Guest Post by Zalman Alpert, Judaica Reference Librarian at the Gottesman Library of Yeshiva University from 1982–2014
In my many years 1982-2014 as a librarian at the Mendel Gottesman Library of Yeshiva University, I was honored to meet many important rabbonim, who would visit YU and the MGL. Many Chassidic Rebbes visited YU among them the late Sadigurer rebbe, the Burstiner rebbe, the Koudenover Rebbe, the Kaluver Rebbe and Helmitzer Rav Ztl. Even more Chassidic Dayanim, Rabbonim or Magide Shiur used the library, and I was honored to establish relationships with several of them.
Additionally, Chasidic Dayanim from all Hasidic groups, used the library via phone requests, including dayanim from Satmar, Lubavitch, Pupa, Belz and other groups. The phone was also the vehicle used to access the library by which the Biyaner Rebbe shlita, whose father Dr Menachem Breuer was on the faculty of YU, the Krasner Rav and Bialer rebbe of B'nai Brak contacted the library as well.
The same can not be said in regards the Eylam Hateyre ie the Yeshiva world, I can hardly recall any American Rosh Yeshiva using the library in person or via the phone, with one notable exception about which I hope to write at another time.
I suspect YU was too close to home so to speak for these Rabbonim to accord it any respect. In pre-war days most visiting Roshe Yeshiva from Polish Lita honored YU by giving a guest shiur there, with one Rav Shimen staying at YU for a year as a Rosh Yeshiva min haminyan, on leave from his hometown of Grodna. Yeshiva world mythology presents 2 exceptions to this, being Rav Elchonon Wasserman HYD and Rav Aron Kotler who refused to give shiurim at YU. I have not researched this but indeed it is probably fact that they boycotted YU.
Years ago as the Gottesman Library was discarding old circulation files I fished out a number of circulation cards indicating that Rav Aaron Kotler borrowed books at the Gottesman Library during the years 1942-45.
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| Cards with book requests made by R. Aharon Kotler from Yeshiva University |
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| Cards with book requests made by R. Aharon Kotler from Yeshiva University |
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| The verso of each of the cards, which state the name of the library, Yeshiva University |
It remains unknown whether he was actually there personally, but clearly these books were designated for his use, perhaps via a messenger. That they were intended for Rav Aron was not hidden and on one card he is identified as Rosh Yeshiva of Klezk!
The books he borrowed were all lomdische seforim with the exception of Chut haMeshulosh חוט המשולש, by the Bergszazer Rav, R Shlomo Sofer about the Eiger-Sofer family which is in the bechinah of sichos chulin shel talmide chachomim in general.
My Rebbe, Rav Shimen Romm ZTL of YU was also a Kletzker talmid but never reconnected with his old rebbe in the US. When several of the current Lakewood Roshe Yeshiva were in our shul, Rav Romm repeated a chiddush by Reb Aron to them from the early 1930s.
“The books he borrowed were all lomdische seforim with the exception of Chut haMeshulosh...”
ReplyDeleteA much more interesting (unnoticed) exception is Emunas Chachamim by R. Aviad Basilla (erroneously attributed on the circulation card to “R. Shimshon”, the former’s father), bound together with ‘haMiddos le’Aristotle’.
(If I had to guess, the handwriting looks like R. Kotler’s which would mean he was there personally, unless you were able to fill out circulation cards off premises in which case he could have sent them via messenger. In any case, the handwriting I’m sure could be identified easily by those in the know.)
Perhaps R. Ahron Kotler was borrowing אמונת חכמים for a friend
DeleteFor the cynical reason one wouldn’t accept that RAK was borrowing it for himself I’d think it follows that he didn’t either have friends who’d read it :)
DeleteTrue, but his friend might have a friend who would read it..
DeleteStill, guilty by association. Theory: it was borrowed only so others wouldn’t read the two books.
DeleteThe handwriting looks like his to me, aside for maybe one or two of them.
ReplyDeleteGreat piece. Note that those years he lived in the upper West Side, and he opted YU over JTS. It’s hard to believe that R’ Shimon Rom dis-associated himself from Reb Aharon, and do you think when Reb Aharon made one of his many parlor meetings for BMG or Chinuch Atzmai or ….. Rom wouldn’t show?
ReplyDeleteRabbi Romm was far removed from the hashkofa of Lakewood.He was a Mizrachi,strong believer in college and secular studies and no kanoeh
ReplyDeleteHe always spoke about the Kovner model of frumkayt,seeing bachurim with zizith out made upset him etc
No I doubt Rav Romm would participate in the parlor meetingThanks for the comments and hehoroth
Zalman
Yasher koach Reb Zalman!Please be mehane the olam with more of your yedios of Rabbinic and seforim history.Your anivus and pashtus prevents you from sharing your treasures.I suggest you start your own website for your many yedidim who look up to your menchlichkeit and honesty!
ReplyDeleteR. Zalman Alpert will G-d willing be writing many more posts, which I will be posting as he writes them, though even 10,000 posts won't do justice for the encyclopedic knowledge of R. Zalman.
DeleteI agree 100%!As for you Mr Mizrahi please write more often.It is a pleasure reading your articles and doing business with you.
ReplyDeleteIn Keshet Giborim (Shurin-1965) there's supposed to reference to an an account told by Rav Polayoff how HG"R Aharon Kotler did say a Shiur at REITS on the behest of H"G Rav Henkin.
ReplyDelete**in 1935 when Rav Aharon visited NY
ReplyDelete