Granddaughters and Daughters Share Stories of the Great Rabbis of Our Generation

Who doesn't love stories? They have a curious scent, a taste for more, a tingle of excitement at the story's edge, and most importantly - a lesson and moral. When the story is from a firsthand and reliable source, it ascends a notch, and we give it true respect. Did your father tell you this story? Did you hear it straight from your grandmother? Is it the story of your family?! The excitement is great, and the story continues to spread from person to person, sometimes gaining a new twist, forgetting a detail or two, and sometimes even ending its journey without the real essence.

To ensure this doesn't happen and the story remains true, just as it occurred before becoming a story, we sat down four 'granddaughters of' and 'daughter of' around an important table, laid down a festive cloth, turned on a recording device, and heard true stories firsthand. To be cut out, saved, and passed on to future generations.

The Esteemed Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, of blessed memory

Storyteller: His granddaughter, Margalit Sinai

"A Grandfather Who Is Everything"

My story: "In my youth, I had surgery on my leg. The surgery was simple, but Grandpa was concerned. As soon as I returned from the hospital, the family told me: 'Grandpa wants to see you in his bedroom.' I went, and he took out a box from his drawer and said: here, a necklace for you! It was a surprise for me. Turns out, Grandpa had asked my parents to personally go and buy me a quality piece of jewelry so he could give me a gift 'in honor of the surgery.' This moved and strengthened me greatly, especially since I acknowledged the greatness of my holy grandfather and saw with my own eyes how much Torah mattered to him and that in every step, he thought only of it, making this gift so precious to me.

"I especially remember Grandpa's Shabbat tables. Throughout the week, his face was absorbed in study, and even in the short moments devoted to a little food, he hurried back to his studies immediately. We children, who grew up right in his home, knew not to disturb him, and in the afternoons, as a house with young children, we kept quiet and played far from Grandpa's room. Those were the only hours Grandpa rested a bit, as at night he barely closed his eyes and just studied. Therefore, we so looked forward to and loved Shabbat, when we could feel Grandpa more. Although even on Shabbat, Grandpa was in a hurry, the time he was with us at the meal, he dedicated to us kids. Right after the kiddush, we approached and kissed his hand, he would bless us and ask how our week went, who had a test and how they did, and more. He never forgot to urge us 'go to your parents and kiss their hands, they work hard for you.' He made sure we ate to have strength, especially overseeing the boys - ensuring they had strength to study Torah. Grandpa would tell us stories from the prophets and the weekly Torah portion, offering words of Torah that would interest the whole family. Many times we were privileged to hear captivating stories from his past - how he dedicated his life for the study of Torah up to his years of serving in various positions. They all carried a unified message of self-sacrifice for Torah and Halacha and concern for the education of the children of Israel.

"Occasionally, when he was in a particularly elevated mood, which usually happened after another book was published during the week, Grandpa would sing a few songs with us while he dictated the pace of the singing. He never forgot to praise my mother on everything with the phrase 'Salaam Eidikeh' which in Arabic means 'Blessed be the hands.' At the end of the meal, he called the little child chosen for the task, in recent years it was the twins - Aharon and Efrat - and he took one from the right side, and the girl from the left (Grandpa was so sensitive and would also call the girl even though she did not need to be called, so she wouldn’t feel hurt he called her twin brother and not her...) Then he would begin the grace after meals, and they learned to respond to the blessings from a young age!

"Unfortunately, in the last months of his life, we didn't have many such uplifting Shabbatot. Grandpa suffered terrible pains. On the last Shabbat he spent with us at home, it was a Shabbat during the intermediate days of Sukkot, and suddenly Grandpa was happy and without pain (it turned out to be a bad sign at the end...). We had a very beautiful Shabbat with songs at the table and many blessings for the children, he thanked us many times, together for everyone and personally to my brother. Only afterward when we looked back did we understand he realized and prepared himself for the farewell.”

The Esteemed Rabbi Shmuel Halevi Wosner, who lives a long life

Storyteller: His granddaughter, Mrs. Cherny Weinfield

"Grandfather Always Interested in What I'm Doing"

My story: "When visiting him, he is interested in his descendants, especially pleased to hear about those engaged in spreading Torah. He encourages the women supporting their husbands who deliver lectures and teach Halacha.

"Every time, he emphasizes his great joy for being blessed with many descendants spreading Torah and Halacha. When he participates in family celebrations, he usually says - 'Thank Hashem I see a second, third, and fourth generation studying and teaching Torah. My prayer to the Creator of the world is that alongside this blessing of descendants spreading Torah, I will also merit in my old age to continue spreading Torah.' According to him, this request is hinted in the text of the blessings of the Torah 'and may we and our descendants be all who know Your name and study Your Torah.' The simple interpretation is that all our descendants will engage in Torah, 'but I interpret and ask, that in addition to our descendants engaged in Torah, Hashem should give me strength so that we too may continue spreading Torah.'

"Last summer, one of his grandsons decided he had exhausted himself in the kollel where he had studied for five years. He debated whether leaving the kollel for another place of study was right. Would there be a kollel that addressed the special need in the style of learning from which he found satisfaction? He made an appointment (yes, even 'grandsons of' sometimes need to book an appointment...) and consulted with his great grandfather, Rabbi Shmuel H. Wosner, who lives a long life. My grandfather encouraged him to make the change, concluding by saying: 'As much as you desire - you will achieve more.'

"Around 25 years ago, when I started teaching laws at Beit Yaakov High School, I called to ask for his blessing. He blessed me, adding: 'Never teach a law based on what seems right to you from your understanding, but every law should be according to what is written in the books or clarified with an expert in Halacha.

"It is customary in Israel for a student examined and ordained as a rabbi to receive a certificate from the rabbi who examined him. The document states that he was examined and knows well and is fit for the role, and it is customary to write 'He shall instruct, he shall instruct' for rabbinic ordination, and 'He shall judge, he shall judge' for judicial ordination. Sometimes after receiving the 'writing,' the student does not return and review and may forget their learning. Therefore, it is customary for Rabbi Wosner to write in every document 'worthy to instruct Halacha if he clings to the tree of life.' Meaning - he continues to learn and strengthen himself in the study of Torah, called Tree of Life. This anecdote I readily share with students the day after certificates, even though I am not an educator but a teacher of 'the Tree of Life'..."

The Esteemed Rabbi Moshe Chevroni, of blessed memory, Head of Chevron Yeshiva

Storyteller: His daughter, Rebetzin Menucha Toker

"It's Already Been Years, and We Can Still Hear How He Exalts and Sings Father's Song, the Song of Abaye and Rava"

My story: "About his diligence? That's already well-known. I will share about his hospitality. Among the guests was a poor Jewish man who came from Tel Aviv. Poor and wretched, and practically an outcast. His appearance was terrible. When he came, my father received him with royal honor, and he was always invited to eat with us. To us - the children, it was difficult, but it never crossed our minds to say anything. He came regularly, and that was that.

"Another poor guest would always come on Fridays during the busy afternoon hours. My father was the one who received him. He would welcome him, set the table before him, and serve him a meal. He did so himself. My father never helped around the house because my mother did not agree. I remember him entering the kitchen every Friday and asking how he could help. My mother never let him touch anything, but he always offered.

"There was another guest. A young man from America approached my parents' house, because that's what he was told to do in America. He was, of course, warmly received, including being offered a place to sleep and meals. A completely secular young man who knew nothing about Torah. My father invested a lot of effort, teaching him what blessings are, etc., and my mother was skeptical. It's a waste of effort, she said. When we sat shiva for my father, he came to console us, wearing a kippah. A baal teshuva. 'The head of the yeshiva taught me, after all...' he said."

The Rebbe of Gur, the 'Pnei Menachem', of blessed memory

Storyteller: His granddaughter, Ruthie Kepler.

"One Hundred Percent Role Model".

My story: "My stories about my grandfather are simple, small stories. One can tell how he walked with a 6-year-old grandson from one end of the hallway to the other, and did not study Mishnayot while walking with him, nor did he try to show the child how the ceiling tiles change color depending on where the viewer stands. He simply took an interest in the dolls, their names, and their goings-on. That's it!

"When grandfather received his first fax machine at home, it was a new technological wonder. We were there, on that Friday. Grandfather called us, the children, to also understand what this was and what the adults were talking about and looking at there. He showed us the fax and explained what this device does and even copied a page from 'HaModia HaTzair' for us. That is the strongest thing I remember about him - the respectful attitude. To everyone. Even to young children who were underfoot and annoying. My memories are made up of 0% sermons, and 100% personal example".

Rabbi Yaakov Leshinsky, of blessed memory, a man of Jerusalem

Storyteller: A granddaughter who joined the family, Rina Yeger.

"I also concur with the above".

Our story: "My husband's grandfather, Rabbi Yankel Leshinsky, of blessed memory, was known as a witty man, engaged with people, and beloved by all. This is not the place to talk about the love for Torah that burned within him, about his devotion to Torah study even as an eighty-eight-year-old. It is also not the place to enumerate the dozens of kindnesses he secretly performed, or the good eye with which he was endowed. I would like to share a story specifically about his wit, which endeared him to people.

"When he established, together with Rabbi Linchner, the Youth Town in Jerusalem for boys from frontier towns, the study format was adapted for those boys who were far from the world of Torah. By nature, they also studied secular subjects and practical vocational studies there. This was to attract them to come to the institution, and only then to endear Torah to them. It should be noted that the format of this institution received the approval and blessing from Rabbi Shraga Feivel Mendlowitz, of blessed memory.

"Rabbi Aharon Katzlenbogen of Neturei Karta called him and reproached him about the study format in the institution under his leadership. 'I will put up posters against you!' he threatened, but my grandfather remained calm. 'All right. You can put up posters against me. On one condition. Write at the bottom: I also concur with the above, and I will sign my name: Yankel Leshinsky'".