In the days leading up to Rosh Hashanah, a steady stream of admorim and rabbanim from Eretz Yisroel and abroad have visited the home of Harav Moshe Shternbuch shlit”a, to receive and extend brachos for the new year.

Among the gedolim who visited were the Admorim of Sanz, Toldos Aharon, Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok, Rachmastrivka, Strikov, Sadigura, as well as the Gaavad of Makova, Harav Mordechai Shmuel Edelstein shlit”a, and the mekubal Harav Yaakov Ades shlit”a, together with numerous other admorim and rabbanim.

An unusual and moving moment occurred during the visit of the Admor of Toldos Aharon. The Admor himself poured a cup of lechaim for Rav Shternbuch, explaining with a smile that Chazal say, “Harotzeh lenasech al gabei hamizbeach yimaleh gronam shel talmidei chachamim”.

But Rav Shternbuch reacted with characteristic humility, saying: “It is very difficult to truly be considered a talmid chacham. The Mishnah in Avos teaches that a talmid chacham is zocheh lidvarim harbei. If we don’t see all those things, then we see clearly that one is not a talmid chacham.”

The Admor of Toldos Aharon gently countered: “Baruch Hashem, we do see the dvarim harbei. Especially compared to previous generations, we see how many chiddushim come forth from the Rav, and how much Torah is being renewed.”

To this, Rav Shternbuch responded: “Ein adam motzi bechinam… if you say such words, even if they are not fully so, HaKadosh Baruch Hu will help that they should become true.”

Following this exchange, the gedolim bentched one another. Rav Shternbuch said: “L’chaim l’chaim, tizku lehagdil Torah uleha’adirah, u’leharbos gevulo b’talmidim hagunim, u’lilchom milchemes Hashem ad sof, ad zibula basraita. The enemies will not prevail, and those who seek compromises will not prevail, only Torah will endure as it is, dor achar dor.”

The Admor responded with his own warm bracha: “Hakadosh Baruch Hu should grant kochos for a good and gebentched year — ki vi yirbu yomecha veyosifu lecha shnos chaim, orech yamim asbi’eihu v’areihu bishuasi. Kesiva v’chasima tova b’seferan shel tzaddikim, l’alter l’chaim tovim u’leshalom.”

The conversation then turned to the looming threat of the draft decree. Rav Shternbuch said: “The situation is very difficult. Bnei Torah, the kodesh kodoshim of Klal Yisroel, are being degraded and trampled. The government is fighting against Torah itself, trying to uproot Torah from Klal Yisroel. But baruch Hashem, lo yidach mimenu nidach. Something will remain, and more will yet remain, with the help of Hashem.”

The Admor of Toldos Aharon responded: “Our greatest tachlis now is to daven that the leaders of Klal Yisroel, and especially Maran Posek HaDor shlit”a, should have health and kochos to continue guiding us on the path of mesorah. Baruch Hashem we have not been left without a go’el. The Rav shlit”a stands in the breach for Klal Yisroel.”

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