{Guest Columnist Adrian Treger}
It is with a very heavy heart that I write these words. When I was approached to write something in memory of Rav Lichtenstein my first reaction was to refuse. This is because I am probably the least qualified person to try to encapsulate the immensity of Rav Lichtenstein, who he was and remains through his students and writing. In fact, Alon Shvut where I live, is full of talmidei chachamim who are far more qualified than I. In this respect I ask forgiveness from Rav Lichtenstein and his students around the world if these words do not do him justice.
Many students have had the opportunity to cleave to Rav Lichtenstein via his teachings and wisdom. Although I had this privilege, to the best of my ability, my personal connection with Rav Lichtenstein was born out of his patience and understanding to a somewhat clueless talmid who was trying to make sense out of the sea that is Torah.
I came to learn at Yeshivat Har Etzion at the age of 24, a relatively late age for a Hesder yeshiva student. I immediately became friends with talmidim from all different countries and ages. At the time I had never heard of Rav Lichtenstein and had no true appreciation of what a giant he was. One of my Israeli friends sat me down and explained to me and insisted that I had the unique opportunity of leaning from one of the great contemporary minds in Torah and that I dare not leave the yeshiva before I had learned in Rav Lichtenstein’s shiur.
After having been in the Yeshiva for a couple of years and having served in the IDF, I returned to the Yeshivat Har Etzion, knowing that I could afford one more year before I needed to return to the working world. The words of my friend resonated within me and I decided that I would attempt Rav Lichtenstein’s shiur. I knew that my level of understanding was too low and needed to work out a solution so that the shiur would be productive to me.
Hesitantly, I approached the Rav and requested some of his time. He agreed and I launched into my story, covering how it was important for me to learn in his shiur as I had been told that I dare not miss the opportunity of learning from a Torah giant. I then explained that I was quite confident that I would not understand his shiur and asked if he would mind meeting me after the shiur and explaining to me what he had said. The Rav smiled at me and told me to come to his shiur for 2 weeks and then we would meet again.
For those two weeks I learned to all hours of the night straining myself to my utmost to glean what I could from the Rav’s words. Not once did I manage to complete the mekorot (set items to learn for the next shiur) and, though I learned so much from the Rav’s mannerisms, humor and energy, I did not understand the lessons he was teaching.
After two weeks I meekly made my way across the beit midrash to sit at the Rav’s table. I looked at him and admitted absolute defeat. I explained that I understood so little, that I did not have the depth of understanding to understand what I had not understood in order to ask an intelligent question. However, I did manage to understand that the way I was preparing for shiur was not effective and that I was not using my time wisely. I thanked the Rav for his time and effort and said that I was honored and privileged to have learned in his shiur and was glad that I had had the experience but felt that I should go to a different shiur. Before I left I explained that I was unable to prepare myself adequately for his shiur and asked if he could explain to me how to learn better.