Venerable individuals still among us share their recollections of personal encounters with yesteryear's giants
Toronto, Ontario
The thousands gathered at Binyanei Ha’umah for the 2012 Dirshu Siyum HaShas would never forget the scene. An elderly man with a shining face mounted the stage, six young boys following him in tow. The lights were dimmed and a spotlight was projected above the lectern. Mr. Avrohom Bleeman began to sing in a cantorial voice: “Hein goalti, hein goalti, eschem acharis k’reishis,” repeating the words until the crowd caught on and joined along with gusto. Elderly roshei yeshivah locked arms and joined in. Tears flowed down Mr. Bleeman’s cheeks as he recalled the first time he’d learned this holy niggun, a spirited tune that had accompanied him through the flames of hell.
Born into a prestigious family of Gerrer chassidim in a small Polish town south of Radom called Drildz (Iłża), Avrohom Bleeman merited meeting many great tzaddikim in his early years. Some of the leading rebbes of prewar Poland would occasionally spend a Shabbos in town, and in this way he got to meet Rav Shaul Yedidya Taub of Modzhitz and Rav Yechezkal Halshtok of Ostrovtza, among others.
As he approached his bar mitzvah, his father, Reb Nosson Nota brought him to Gur to receive a brachah from his rebbe, the Imrei Emes. Reb Avrohom can still recall the great tzaddik placing his hand on his head and blessing him with success in his learning, infusing him with strength that he’d carry with him for life.
Those few brief moments that he had spent in the presence of the titular leader of Polish Jewry would be etched in his memory forever. “When I was in the camps, I saw the Rebbe’s image before my eyes, and that’s what kept me going. I still see it in front of me today.”
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