From an email:
HARAV CHAIM YISROEL BELSKY, Z’TL: For those who were privileged to have had some personal contact with HaRav Belsky, the loss is a staggering one. His Gaon’us in Torah, Ahavas Yisrael and Chesed will certainly be demonstrated by Seforim, Shiurim and biographies on his unique and precious life to be brought to light in the near future. We recall how he painstakingly reviewed our first Bulletins, not only editing language in Halacha--but improving our grammar as well! We would also sometimes send him Shailos by fax, and he would handwrite the answers--and fax them back! His life was dedicated to carrying on the mesorah of Halacha, providing the Halacha in new areas in the way that his Rebbeim would have paskened, and helping others better understand the Halachos and their underlying basis. When he gave a Halacha Shiur for us, it was invariably intertwined with practical hashkafa and effective mussar relating to the topic. In a typical Shiur, we would present him with a list of five to ten Shailos, and he would truly endeavor to answer all of them before ending the Shiur. He knew the areas that needed tikun--and spent time conveying his knowledge to K’lal Yisrael. A case in point would be “The Halachos of the Summer”, which we have presented in parts over the years. His specific knowledge of so much ‘scientific’ information made his p’sakim in the areas of electricity, brachos over contemporary foods, and other technical issues authoritative. He steadfastly held to his p’sakim, most recently in the areas of fish and water infestation, notwithstanding that other renowned Poskim disagreed. His vast knowledge of Halacha as it applies to each and every circumstance was legendary in his own time. For instance, a Shailah in one of our Shiurim was: “How can an older person be mekayeim the Mitzvah of Simchas Chosson V’Kallah if he can’t keep up with the dancing pace at Chasunahs?” HaRav Belsky responded that if one is genuinely happy at a Chasunah, his happiness will contribute to the Simcha in the entire hall--which will certainly be felt by the Chosson and Kallah. Another time, we asked him about what some referred to as “The Last Remaining Lachash”. That is, when one has a bone stuck in his throat, one should bring a bone of the same type, place it on the person’s skull and say “Chad Chad, Nochis Bola, Bola Nochis, Chad Chad.” [Rebbi Akiva Eiger, Z’tl (Yoreh Deah 335, D’H Nasnah) brings from the Maharil that this lachash is the last one we can generally use even in our days--as it is still “boduk um’nuseh.” ] HaRav Belsky advised us that not only is this lachash in full force and effect in our time--but that he himself implemented it on two different occasions! After September 11th, HaRav Belsky delivered a Shiur to an overflowing crowd who were seeking Da’as Torah at such a desperate moment. One of the questions presented was: “Should we daven that things ‘return to normal’”? HaRav Belsky responded: “Yes--most certainly we should. However, we must not lose focus on what is ‘normal’ to us. Normal means K’lal Yisrael living in Eretz Yisrael with a Beis HaMikdash as the focal point from which Kedusha emanates. We are never to lose sight of that fact!”
