Walking Toward Greatness

Our Sages teach that the Torah was given through three things: water, fire, and the desert.

When Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, ztk”l, visited Lakewood in 1998, the Rav toured the famed Lakewood yeshivah and visited the home of the Rosh HaYeshivah, Rav Malkiel Kotler, shlit”a, grandson of Rav Aharon Kotler, ztk”l.

During the visit, Rav Shteinman noticed something unusual.

Inside a cabinet designated for precious silver items rested an old, worn pair of shoes.

Surprised, Rav Shteinman asked why such shoes were being kept among valuable treasures.

Rav Malkiel explained.

During World War I, Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, ztk”l, closed the yeshivah in Kletzk because the Rav felt unable to take responsibility for the safety of the students during wartime. The students were instructed to return home.

One young bochur arrived home, and the mother asked why he had returned.

“The Rosh HaYeshivah sent everyone home because of the danger of the war,” the boy explained.

The mother immediately cried out:

“And here you are safer than in the yeshivah? On the contrary! There you are protected there, for Torah shields and saves. I want you to return immediately and continue learning!”

The boy replied, “Mother, I do not have money for the journey back.”

“Then go on foot,” the mother answered.

And so the young man listened.

The journey lasted several days. The bochur walked day and night until finally arriving once again at the gates of the yeshivah. Exhausted but determined, the young man went directly to the home of Rav Isser Zalman and declared:

“Rebbe, I have come to learn Torah.”

The Rosh HaYeshivah asked what had happened, and the young man described how, at the urging of the mother, the entire journey had been made on foot.

Rav Isser Zalman was deeply moved.

The Rav was moved by the extraordinary mesirut nefesh of a mother who would do anything so the son could continue learning Torah. But even more, the Rav was moved by the mesirut nefesh of the young bochur himself.

Rav Isser Zalman then said:

“I would like to buy these shoes from you—the shoes with which you sacrificed yourself for Torah.”

The Rav wanted to keep those shoes constantly before the eyes as a reminder of true devotion to Torah and unwavering faith that Torah protects and saves.

“These,” Rav Malkiel explained to Rav Shteinman, “are those very shoes.”

Rav Malkiel then added:

“Do you know who that young bochur was?”

It was none other than Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach, ztk”l, who through lifelong toil, dedication, and relentless growth would later become the gadol hador and Rosh HaYeshivah of the illustrious Ponovezh Yeshivah.

Sometimes greatness begins not with applause or recognition, but with a quiet decision to keep walking.

One step after another.

One act of sacrifice after another.

And often, the journey itself becomes the path to greatness.

Based on a teaching brought in Ezri Mei’im Hashem, Parashat Bamidbar..

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Rabbi Leeor Dahan, a graduate of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim/RSA, is a noted scholar and teacher, well-versed in halachah. He currently leads Kehilat Avodat Hashem in Hillcrest, Queens, inspiring his congregation to delve into Torah study and embrace its eternal teachings.