Never Give Up

Rav Eliav Miller director of Lev Shomea: “He had a remarkable individual approach. Each bochur felt as though he took up his own space in the Rosh Yeshivah’s world.” (Photos: Eli Cobin)

Thursday night 22 Tammuz: In the beis medrash in Yeshivas Ohr Elchanan in Jerusalem the undercurrent of energy and chizuk that has overtaken the yeshivah in recent months is palpable. Since the diagnosis of Rav Moshe Mordechai Chodosh the beloved rosh yeshivah the talmidim continue hour upon hour with renewed resolve knowing that the Rosh Yeshivah is in his apartment just a few feet away from the study hall.

The door opens. “The Rosh Yeshivah is here!” students exclaim in whispered excitement. Rav Moshe Mordechai enters the beis medrash and asks to speak. A late-night sichah is unusual — but then again the whole situation is unusual and the talmidim cluster around to hear their rebbi’s words.

“It says that Bnei Yisrael went out to fight one thousand to each mateh” he began emotionally. “The Midrash says that they sent one thousand and then another thousand so that while they were fighting they would see the difficult situation and would daven for Klal Yisrael. Because actually seeing the difficult situation in front of you awakens you to daven.” The meaning of his words was clear to all the bochurim. Yet in a flash the Rosh Yeshivah reverted to speaking about the current sugya and soon despite the late hour the bochurim were deep in conversation trying to reconcile the differences between Rabi Yochanan and Rabi Chanina in Maseches Gittin.