Rav Lichtenstein smiled at me and explained that at my level I was unable to prepare properly for his shiur and that it was important to learn strategically. For example, the Ramban is very complicated and difficult to learn but the Rashba, who was the Ramban’s student was easier to understand and by learning him I would gain insight into the Ramban, or I could learn the Ritva, Rashba’s student and gain insight into the Rashba and the Ramban. He then leaned back and said, “ … or you can take it easy with the Me’iri” and with a sweeping motion of his long arm and large hand said, “ or cruise with the Ran.”
He smiled at me, his eyes twinkling and said, “That is enough for now.”
At that moment I was introduced to a man that did not learn the Tanaim, Amoraim, Rishonim and Achronim but rather learned with them. In my time at Yeshivat Har Etzion I had the privilege of learning under a Rosh Yeshiva that was deep, insightful, intelligent, and sensitive and in my eyes – cool.
I will always appreciate the man that looked upon me, a young man ignorant in Torah and not of the level of learning normally required for the Gush and let me learn there believing I could do it. Yeshivat Har Etzion has been critical in my approach to Torah, my integration of spirituality into my daily living and the way I try to incorporate learning into the weekly schedule.
Although I am not the most learned person to graduate from “The Gush,” I did leave the Yeshiva enriched, armed with tools for learning, having the privilege of a relationship with a host of talmidei chachamim and having developed a heartfelt relationship by Rav Aharon Lichtenstein.
I am sure many other people will write articles in Rav Lichtenstein’s memory that may contain greater prose and deeper thoughts but I would like it noted that he spoke to me and people like me in an intimate and deep way too and he will be very, very missed.
{Our Guest Columnist, Adrian Treger, was a talmid and neighbor of Rav Lichtenstein and attended Yeshivat Har Etzion in the late 1990s}