העורך Editor

I heard the following story from a reliable source (although I may have misremembered some minor detail):

Rabbi Aaron Katzenellenbogen, who later co-founded “Neturei Karta” with Rabbi Amram Blau, once unexpectedly travelled to Bnei Brak, interrupted the Chazon Ish’s Torah learning, banged with his fist on the table, and loudly demanded the Chazon Ish publically denounce… something or other.

First, his host pointed out making too many proclamations renders each less valuable. Then the Chazon Ish tried to cheerfully change the topic. But Rabbi Katzenellenbogen was adamant in his demand: You must do this “for the sake of Judaism”. Eventually, the Chazon had no choice, so he asked: Well, why don’t you denounce it yourself? To which Rabbi Katzenellenbogen responded: Me?! No one listens to me! To have an effect, the statement must issue from a respected personage, like the Chazon Ish.

Here the Chazon Ish brought down the hammer: If no one else listens to you, then why should I myself listen to you?!

כולם חושבים על האסון שנהרגו הרבה מכלל ישראל, אבל יש כאלו שבאמת היה עדיף שיהרגו, כי היו מחללי שבת ועל ידי שנהרגו עשו פחות עבירות. היטלר הרג את כל המשומדים שהתבוללו בזדון, וזה דבר אחד טוב שיצא מהאסון הזה, שנהרגו כל המשומדים.

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At the close  of a long back-and-forth, in an attempt to get a member of the audience to wear Tzitizis, the questioner brings out his last argument:

Jew: “But I’m not going to do it [wear Tzitzis] with a full heart.”

Rabbi: You don’t need a heart. All you need for Tzitzis are shoulders and a will to perform the Mitzvah, and then the Tzitzis protects the heart…

The Jew says the Bracha and wears Tzitzis…

• Arba Kanfos newsletter, issue 187#

מקור: תומאס סוול