Who We Really Are

What is left to say about Rav Chaim Kanievsky ztz”l that has not already been said?

Even two weeks after his death, it still remains remarkable that over a half-million mourners attended the funeral of this humble man who was not a head of state, or a famous celebrity, or a renowned politician, but one whose only desire was to continue learning — and living — Torah every possible moment of every day. So universal was the love and reverence for him that the proceedings were front-page news even in secular papers, and were carried by all Israeli radio and TV networks. An avowedly secular writer, who admitted that the word kadosh/holy had no meaning for him, wrote that simply watching this man interact with those seeking his advice and his blessing helped him understand the meaning of kadosh.

The genuineness of this overwhelming response is an indication of what Jews are really made of. No matter how distant we seem to be from G-d and Torah, deep down within each Jew there glows an eternal flame that is brightened by an encounter with purity, holiness, and an unbounded love for Jews of all kinds.

Such was the life of Rav Chaim Kanievsky; it rekindled our true inner selves, and reminded us of who we really are.