The Rosh Yeshivah’s Mandate

PHOTOS Menachem Kozlovsky

It’s hard to imagine a better introduction to the ideals I would discuss with Rabbi Henach Cohen — listening to, and appreciating gedolei Torah — than his reaction when I called to request an interview. He said no. I suggested that perhaps the encounters and relationships he enjoyed with the great leaders of the Torah world, in his capacity of director of Chinuch Atzmai, could inspire others. He hesitated, then suggested, “I will call the Rosh Yeshivah and ask his opinion.”

“The rosh yeshivah” he refers to is Rav Malkiel Kotler shlita of Beth Medrash Govoha, grandson of Reb Aharon — whom a much-younger Henach Cohen was privileged to serve, acting as the Rosh Yeshivah ztz”l’s right arm in developing Chinuch Atzmai. Generations have come and gone, Rabbi Cohen has enjoyed a productive career — yet still, he asks.

Ultimately, he agreed to my request, but with a disclaimer.

“We are discussing the Rosh Yeshivah, not me. And before we begin to talk about Reb Aharon, you need to understand something. Chazal say, ‘im rishonim k’malachim — if the earlier generations were like angels …’ He was from a different world. Many gedolei Torah arrived here after the war and became roshei yeshivah, but he was a rosh yeshivah back there, while still in his twenties!