectability of our chachomim. I know a Rosh Yeshiva who enjoys "bringing the gedolim down to our level". So he tells the students that Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, Rosh Yeshivas Mir, wore short sleeved shirts [which is not acceptable in some circles and very very uncommon among Roshei Yeshiva]. Now, these students have no idea of the greatness in Torah of Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz. They never learned his "Shaarei Chaim" [I hope you have because it is beyond any pleasure this world has to offer] and they haven't even learned his "Sichas Mussar" so all they are left with is the fact that he wore short sleeved shirts. So anytime they hear his name he will be "the guy" who wore short sleeved shirts.

This same Rosh Yeshiva likes to tell about about how another famous Rosh Yeshiva [whose name I omit for obvious reasons] once listened to a basketball game where Israel beat Russia and he was very happy. I am not sure that he sat for 2 hours and listened on the radio to a basketball game. I am also not sure that he assigned importance to a silly game. What I am sure of is that he has many sefarim of the deepest Torah on Shas and that was the essence of his life. But for the students of this Rosh Yeshiva-Gedolim-debunker he will be the rabbi who was part of the action when Israel beat Russia. He is just like me:-). I don't believe that this brings anyone close to Torah. I DO think that it is a terrible disgrace and question the wisdom of the person who fondly repeats this story.

There is a lecturer on a popular Torah website who likes to tell about a certain Rosh Yeshiva who went to the opera in his youth. That is either lashon hara [if he did] or motzi shem ra [if he didn't]. It seems to me that this is his way of cutting this Torah giant down to size. Why does he NEVER say any of his unbelievable Torah in his name. His life wasn't about opera. He certainly never taught his students to attend opera. His life was about learning and teaching Torah but all the innocent listener will know about him is that he is the rabbi who liked opera. Sad.

If you are rasing children, PLEASE always have the UTMOST RESPECT for talmidei chachomim. That is critical if you want your children to grow up ehrliche yidden.

Hopefully more to come....