The Humanity of Great Leaders: Stories of Kindness and Integrity

1. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, of blessed memory, was the head of the 'Kol Torah' yeshiva and an esteemed Torah scholar, celebrated for his humility and gentle nature.

The 'Kol Torah' yeshiva is located in the 'Beit Vegan' neighborhood, while Rabbi Auerbach resided in 'Shaarei Chesed.' The yeshiva administration offered to provide him with a car or taxi service for transportation, but he refused. Instead, he chose to take the bus to the yeshiva throughout his life, even in his old age. It was common to see him walking from 'Shaarei Chesed' to 'Mahane Yehuda,' waiting for the bus through heat, cold, or rain, and then riding the crowded bus to 'Beit Vegan.'

2. On one of his numerous trips to 'Kol Torah,' the bus reached the stop near the yeshiva on Pisgah Street. However, Rabbi Auerbach didn't get off, continuing to the last stop in 'Beit Vegan' and then walked back to the yeshiva. His students were puzzled and later asked him, "Rabbi, we wish to learn from your Torah and wisdom, why didn't you alight with us at the yeshiva stop?" Rabbi Auerbach gently replied, "I was sitting by the window, and next to me was a man with bags. I didn't want to trouble him to stand up with his bags."

3. Similarly, the Stipler, Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, was renowned for his sensitivity and kindness. It is told that a regular afternoon prayer quorum took place at the home of his brother-in-law, the 'Chazon Ish.' The Stipler, who participated as the tenth man in this minyan, one day stood up to leave fifteen minutes before one o'clock, the scheduled prayer time.

At that moment, there were ten people in the house, including the Stipler, and if he left, there would be no minyan, forcing the 'Chazon Ish' to pray alone.

The household members pleaded with the Stipler, "Please stay, you make the quorum!"

He replied, "I'm sorry, but I have an appointment with the plumber precisely at one."

They urged, "But it's merely fifteen minutes, surely the plumber can wait. This is for the 'Chazon Ish' himself!"

The Stipler firmly responded, "I am forbidden to pray at the expense of causing the plumber to wait needlessly," to which the 'Chazon Ish' added, "We cannot neglect the plumber for prayer!"

4. Another story about the Stipler: He was once called to be a sandak at a brit milah, and a man came to escort him in a taxi. The Stipler needed a moment to prepare.

The man hastily urged, "Rabbi, the taxi driver is already waiting outside."

Upon hearing this, the Stipler quickly put on his shoes without socks and went straight to the taxi. He was willing to attend the brit milah without socks, all to avoid causing the taxi driver any inconvenience.

We learn a great lesson here—first and foremost, be a mensch; don't do anything at the expense of others. Above all, be considerate!