9 Responses

1. Rabbi Leiman was such a special Yid. How can I begin to write about him? But I must try. Boruch HaShem for having had the chance to know Rabbi Leiman.
   Rabbi Leiman, zt”l, was my family’s guide, mentor, and teacher over the past few years or so. Family members wanted to speak to Rav Miller, zt”l; Rav Miller sent them to Rabbi Leiman. Those family members connected us to Rabbi Leiman – and we were so fortunate that they did.
   Rabbi Leiman was a talmid chochom, and he knew the importance of learning. The many seforim lining his bookshelves were learned and lived. He knew a vast array of topics; for example, he gave shiurim in Navi and Kesuvim, including the not-often studied Divrai HaYomim. In his Sun. shiurim, he also taught Tehillim with his father, zt”l’s, peirush. And how many people do you know who teach Kuzari?
   Any of you fortunate to have davened from the Metsudah siddur or to have used the Viduy booklet with the picture of a person on the front cover were zoche to have used a sefer which Rabbi Leiman edited.
   Rabbi Leiman had wonderful verbal and linguistic abilities. He wrote, edited, and translated. And he knew how to make a good quip, one that made you laugh – and think. He was witty with his words – and got his point across. For example, when telling him, “It’s a habit!” he responded, “Habet miShamayim . . . !”
   Rabbi Leiman knew how to balance middos. He could be sharp where necessary. He didn’t flinch from giving mussor, from telling it how it was. And at the same time, he was gentle and oh so patient and caring. He spoke with a soft voice – that warmed the heart. When he had to give mussor, he did so in a firm, but calm, fashion. Always in control. Ah, yes, Rabbi Leiman. You told me about self-control . . .
   Rabbi Leiman was a person that could relate to people of all types and stripes. For example, attending his shiur you would find Sefardim and Ashkenazim, old and young, men and women. His Shabbos table, too, saw many people. And Rabbi Leiman taught Gemara to a relative of mine – someone with a weak background in learning – but Rabbi Leiman still did it. For those few weeks that their schedules coordinated, my relative had the zechus to learn from a rebbi.
   He was a rebbi – and he was a father. Aside for his own large family, bli ayin hora kain yirbu, he raised other children, too. And the caring, understanding, mussor, guidance, and warmth which I felt from my interactions with my rebbi in the past few years made me feel like I had another father. Rabbi Leiman understood that – and he fulfilled the role.
   Rebbi, I wish that I could remember all the lessons you taught me. But the general picture is with me – your tzidkus, your caring, your chesed, your wisdom, your insight, your guidance. In my mind’s eye, I can still picture you. A hadros panim, always with a happy, serene look. You always were thinking.
   Rebbi! Just a few months ago, you commented that you looked forward to dancing at my chasuna. Oy, Rebbi!
   I remember the dvar Torah you related regarding Kail Shakai being connected to producing further generations. If I recall correctly, you also told over that “hey” is related to producing further generations. Bilhah had two “heys” in her name – one for her, one for Rochel, so to speak – so Rochel was able to be built from Bilhah. You also told over a dvar Torah about the shape of seeds in an apple if you cut it crosswise; I’m sorry I don’t quite remember what the dvar Torah was. Something about 10 and 5 and a star shape. . .
   Rebbi! No more can I email you or call you for advice. Now whom can I turn to? No one can truly replace you, no matter the recommendation.
   I miss you, Rebbi. Please be a mailitz yosher for your mother, your wife, your children, your grandchildren, for all of Klal Yisroel, and for those of us who can fortunately – boruch HaShem – call ourselves your talmidim and talmidos. Please beg HaShem to save all of us from Chevlai Moshiach which are getting harder and stronger, faster and faster.
   Rebbi – thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for being my rebbi.

2. Baruch Dayan Emes

3. Rabbi Leiman zt”l was the most intense easy-going talmid chacham I have ever met. He new “a velt,” but mostly hid it with anivus. As the first commenter said, he realted to the most diverse group of people. Both sephardim and ashkenazim asked him to help establish minyanim for him. His knowledge of chassidus, history, mussar, halachah, and all areas of torah shebiksav and shel baal peh are legendary.

   For his son’s bar mitzvah, he helped prepare detailed mareh mekomos. There were handouts given at Rav Braun’s zt”l minyan that morning, and his son gave an incredible shiur. My father borrowed one copy of he 20-pr-so- page handout, and about a third of it became my own pshetl… enough to convince Rav Yosef Klein zt”l that I didn’t need a farher, I had already given an iyun shiur. Imagine the original, with three times as much material.

   Hamakom yenachem eschem besoch sh’ar aveilei tzion virushalayim. (I’m sure he’ll eventually give me a detailed, but friendly, critique of my transliteration.)

   Does anyone have shiva details?

4. Not only did Rabbi Leiman zt”l have a wide breadth and depth of Torah knowledge; you could talk to him about mundane matters, too. Whether it was which store to get fresh fish from, where to buy goat’s milk, or a suggestion to follow a certain diet to help me not feel so tired, Rabbi Leiman could give the answer.
   At the same time that Rabbi Leiman was so wise, he also knew what he did not know. Sometimes when I would ask him a sh’aila, he’d direct me to consult with a posaik. He knew his greatness. He knew his limitations, and that in itself is a greatness.
   As I read the third commentator’s parenthetical phrase, I smiled. I think you did a good job, but your comment is definitely characteristic of Rabbi Leiman. On more than one occasion, in emails, Rabbi Leiman corrected me, and I was glad. He put his editor skills to excellent use.
   Regarding shiva, you can take a look at Misaskim’s listing. Here, too, I owe gratitude to Rabbi Leiman; he told me once that Misaskim has their listing in Hamodia. It’s also on Yeshiva World. Anyway, Mrs. Leiman and four sons are sitting at 1860 Ocean Parkway, Apt. 1H, till Fri. I don’t know what time they are getting up. Shacharis is at 8:15, Mincha at 4:15, Ma’ariv at 8. One son and one daughter are sitting in Lakewood.
   Reb. Leiman – HaShem should give her strength! – is sitting in Eretz Yisroel, as well as her other son, Rav Shnayer Zalman, and two Leiman daughters. There is also a daughter who lives in South Africa.
   I would so enjoy seeing more comments, more memories, of Rabbi Leiman . . .When I spoke to Mrs. Leiman on the first day of Chanuka, she told me to write down my memories . . .
   Another point: this past summer, my family went through its own tzora. For the five weeks that my grandmother, a”h, was sick, I called and emailed Rabbi Leiman again and again and again. I don’t know how he was feeling at the time, but he kept responding and advising and caring.
   The erev Shabbos right before my grandmother was nifteres, I spoke to one of the relatives who was in the hospital. She told me, “the nurses say it will be sometime today.” Immediately, I called Rabbi Leiman. His response – I wish I could remember it exactly – was basically, “That’s nice. I prefer to believe in HaKadosh Boruch Hu!” Rebbi, you were right. Bubby was nifteres on Shabbos day itself and not that erev Shabbos nor that night!
   Oy, Rebbi. I wish you were here to give your advice on the current world matzav, to give your perspective . . . I lost my hashkofa teacher, my halacha teacher . . . Boruch HaShem, time does heal, but it’s a true loss.
   So appropos that you were niftor erev Chanuka, with the entire shiva during Chanuka. The light of Torah!

5. Rabbi Yehoshua Leiman, ZT”L was not only a Gevaldige Talmid Chocham but a true Ohev Yisroel. His superlative love for Klall was evidenced in the time he took to perform innumerable acts of Gemilas Chassadim for Jews from all backgrounds.

   His home was comparable to the Ohel of Avraham Avinu as he spread the light of Torah to a multitude of guests on a constant basis. I recall that he once said that sometimes the best tool to use to MeKarev someone is a delicious plate of cholent on Shabbos along with some kind words. He spent every waking moment being Osek B’Torah and he was renowned for his scholarship and prescience.

   His kindness, compassion and gentle nature will always be remembered with great fondness. May his precious neshoma have an aliya in Gan Eden and may his memory be for a blessing. Rabbi Leiman, you will be sorely missed and your absence from this world leaves Klall Yisroel was a painful void that cannot be filled. I ask mechila from you for not visiting with you and your Aishes Chayil as often as I would have liked over the last several years. The Tovim that you did will not be forgotten.

6. I couldn’t make the levaya. When and where is the familt sitting Shiva?

7. levaya was last week Sun. Shiva is over already.
   Mrs. Chana Leiman can be reached at 718 376 3715.

8. http://www.cross-currents.com/archives/2008/12/25/rav-yehoshua-leiman-zl/

9. Shloshim is Jan. 18, 7 pm, Young Israel of Ocean Parkway – near Kings Highway.