A Century of Torah and Blessing: A Student of the Chofetz Chaim Remembers

A rare glimpse into the memories of Rabbi Menashe Winkler, who merited the Chofetz Chaim’s blessing for long life and spiritual growth.

One of the last living students of the great Torah scholar, the Chofetz Chaim, is Rabbi Menashe Winkler of Lakewood, New Jersey. Rabbi Winkler is now over one hundred years old and he carries with him a precious blessing that he once received directly from his admired teacher: the blessing for long life.

In a heartfelt conversation with the Shabbat Kodesh supplement of Yated Ne’eman, Rabbi Winkler shares his memories with clarity and emotion, as if they happened only yesterday. He recalls the radiant image of his teacher, the Chofetz Chaim, haKohen haGadol (the great Kohen) among his generation who not only elevated the study of Jewish law (halacha), but was also known for teaching the importance of guarding one's speech (shemiras halashon) with utmost care.

Rabbi Winkler offers rare firsthand testimony from the time he studied at the Radin Yeshiva 85 years ago. He even had the honor to speak personally with the Chofetz Chaim and receive his heartfelt blessing.

"I was born in Copenhagen, Denmark," he begins. "At around the age of 14, I traveled to Lithuania to study at the Radin Yeshiva. I’ll never forget the incredible joy I felt when I arrived especially the privilege of seeing the Chofetz Chaim in person. His reputation had spread across the Jewish world. For a young boy raised with simple faith and love for Torah, leaving home for such a distant journey was no small thing. But my deep desire to learn Torah in Radin gave me the strength to push through all the difficulties. I was zocheh (merited) to learn there for three terms."

A Visit Engraved on His Heart

"When I first arrived at the yeshiva in Radin, the Chofetz Chaim was no longer staying in town," Rabbi Winkler recalls. "This was the final chapter of his life, and he had gone to a small village nearby, about a half-hour away, to rest and recover. The village was called Degolstock, home to perhaps 50 families. My longing to see the Chofetz Chaim face-to-face, to hear his words and receive his blessing, only grew stronger.

"Despite the challenges, I decided I had to go. So I set out and traveled to the village where he was staying. When I entered the room and saw his holy face, I was overcome with emotion. The sight of this elderly tzaddik (righteous man) is engraved in my soul to this day.

"He sat on a kind of lounge chair, like one you might see at the beach, and he was covered with a net to keep away the flies. What can I say? His face shone like an angel. It was something beyond this world. Though he was physically weak, I gathered my courage and extended my hand. I said, ‘Shalom Aleichem, Rabbi.’

"He replied warmly, ‘Aleichem Shalom,’ and then asked me with a smile, ‘Where are you from?’ I told him I was from the yeshiva in Radin.

"When he heard that, his face lit up with a special joy. He blessed me with great warmth: that I should grow in Torah, that I should have good health to serve Hashem all my life, and that I should merit to live many long years. Baruch Hashem, this blessing came true. And then, with kindness in his eyes, he said goodbye.

"I will never forget walking away slowly from that room, trying to absorb every last glimpse of his holy face. It turned out to be the only time I would see him, but it remains etched in my heart forever."

Honoring Parents: A Living Torah

Rabbi Winkler also spoke about another Torah giant of that generation, Rabbi Baruch Dov Leibowitz, and his extraordinary dedication to honoring his parents. "Everyone knew how much Rabbi Baruch Dov toiled in Torah. But few knew how careful he was with every mitzvah, even the seemingly small ones. He gave special attention to the mitzvah of kibbud av v’eim, honoring one’s father and mother."

At one point, Rabbi Leibowitz’s wealthy parents lost their fortune during World War I. They moved into their son’s home, and his students witnessed something remarkable.

"Despite their loss, he did everything to make sure they didn’t feel like a burden. When he would take something from the house, he would ask them for it as if everything still belonged to them. To an outsider, it looked as if he were simply a son relying on his parents, not the other way around."

Rabbi Winkler shared that Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik Sher, Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, used to tell this story and amire it. "He would say, ‘When did Rabbi Baruch Dov have time to learn Torah if all day he was thinking about how to honor his parents?’ That’s how far his care and respect went."

These moving stories remind us that greatness in Torah doesn’t only come from deep study but it comes from how we treat others, especially those closest to us.

From the Shabbat Kodesh supplement of Yated Ne’eman, shared courtesy of the Dirshu website.