Torah communities in Eretz Yisrael and around the world on Sunday are marking the fifth yahrtzeit of HaGaon HaRav Aharon Yehudah Leib Shteinman, z’tl, who passed away on Erev Chanukah in 2017 at the age of 103.
People began streaming to his kever in Bnei Brak on Motzei Shabbos, with thousands more expected to visit throughout the day.
In honor of the yahrtzeit, Chareidi journalist Yitzchak Carmeli published a video examining the mystery of the half-built wall outside HaRav Shteinman’s home, which can still be seen there today.
In order to solve the mystery, Carmeli turned to HaRav Aryeh Leib’s son, HaGaon HaRav Shraga Shteinman, asking him the question via HaRav Aryeh Leib’s great-grandson, HaRav Yehonasan Honigsberg.
HaRav Shraga explained that over the years, as more and more people streamed to the home of HaRav Shteinman, zt’l to ask shailos and seek his advice, the members of the household decided that the small bathroom in the house was inadequate to meet the needs of the many visitors.
A decision was made to build another bathroom right outside the home for the use of the many visitors. The neighbors in the building gave their consent to the plan.
However, when HaRav Aryeh Leib, z’tl heard about the plan, he requested that the construction be halted immediately. First of all, HaRav Shteinman said: “What about Hachnasas Orchim? Why should my guests have to leave the house to use the facilities?” Second of all, HaRav Shteinman said: “I don’t want any renovations to my home which is only a temporary dwelling until Olam Haba.”
“‘Third,” HaRav Shteinman claimed, “the consent of the neighbors is not b’shleimus since they only agreed to it because it wasn’t pleasant for them to refuse ‘HaRav Shteinman.”
The construction was halted and since then, the wall has stood there – a testimony to the sterling midos and extraordinary humility and pashtus of the Gadol HaDor.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
With all Respect for A Gadal respected by Thousands or Yiden
Sorry to say (if I May) don’t really see any greatness in this story,
simple private way of thinking , Ashrei Lo
This is actually am amazing story portraying the sterling midos Rav Aharon Leib Zatza”l had.
What is inaccurate is the statement “to ask shailos and seek his advice” Rav Ahron Leib was a marbitz torah, ish mushlem in midos, and above all a tremendous poiresh from olam hazeh, but was not known for being a posek answering shailos, and rarely, if even ever, wrote tshuvos in halacha. Rav Shmuel Wosner, Rav Nissim Karelitz, Rav Elyashiv, Rav Meir Brandsdorfer, The Gaavad, Zecher Tzadikim Levracha answered shailos not Rav Aharon Leib. We tend to turn Gedolei Yisroel into something they weren’t.