Highlighting the care and concern of a true gadol b’Yisrael
Yet even with all the pulsating excitement, the biggest thrill of the day seemed to be when the Staten Island Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Reuven Feinstein, entered the park to greet the rebbeim. He was driven in on a rented golf cart, chauffeured by Rabbi Naftali Miller, one of the founders of Chasdei Lev, and began dispensing chizuk to the crowds who gathered around to greet him. One rebbi wanted a brachah, another wanted to wish a gut moed to his rosh yeshivah, and a third wanted a picture of his family with a gadol. The atmosphere was joyous as cameras clicked and flip phones were held high, the audience intent on capturing the image of Rav Reuven radiating a true simchas Yom Tov.
After a few minutes, though, Rav Reuven turned to Rabbi Miller, and said quietly but urgently, “Naftali, I have to go. Please turn around and take me back to the car.”
Rabbi Miller was slightly taken aback — the Rosh Yeshivah had been scheduled to be in Keansburg for some time — but naturally, he turned the golf cart around and took Rav Reuven back to his car, where he was driven back to Staten Island.
Rabbi Miller had to get back to the park to run the event, but later that day he called the Rosh Yeshivah, and tentatively asked what was the urgent issue that had forced Rav Reuven to cut his visit short.
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