A couple of days ago I was in Bnei Barak visiting a friend of mine and as I was there for the first time he toured me around the city. It was incredible how many Yeshivot there are and how many children live in the city. Needless to say I stood out as a bit odd, as it was apparent that I was not a yeshiva bachur, although I wore decent clothing and a cap still for those little children who dont often see people that wear clothing with other colours than black and white I looked like I came from the moon:) The good thing was that my friend is a Rabbi and himself wears the yeshivish outlook so I was so to say ‘covered’.
At night while we drove through the city my friend asked me if I wanted to see the Rav Steinman, and having no idea that this would be possible, I was thrilled to go. So off we went to Chazon Ish no.5
I expected to see a big house as HaRav Steinman is a big leader in the Yeshiva world, but to my surprise his house was very small, modest, nothing special. We entered the house (the door being open) and it was full with men praying Maariv, I mean full, more than 50 people in a small room, everybody trying to get as close as possible to the Rav. After Maariv was over people could go to ask for a blessing or advice and there was a whole lineup.
After checking out the line, I was thinking of what kind of question I wanted to ask, so I asked my friend if I could ask what was permissible for a Christian to study (i.e. besides Tanach), but he said that that wouldnt be a good idea. Perhaps the idea of a Christian coming into the house of the Rav altogether wouldnt be a good idea, and actually my friend told me in advance not to go about spreading that I was not Jewish.
He said just go ask for a b’rachah, so thats what I did. I said אני רוצה ברכה. And he replied something like ?לפי בעל תשובה and so my friend told him that it was not for becoming a baal teshuvah, he said, הוא אהב תורה ומצוות the Rav nodded, and gave the b’rachah.
Below is a short clip, but really you cant see much, only the first second you see me and the Rav.
It was truly amazing to hold the hand of the Rav, as I looked at him, I was reminded of my own grandfather z”l, his face showing so much experience, so much wisdom. Here was sitting a spiritual giant, who per day gets about 300 people coming to him for advice, who has leaders of the nation asking for his wisdom and without appointment he receives me and countless others with mundane requests, some asking for which yeshiva they should attend, others for deciding whether to take a certain job.
It was truly amazing, something I will not forget. May Hashem grant HaRav Steinman many days of peace and learning still to come.
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