Eulogy
given in the Yeshiva]
Ha-Rav Ha-Gaon Shmuel Auerbach ztz"l, the eldest son of
Ha-Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ztz"l and Rosh Yeshivat Ma'alot Ha-Torah in Yerushalayim,
has ascended on high.
A person should not be judged by his media-promulgated persona,
which displays his outer personality devoid of his inner world. One of the Gerrer Rebbes would explain our
Sages’ teaching, "Judge all of the person favorably" (Pirkei Avot 1:6),
in this way: At a time when you judge the entire person, when you observe a
person from all of his sides - he will be "favorable," and aspects of
merit will be revealed before your eyes (Sichot Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah – Bereshit,
p. 88).
First and foremost, Ha-Rav Shmuel Auerbach was a great Torah
scholar. In his youth, he learned in the
famous Eitz Chaim Yeshiva and also with his father. He then served as Rosh Yeshiva in Yeshivat
Shem Olam of the Amshinov Chasidim, and then as a Ra"m in Yeshivat Kol
Torah in Bayit Ve-Gan in Yerushalayim.
In the year 5742, he established Yeshivat Ma'alot Ha-Torah in the
Sha'arei Chesed neighborhood of Yerushalayim and served as its Rosh Yeshiva
until his passing. He wrote the book
"Darchei Shmuel" on Masechet Ohalot, which included an approbation
from Ha-Rav Ha-Gaon Eliezer Man Shach ztz"l. A student recorded many of his talks in the
book "Ohel Rachel". Rav
Auerbach became very close to Rav Shach, and, like him, valued learning Torah
constantly over all else, as explained in Nefesh Ha-Chaim (Chapter 4).
Maran Ha-Rav Kook often mentioned that it is not only forbidden
to speak Lashon Ha-Ra against any Torah scholar, but it is also forbidden to
think it. We must judge all Torah
scholars favorably. Even if we do not
agree with him, we are forbidden to say that he does not bring benefit to
Klal-Yisrael. Shaming Torah scholars is
worse than any error they may make and leads to the destruction of the Oral
Torah (Ma'amrei Ha-Re'eiyah p. 56).
When the Prime Minister of Israel, Mrs. Golda Meir, traveled
to America, the anti-Zionist Satmar Chasidim protested against her and against the
State of Israel. Many were upset by this,
and a student asked Rabbenu Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah about it. He responded: The Satmar Rebbe is a Torah
scholar and it is forbidden to speak against him. Everyone knows we have diametrically opposed
positions, but since he is a Torah scholar, we are obligated to protect his
honor, even if we disagree with his positions (Mashimi'a Yeshu'a p. 191). And once someone said to Reb Aryeh Levin that
the Satmar Rebbe speaks harshly against the State of Israel. Reb Aryeh Levin responded: I do not know him
personally but I have heard that he has three great qualities: He loves Am
Yisrael, he is a great Torah scholar and he does much Chesed (Ish Tzadik Haya
pp.61-62).
And the same is true regarding Ha-Rav Shmuel Auerbach: He
loved Am Yisrael, he was a great Torah scholar and he did much Chesed, as many
people have stated.
Many great Torah scholars, however, have said that Rav Shmuel
Auerbach's harsh opposition to the State of Israel and the drafting of Yeshiva
students into the army were too extreme and caused great damage to the Torah
world. Who and what are we to place our
heads between giant mountains, lest our skulls be crushed?
We are obligated, however, to point out two things.
1.
Rabbenu Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehudah Kook taught us the meaning of the Mishnah in Pirkei
Avot (6:6): "One who carries the burden with his fellow" – Torah
scholars are required to carry the burden together, even if there are
differences of opinion between them, since the shared burden of Torah is
greater than that which separates us. Torah
Scholars all have the shared goal of declaring in this world: Hashem is One and
His Name is One (classes on Kinyan Ha-Torah).
2. We must understand that Rav Shmuel Auerbach's harsh rebuke
was out of love, and at times had the value of protecting
the Nation and State of Israel. His strong words were in the category of
"revealed rebuke is preferable to hidden love" (Mishlei 27:5). And this is what Maran Ha-Rav Kook said to
his student Ha-Rav Dr. Moshe Zeidel, who was upset with the Charedi criticism.
He responded that the Charedim, who are opposed to Zionism from the depths of
the purity of their spirit, aid in removing much of its negative tendency and
will thus allow it to reach its royal potential (Igrot Re'eiyah 3:156).
And,
indeed, it was Maran Ha-Rav Kook who served as the Cohain at the Pidyon Ha-Ben
of Ha-Rav Ha-Gaon Shmuel Auerbach.
May
his soul be bound up in the bonds of the living with all of the great Tzadikim
and Geonim.
