In many ways, the funeral of the Grach zt"l reminded me of the funeral of the Grach Yosef zt"l. There were quite a few differences between the two personalities, as is well known, and they too require study (fascinating in themselves), but in three aspects it seems that they were similar:
The public's love for them is immense. An unqualified love, expressed in affection, sweetness, and a sense of closeness from the ordinary Jew to the great man. And this love is based, in my opinion, on another identical aspect: respect for the Rabbi's Torah greatness alongside his accessibility to 'ordinary' people.
Both Rabbi Ovadia and Rabbi Chaim were known for their monumental perseverance, the scope of their phenomenal knowledge, their erudition, and their ability to encompass all aspects of the Torah in each answer.
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
A common mistake made by ignorant and international people, journalists, and even researchers of Haredi society is that Rabbi Yosef and Rabbi Kanievsky had a charismatic, or even spiritual, personality that managed to attract the masses. The origin of this mistake stems from both a lack of familiarity with the rabbi and a lack of familiarity with the people.
The ultra-Orthodox, religious, and Torah-observant public first and foremost admires greatness in the Torah. First and foremost, and after all else.
If Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky had not been so great in Talmud Torah, they would not have been remembered for this appreciation. When they received this recognition, there is no doubt that their personal and spiritual abilities also contributed. Indeed, the basis for the consensus surrounding these figures was their greatness in Torah.
Then the third aspect resurfaces, only now it takes on a clearer meaning.
This immense greatness in the Torah, recognized by all levels of society, on the one hand made them exalted above the people, but at the same time, in their behavior, they 'descended' to the people and made themselves part of it.
Both Rabbi Ovadia, in his sweet folk-likeness, and Rabbi Chaim, in his patient and endless acceptance of the hundreds of people every day, made it clear: You may think we are huge, but from our perspective, we are part of you.
If a young man at the age of 13 arrives alone and on his own strength at the "Yazidim" and accompanies the rabbi to the car, and if at the same age he allows himself to send a letter to Rabbi Kanievsky and receive one reply after another from him (to the great joy of my mother, who, by the way, is convinced to this day that I am the only yeshiva student who corresponded with him), then Haredi socialization has made it clear to the young Haredi, even without him hearing about it explicitly - that he can and is allowed to touch these great people.
The absolute recognition that it would always be possible to reach Rabbi Chaim for advice and blessings, and that Rabbi Ovadia grew out of us and works for us, gave not only love and affection to the two, but, if I may use an appropriate and precise term - 'sweetness' - which describes the feeling of the masses towards the two people who were recognized by their first names - Rabbi Ovadia and Rabbi Chaim.
It is not appropriate, of course, to give 'grades' to the 'great ones', and there is no statement, God forbid, about another great one. However, the strong feeling that flooded the Haredi street starting on the 15th of Adar 5782, brought up - at least for me anyway - a distinct association with the 3rd of Cheshvan 5774.
