As the Torah world recently marked the 50th yahrzeit of the indefatigable Torah giant, Hagaon Harav Aharon Kotler zt”l, it was particularly noted at the Chevron Yeshiva Knesses Yisroel/Slobodka. As a young boy, the Rosh Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha and an “architect” of Torah in American and elsewhere, studied in the Slobodka Yeshiva. His son and successor, the legendary Harav Shneur Kotler zt”l also studied in the Chevron Yeshiva in the 1940’s, and was in fact, the brother-in-law of the late Harav Chaim Sarna zt”l, son of Harav Yecheskel Sarne zt”l.

“Rav Aharon and Rav Shneur were amongst an illustrious group of Roshei Yeshiva who studied in Slobodka/Chevron, but none had played a greater role in the resurgence of Torah after the war than the sage Harav Aharon Kotler zt”l,” said Harav Yosef Chevroni, Rosh Yeshiva of Chevron Yeshiva Knesses Yisroel. He continued: “It is said that while Rav Aharon was learning in Slobodka, he met the gadol Hador, Hagaon Rav Chaim of Brisk who remarked, “Someday half of the world will rest on this boy’s shoulders.”’ After the war, Rav Chaim’s son, the Brisker Rav, surveyed the enormity of the disaster that had befallen Klal Yisrael and sighed: “At least Hashem has done us one grace; He has left us Reb Aharon.”

The story of how Rav Aharon ended up in Slobodka is indeed inspiring. Orphaned at a young age, Rav Aharon was raised by his uncle Rav Yitzchok Pines, Dayan in Minsk. While in Minsk, he learned in a “kloiz” with such friends as Rav Meyer Karelitz, brother of the Chazon Ish, and his lifelong friend Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky. In his youth, he was – in the words of Reb Meier Simcha of Dvinsk – the greatest illui (prodigy) to be born in forty years. To Reb Chaim Ozer Grodzenski, he was the “Reb Akiva Eiger” of the generation. To the devastatingly critical “Ragotchover Gaon” – in what is perhaps the greatest tribute of all – “He knew how to learn well.” Both the Chofetz Chaim and Reb Chaim Ozer saw in him the future Gadol Hador – the Chofetz Chaim devoting more time to him than to any other single individual.

But with the ever-increasing danger posed by the “maskilim” – self appointed guardians of the enlightenment – the family decided to send him to Slobodka. It was the saintly Rav Reuven Grozovsky that ultimately brought Rav Aharon and Rav Yaakov to Slobodka. When letters continued to attempt to divert Rav Aharon from his lifelong mission, it was none other than Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel (“der Alter”) who confiscated the letters before they reached his prized talmid.

Rav Aharon’s strong connection to Slobodka and subsequently Chevron were evidenced in many ways and perhaps most vividly in a story about a 17-year old Holocaust orphan who made aliya with the Aliyat Hanoar program. Searching for meaning in life, he sought an education in many religious institutions but was somehow directed to Rav Aharon during one of his visits to Eretz Yisroel. The lad confided in the Rosh Yeshiva that he is planning to pursue a university education. Prodded by the Rosh Yeshiva to reveal what he would like to do as a profession, the young survivor responded that he wanted to become a teacher, to educate young children.

Rav Aharon is said to have made the following observation to the 17-year old: “It is impossible to water small flowers without a pitcher of water. With an empty pitcher, you cannot water them. I therefore recommend that you learn Torah and then you will be able to fulfill your ambitions.” When the young man inquired where to go learn, the Rosh Yeshiva immediately said Chevron.” Not only did the Rosh Yeshiva end up “farhering” him but arranged for a bochur to learn with him. The young man did not disappoint and became a close talmid of the Rosh Yeshiva.

In addition to the Roshei Yeshiva of Beth Medrash Govoha and Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, other illustrious talmidim included Rav Yechezkel Abramsky, Rav Avraham Grodzinski, Rav Reuven Grozovsky, Rav Yitzchok Hutner, Rav Yeruchem Levovitz, Rav Dovid Leibowitz, Rav Avigdor Miller, Rav Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman, Rav Dov Schwartzman, Reb Elazar Man Shach, Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz, Rav Shlomo Heiman, Rav Lezer Yehuda Finkel, and Rav Zalman Sorotzkin.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)