Tonight is the 28th Yahrtzeit of Rav Gustman ztz"l:
When Rav Yisroel Zev Gustman ztz”l passed away, he was the last living testimony to the great yeshivos of prewar Europe and the venerated Vilna beis din. But the past and future converge as the small yeshivah he created in Jerusalem’s Rechavia neighborhood is being revitalized, bringing back the Rosh Yeshivahs’s special credo: that the yeshivah remain a fortress, while never losing sight of the rights of the neighborhood residents to feel respected.
None of the words in the real estate agent’s arsenal — charm, elegance, mystique — can really do justice to the neighborhood, because, like everything in this holiest of cities, it is of a dimension beyond the physical.
Here, rays of golden dust rain down into streets too narrow to contain their own rich history, and buildings built for inhabitants of one world are still servicing the needs of another. And, in a grand old building at the corner of Ibn Ezra and Ramban, there is a sense of prophecy fulfilled.
The Rosh Yeshivah stood in contemplation, a lone figure by the Holy Wall. “Ribono shel Olam,’ he said out loud, “we know that the Rambam writes, ‘Amar Hashem’ at the beginning of his commentary, because whatever he writes, it’s all from You. The words of the gedolei hador are really Your words, Ribono shel Olam. Now I have a dilemma. I can buy a building for the yeshivah in Geulah for forty thousand dollars, or one in Rechavia, where it’s one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. But, Ribono shel Olam, the Tchebiner Rav told me to purchase the one in Rechavia, so that means that You say so as well, correct?”
The Rosh Yeshivah waited a moment before continuing. “Okay, shetikah k’hodah.’ So, I suppose that means that you, Eibeshter, will help me find the means to purchase it.”
And, with that, the Rosh Yeshivah turned and walked away, a picture of contentment. And within days, he had the money for the building, confirming his faith in the Ribono shel Olam.
The Tchebiner Rav instructed him: “Geulah doesn’t need Torah; Rechavia does. Go build a yeshivah there, and bring Torah to the neighborhood.” [Mishpacha June 2011]
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An old not [yet] frum "Yekke" who lived in Rechavia, approached Rav Gustman and asked him who he is. Rav Gustman, as was his wont, answered "I'm the Shammes".
The Jew asked him what he intends to do. Rav Gustman responded that he is going to build a Yeshiva. The man was perceptibly annoyed.
"Does that mean that you are going to throw stones at us on Shabbos?"
Rav Gustman said "No. We are not going to throw stones. But before we are done we are going to do worse - you are going to start keeping Shabbos."
People would come from all over to hear his weekly Shiur Klali, including Professors, Rabbanim, Yeshiva Bochrim from other Yeshivos, all types. Rav Hutner used to travel from his Yeshiva to Rechavia to hear the shiur. It would start at 12pm exactly, but sometimes Rav Gustman would accompany Rav Hutner to his seat in which case it would start a drop later.
If you want to taste Rav Gustman's Gadlus - his Kuntresei Shiurim are available to all.
טעמו וראו כי טוב השם!!!
