In Sights: Issue 989

MYgrandparents lived in Bnei Brak, and I was fortunate enough to spend time with them as well as visit many gedolim who lived there. After closely observing the gadol hador Rav Elazar Menachem Shach ztz”l, rosh yeshivah of Ponevezh, I learned that the absolute best time of the week to visit him was on late Friday afternoons. His students were busy preparing for Shabbos, he wasn’t in the midst of preparing shiur, and the crowds were sparse at that time. So whenever I spent Shabbos with my grandparents, I would use the opportunity to visit with the Rosh Yeshivah.

One Friday afternoon, as I was waiting on the short line to speak with him, his grandson came in to the room and announced that everyone had to leave. In response to one person’s protest, the grandson politely explained that the Rosh Yeshivah has an abscess on his leg that must be removed, and the doctor had arrived to perform the procedure.

I wanted the opportunity to observe and learn from the Rosh Yeshivah’s conduct, so I stayed in the room, trying to remain inconspicuous (as you can imagine, I was very young at the time). The doctor approached Rav Shach and, together with his grandson and one attendant, began an intense discussion. A few minutes later, the grandson noticed me and called me over. Embarrassed, I was prepared to be shown the door.

To my surprise, though, the grandson told me my help was needed. He explained that the doctor wanted to give the Rosh Yeshivah an anesthetic to spare him the excruciating pain, but the Rosh Yeshivah refused. He would be giving the shiur klali on Sunday morning and wanted to have a clear head to prepare properly. He was concerned that the after-effects of the anesthesia would hinder him from learning with the necessary depth and concentration required for the preparation of the shiur.