These days, it has been 5 years since the passing of the wonderful Gaon, or as it is better to call him the sweet Gaon, Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Schulzinger, author of the Mishmar Halevi books.
Quite a bit has been written, written, and spoken about the diligence of this fascinating man, who managed to create a world, a civilization, a stage, in which people like the famous in Judah, the Hatam Sofer, the Rabbi of Brisk, the visionary Yehezkel, the congregations Yaakov, and the father Ezri play leading roles. In the arena that Rabbi Moshe Mordechai would set up, he would compete with a loud voice – one that turns external noises into the sound of thin silence – difficulty in the words of the Torah in a Nazir, with a settlement according to the words of the Rosh in Sota, excitement to the point of tears from the 'finding' of a rare Rashba in Holin, and worry to the point of anxiety from the lack of understanding of the words of the "very sweet Rashi" in the Sanhedrin – as he used to express himself. Other actors and contestants, incidentally, those who interest us in everyday life, had no place in Rabbi Moshe Mordechai's world, not only because of the principle of "Torah in its purity," but mainly due to a lack of genuine interest.
I tried to tell a little about the love of Torah that was in his heart in the previous list, which was posted Here last year, On the 4th anniversary of his passing.
In this column, I would like to bring into the spotlight a touching description, certainly to my taste, of his first meeting with his future father-in-law, Rabbi Shlomo Cohen, from the well-known author of the biography on the life of the Chazon Ish - 'Par Hador'. Thus tells Rabbi Schulzinger in his unique language.
""...and from the very first moment, his nobility of soul was evident in his statement to the matchmaker, Shlita [the matchmaker, A.H.], that the law allows him to come to the young man, and not the young man to come to him, because how is it possible for a yeshiva student to bother to come to him as if to be tested and to prove his quality... However, since coming to the yeshiva is not pleasant for the young man, and he does not live in Bnei Brak, he suggests meeting with his son-in-law Shlita, Shlita, but God forbid that the young man come to his house... And on the night of the holy Sabbath of Parshat Nasa 5724, I heard from him words that are worthy of being included on the journal as a souvenir, and this is what he said:
Here, truly, is it not very difficult for a person to speak about himself and present himself in the eyes of others, and I have never risked doing so. However, please know that all my behavior in life, both in matters of halakhic law and in the leadership of the house, is all from what I was privileged to receive from my teachers and Rabbi Chazo"a, and I have nothing from my own words, and everything is only from the example of my Rabbi - and indeed, how much I miss him since his passing, because I was accustomed to asking him everything and doing according to him, when someone asks about God - and so are the members of my family educated in this way. [Rabbi Schulzinger recalled that Rabbi Shlomo indeed said these words with his well-known calmness, with every word measured, but his eyes sparkled with excitement - as was his custom when he spoke about a sublime matter].
And here, too, in this matter, I received from him that when it comes to matchmaking, one must tell about oneself and announce one's virtues in a place where one is not known. And although, as mentioned, this is very difficult for me, nevertheless I am commanded to do this according to the instruction of my rabbi, which is why I am informing him... that, after all, my entire being is dedicated to the public, and even more so after the passing of my teacher and father-in-law, the late [the well-known philanthropist, Rabbi Chaim Yaakov Halperin, founder of the Zichron Meir neighborhood and more].
And here, for example, today, right up until the beginning of Shabbat, I was preoccupied with the affairs of others, both in acts of kindness and in other matters, but please know that with all the greatness of this matter, and it causes me to be very absent from my studies, it does not at all reach the love of Torah in my heart, and above all and before all stands my love of Torah and learning, and this is my inheritance from my ancestors and great masters, and I am null and void in the eyes of Torah learners, and everything I have is not worth the love of Torah and learning, and everything I have I am ready and willing to give for true Torah learners, and this is my essence and my innermost being.
And although it is not in my nature at all to speak about myself, I said all this to fulfill the instruction of the aforementioned Rabbi, and therefore I have come to inform you of all this, and you will discuss for yourselves whether there can be a connection between us in the s.d.
This simple, yet so innocent story that may bring tears to the eyes of even the greatest cynic, teaches something about the concept of a 'ben yeshivah' in those days, about the understanding of the term 'student', and about the form of matchmaking between a groom and a groom-in-law in 1964, which is significantly different from that of 2015.
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