Mortified, I realized I had recorded this entire, very personal conversation
INthe last years of his life, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky ztz”l lived in Monsey, New York. Several people had the great zechus of driving the gadol hador wherever he had to go. One day, Rav Yaakov came to Brooklyn to spend Shabbos at the home of his son Rav Avrohom ztz”l, and I paid him a visit. Then I learned that his regular driver could not drive him back to Monsey. I jumped at the opportunity to do so and was able to work my way in to become one of the regular drivers.
During these rides, I had the zechus to speak to the Rosh Yeshivah about many different subjects, and I always brought along a cassette recorder to tape the conversations. This would give me the opportunity to review later all the incredible things I’d heard, and I would also share the tapes with other talmidim of the Rosh Yeshivah, who longed to hear his sichas chullin. Of course, I always asked permission before taping him, and Rav Yaakov always acquiesced.
One day I received a call that Rav Yaakov needed a ride from Monsey to Washington Heights to attend the levayah of the late rav of the Breuer’s kehillah, Rav Yosef Breuer ztz”l, and I eagerly agreed to drive him.
The Rosh Yeshivah entered the car, and out of habit, I placed the recorder under the armrest, not realizing I’d forgotten to ask permission to record the conversation. The Rosh Yeshivah began to talk in great detail about his personal life. He talked about his first marriage, then the years that he was widowed, and then about his marriage to his second rebbetzin a”h. It was, beyond a doubt, the most incredible conversation I had ever had with him, and I have shared the lifelong lessons he imparted then literally hundreds of times at so many different venues.
Create a free account to keep reading.
