In the days leading up to the Yamim Nora’im, prominent rebbes and rabbonim have been making their way to the home of Rav Moshe Shternbuch to exchange brachos for the new year.
Among the many who visited this past week were the Rebbes of Sanz, Rachmastrivka, Toldos Aharon, Bohush, Strikov, Parisov, and Zvhil, as well as Rav Yaakov Ades, Rav Moshe Shmuel Edelstein, and others.
One visit stood out in particular: The Rebbe of Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok, who rarely leaves his home due to his frailty, made the trip by his own request to receive a personal brocha from Rav Shternbuch before Rosh Hashanah.
When the Rebbe entered, he asked the senior posek to share words of chizuk ahead of the Yom Hadin.
Rav Shternbuch responded humbly, “And can one hear chizuk from me? I myself am in need of chizuk.”
The Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe countered that Rav Shternbuch possesses the strength of Torah and therefore does not need strengthening.
The Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe then bentched Rav Shternbuch: “Kesivah v’chasimah tovah, with long life and years, and may the Rav continue to spread Torah in abundance.”
Rav Shternbuch replied with a heartfelt brocha: “May no stumbling block ever come through your hands, may all your actions be in accordance with the will of the Creator, kesivah v’chasimah tovah, and may the Ribbono Shel Olam derive nachas from you.”
The discussion then turned to the anticipation of Moshiach. Rav Shternbuch remarked that while many Jews hope for Moshiach, not all truly wait for him. The Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe asked him to clarify the difference. Rav Shternbuch explained: “If someone tells you he is coming tomorrow morning at nine, you wait for him, because you know he’s coming. But if someone merely says he hopes to come, you don’t wait — you only hope.”
The Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe responded, “Yehi ratzon that we merit it very soon.”
Rav Shternbuch then shared an anecdote: “I remember being by the Brisker Rov, Rav Yitzchok Zev Soloveitchik zt”l. Someone bentched him to merit the coming of Moshiach soon. The Brisker Rov replied, ‘Do you know how ashamed we will be when Moshiach comes? We will be embarrassed before him. Do you think then we will be able to eat kugel peacefully?’”
The Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok Rebbe responded that despite this, after all the suffering Klal Yisroel has endured, the process will surely be easier. Rav Shternbuch agreed that it indeed will.
{Matzav.com Israel}
