The levaya of my uncle, Harav Hagaon Reb Dovid Feinstein זכר צדיק לברכה, was appropriate for him. There was far more to say, but what was said was a hint of his gadlus and anivus.
Reb Dovid's gadlus in Torah was amazing, and included everything in Chazal in tremendous depth. Of course, it was hard to get him to speak at length, but when you did, every word was a revelation, and the longer he talked, the more amazing it became.
His humility and patience and forbearance were not absences of their opposite, but rather positive attributes.
The best way to describe him is that he showed pashtus in gadlus, and gadlus in pashtus. This seems to be a trait of the Feinsteins. Harav Shmuel Kaminetsky said that Rav Dovid was unlike any other person on Earth, and that is true. But he did not invent these qualities. They are a heritage from Reb Moshe, shared by all the Feinsteins.
My son, Shlomo shlitah, spent three years learning in MTJ at night and over Shabbosim when he lived on the Lower East Side, and he was zocheh to see his great uncle in his natural habitat. That first night, as he watched him learning in back of the Beis Medrash, four people came over to him.
Here is what the four people wanted.
The first person came with a terrible story about a sick child, and asked for a bracha for a yeshua min hashamayim. Reb Dovid listened sympathetically as he poured his heart out, and gave him a bracha.
The second had a thirty five year old girl with no mazel in shidduchim. Reb Dovid wished him hatzlacha and gave him a bracha.
The third one came over with a handful of coupons for Rite Aid, and Reb Dovid looked through them, smiled, said "Thank you," and put them in his pocket.
The fourth one wanted to know what bracha you make on ketchup. Reb Dovid said you make ha'adama. Someone said but maybe she'hakol. I don't know what the end of the story is. If you're curious about what the right bracha on ketchup really is, I just want to say that I have neither Reb Dovid's gadlus nor his patience.
The point is that this was the first night Shlomo watched him, and it was no different on any other night. He listened patiently and sympathetically to each and every one, whether it was a question of life or death, or a broken heart, or coupons to Rite Aid, or a shaila of what bracha to make on ketchup, and he responded exactly as Hillel would have responded, בנחת וענוותנות. His gadlus in Torah did not create a barrier, it drew you in and made you feel comfortable. His anivus was not a mere absence of gaava, it was a positive and carefully developed middah.
פשטות בגדלות וגדלות בפשטות
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Here is an article by Dr. Jonathan Boyarin, author of *Yeshiva Days: Learning on the Lower East Side*, available here.
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My granddaughter called late last night because her Morah asked her to tell them a "Good Story" about her 2xgreat uncle. That inspired me to collect stories that I know or have seen. Reb Dovid zatzal is not the type anyone would make stories up about, so they're reliable.
Good Stories About Reb Dovid
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An article on the Aish website:
Rabbi Dovid Feinstein: Torah Greatness and Humility
The world has lost a Torah giant.
The Talmud (Taanit 7a) compares Torah to water: just as water leaves a high place and flows to a lower place, similarly the Torah only establishes itself in one who is humble. The Jewish nation just lost a paragon of humility in the late Torah genius, Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, who died last Friday at age 91.
Rabbi Feinstein was one of the leading authorities on Jewish law in the world and a member of the Council of Torah Scholars of Agudath Israel of America. When questions arose regarding end of life issues, few were willing to apply the halacha, Jewish law, and rule on such sensitive cases. Who knew enough to determine what was appropriate? Rav Dovid knew what he knew. While he was an introvert by nature, he would confidently rule on halachic queries from all ends of the earth.
Rabbi Feinstein took his responsibility to rule on Jewish law very seriously. An incredibly self-disciplined person, he was constantly studying. At the many weddings he was invited to, the Rabbi would sit and learn. In his study, he would sit and learn. In his office, he would sit and learn. He became who he was through decades of toil in the understanding of the intricacies of the Talmud. It was this dedication to study that made his accessibility so meaningful.
A Kind Neighbor
The Lower East Side was home to Rav Dovid for the last 83 years. It is here that his loss is palpably felt.
On Simchat Torah, the Rosh HaYeshiva used to sit in the center of the lively dancing, holding a Sefer Torah. One year, when we were about four years old, one of his granddaughters and I thought of playing "don't get trampled," and we joined the circle of men dancing, running in and out of the circle. Suffice it to say that it was dangerous for us, as well as for the adults trying not to trip over us.
The Rosh HaYeshiva noticed our game, smiled warmly, and invited us to come sit with him in the center of the circle.
Rabbi Shlomo Fishelis, a grandson of the late Rabbi, mentioned in his eulogy that his grandfather was "a good sport." He shared that the Rosh HaYeshiva would pose for photographs with anyone who asked for them, and he would retake the photograph as many times as necessary until the petitioner was happy.
When Artscroll was struggling to survive, Rav Dovid loaned his life savings to their founders, his students, to keep it afloat. A Jewish newspaper once asked prominent people which three dinner guests for Friday night would they want to have. Many listed great personalities in Tanach, Talmud or from today. Rav Dovid replied he would have three poor people who need a meal.
Not Interested in Honor
Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem (MTJ), where Rav Dovid served as Rosh Yeshiva, remained an unassuming stop on the F train in Lower Manhattan, despite being the home of such towering Talmudic scholars. Jews from all walks of life, including those with limited background in Jewish learning, made their way to MTJ. No one at MTJ batted an eyelash. Many of the towering Talmudic scholars offered to study together with them. The Rosh HaYeshiva created an environment where people came to study Torah, and any external trappings were irrelevant.
Rav Shach once said about Rav Dovid's illustrious father, Rav Moshe Feinstein, "His greatness was in his simplicity." Rav Dovid lived up to his noble heritage.
The world has lost a Torah giant. We will miss his great leadership and insightful wisdom, as well as his warmth and accessibility.
Here is another article. I can't cut and paste, it's from a private magazine, so here is the link. It is beautifully written!!!!!!~
https://mishpacha.com/higher-purpose-on-the-lower-east-side/
And finally, this great article, based on a conversation with R Mordechai Eisenberg.
https://jewinthecity.com/2020/11/a-tribute-to-rav-dovid-feinstein/
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