Closed Eyes, Open Heart

It wasn’t the first time that Gerrer Rosh Yeshivah Rav Shaul Alter visited the US and delivered his signature shiurim to top-tier yeshivos around the Tristate area. Last week’s visit though, in which the Rosh Yeshivah, together with his brother Rav Daniel Alter, were welcomed by various communities across the metro area, came on the heels of a new horizon: the Rosh Yeshivah’s opening of a network of mosdos, from cheder to yeshivah ketanah and through kollel. The crowds were fueled by the Torah the Rosh Yeshivah was sharing at every encounter to audiences of every stripe.

Photo: Tzemach Glenn

In his few days in the US, the Rosh Yeshivah, the second son of the Pnei Menachem zy”a (his siblings include Rav Yaakov Meir, Rav Yitzchok Dovid, Rav Yehuda Aryeh Leib z”l, Rav Moshe Betzalel z”l, Rav Daniel Chaim, and Rebbetzin Esther Lippel), delivered five public shiurim to packed batei medrash in Monsey, Lakewood, Manhattan’s West Side, Williamsburg, and Boro Park. It was a special treat for those who don’t hear him in person, yet read his printed Torah in a weekly compilation, distributed in 17 cities in Eretz Yisrael and around the Jewish world. In addition, it was an introduction for thousands of others who’d never been exposed to the Rosh Yeshivah before.

For the 10,000-plus crowd that crushed into a massive tent in Boro Park last Shabbos for tefillos and tishen, it was the highlight of a historic week.

The thousands in attendance already knew about Rav Shaul’s trademark anivus — he always sits at the tish, or any other time he’s in front of a large crowd, with closed eyes, in order to shield himself from the inherent gaavah that comes with being in front of huge, adoring throng. But some people noticed a conversation taking place at the head table in the middle of the tish. It was Rav Daniel on his right telling him, “The oilam wants you to vinch them l’chayim. Open your eyes, look at them, and bless them!” Then the Rosh Yeshivah turned to Rav Moshe Fogel, rav of Gur in Boro Park, who was on his left — Rav Fogel also encouraged him. “But,” the Rosh Yeshivah practically pleaded, “it’s not good for me.” (In fact, before he left Eretz Yisrael, Rav Shaul told his talmidim that they should daven for him. “For hatzlachah?” they asked. “Also,” the Rosh Yeshivah answered, “but daven for me that if the trip is a success, it won’t bring me to gaavah.”) Now, on the dais, Rav Fogel turned to him and said, “Don’t worry, you’re doing good for other Yidden — nothing will happen to you.”