Sept. 3, 2023

Living Torah: The Unwavering Dedication and Devotion of Rabbi Ahron Schechter

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Season 5

Join us on a journey through the inspiring life of Rabbi Aaron Schechter, the late Rosh Yeshiva of Chaim Berlin. Known for his unyielding dedication and thirst for Torah knowledge, his story is a testament to the power of hard work and unshakeable commitment. Born in New York in 1928, Rabbi Schechter went from being an ordinary American boy to a revered figure in Jewish scholarship, often devoting up to 18 hours daily to his learning. Tune in as we explore his extraordinary journey and his enduring legacy.

In this heartfelt tribute, we shine a light on Rabbi Schechter's unwavering devotion to his mentor, Rav Hutner, and his dedication to connecting others to their faith. We share a touching story of a young man searching for a Jewish summer program who receives guidance from Rabbi Schechter. This episode celebrates Rabbi Schechter's invaluable contributions to Jewish learning and reflects on the importance of spiritual guidance. It’s a testament to his legacy and a reminder of his unique approach to Torah scholarship. Discover how a strong mentorship and an unwavering commitment to learning helped shape Rabbi Schechter into an unparalleled symbol of Torah scholarship.

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Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com



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This past week it was announced that we lost our crown jewel, nophla Ateris Roshenu, the death of one of our holy shepherds, rabbi Aaron Schechter.

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Rabbi Aaron Schechter, while you may not know that much about him, he was the Rosh Hashiva of Chaim Berlin.

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He was the foremost and preeminent disciple of Rav Hutner, and you are going to hear a boatload of stories about Rabbi Aaron's unparalleled, unmatched, unrivaled, absolutely rare determination and stamina in his Torah study.

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The only thing that mattered to him was getting to the truth of the topic he was learning, and sometimes he would go for 8 to 10 to 15 to 18 hours a day.

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Rabbi Aaron Schechter is a relatable gullible because he was born on the east side, new York, in 1928, he didn't just grow up in the lap of luxury Talmudic luxury, meaning in the walls of Slav Badiqar.

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He wasn't grown into a gullible by the Vilna Gown, no, an American boy.

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He became the one that you're going to see on all the newspapers, but the big white beard and a mastery of the Torah inside of his head.

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I want to focus tonight on one story that I heard from Rabbi Gershin Ribner.

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Pull out something practical and then try to develop this art.

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That's a lost art, that was a part of Rabbi Aaron's character.

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I think it's important.

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So the story goes that there was this young man who was walking through the streets of New York and he was looking for some Jewish summer program.

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So Chivas Chai in Berlin looks like a Jewish place.

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He walked in.

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He asked someone is there anything going on here for the summer?

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I'm looking for some sort of camp activities, all that.

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And sure enough, rabbi Aaron Schechter was in the base of Madras Learning.

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He said well, I am not the dean here, let me go speak to the man in charge, rev Hutner.

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So he went up After Hutner.

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He told him someone was here for him inquiring about summer plans.

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Rev Hutner said send him up at around noon.

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Rev Aaron Schechter went back to the boy, told him what Rev Hutner said and then Rev Aaron told the boy but if you're going to go meet with Rev Hutner, a great god and you have to know how to act in front of a Talmud Chacham.

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So we walked to the bookcase.

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He took out two Shulchan Arachs, two codes of Jewish law, and they learned the laws of how to act, sit and function in the same room the proximity of a Talmud Chacham, one of the great aspects of Rev Aaron Schechter was that he was an absolute Talmud of someone.

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It was all about Rev Hutner.

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He was a walking Rev Hutner, a manifestation, a reincarnation of Rev Hutner Tarnatibi.

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I mean Rev Hutner.

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You learn about his dynamic, vibrant, zestful personality and his koyach to build and his svar and his analytical and methodical thinking.

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He was such a godel, the great Rev Hutner.

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But when the mission says a sehlichorav and then you hear that Rev Aaron Schechter never left Chaimberlin, he met Rev Hutner and stayed there for his entire life and never went to Brisk or Mir, doesn't it give you a new definition of what it means to make for yourself a Rebbe?

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Nowadays there's so many different opinions about things.

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Yes, ai, not AI.

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Learn Daph Yomi, learn Daph Mishnah, yomi, mishnah Brura, do this, do this, you do this.

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How do you do it?

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The Internet, this that it's so important that you have a Rebbe.

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Sometimes we have a Rav from the Shol and a Rav from the Isheva and a Rav for our kids.

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What if we became somebody like Rev Aaron Schechter?

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That was a sehlichorav.

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You found for yourself someone that you are a full devotee for.

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You became a chosset of his.

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Everything was that you were subjugating yourself to this holy individual and you became a full-fledged Talmud, a student Maybe.

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That's how Rev Aaron Schechter, coupling that with some hard work, a lot of hard work, became who he became Trying to mimic the ways of Rev Hutner, trying to build on the ways of Rev Hutner, trying to spread the teaching of Rev Hutner.

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So something practical you can take away from the great Chaim Berlin Rosh Yeshiva Make for yourself a Rebbe, become a Talmud, become a chosset of somebody holy.

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Follow in their ways and hopefully this will give you clarity.

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Rev Aaron Schechter.

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Sehlichorav kv.

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Kodesh libracha.