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AS a bochur learning in Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim, I often drove my rosh yeshivah, Rav Henoch Leibowitz ztz”l, to yeshivah. One morning, he asked me to come inside first.

After I sat down, he told me that a dear chaver of my father, Rav Ephraim Wolf z”l, the rav of the prominent Great Neck Synagogue, had reached out to my father for help. Rav Wolf had shared with my father that as a result of a recent medical procedure he would be unable to deliver the derashos he usually gave over the Yamim Noraim. However, as many of the attendees only showed up to shul for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, he felt responsible to make sure they did not lose out on this annual dose of Torah. He’d reached out to my father for advice, and my father said he would consult with the Rosh Yeshivah.

Sitting in the Rosh Yeshivah’s home, he shared that he had decided that I should go to Great Neck to assist Rabbi Wolf. I protested, saying I wanted to be in yeshivah for the Yamim Noraim, but the Rosh Yeshivah just waved away my objection. “I am suggesting that you go,” he said, “not only because it is a chesed to Rabbi Wolf, as well as a chesed to your father who wants to help his friend, but mainly because I think it will be a good experience for you as well.” I knew the discussion was closed.

Before getting out of the car, the Rosh Yeshivah turned to me and said, “You will see that something wonderful will come out of this experience.”