Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller on Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel zt”l

Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller will be lecturing around the United States for 2 weeks, starting today. Here is her itinerary.

She will be speaking at Congregation Ahavas Yisroel on Monday, November 21 at 8:30 PM for Women on the topic “Closing the Gap Between Mind, Heart and Action” . The address is 147-02 73rd Avenue, Kew Gardens Hills, NY 11367.

You can read Rebbetzin Heller’s articles on Aish and her site and you can download some of her mp3s on Torah Anytime and on Naaleh.com.

In here most recent newsletter, Rebbetzin Heller wrote a hesped for Rav Nossin Tzvi Finkel zt”l. Here is an excerpt:

My daughter Miri’s husband Shmuli, (who some of you know) studies at the Mir, and has been close to the Rosh Yeshiva since he came to Israel close to 20 years ago. The Rosh Yeshiva had an intensely personal relationship to him, and to virtually every other student who really wanted one. His son asked if he really knew all 5000 by name. He said, “I’m not sure, but I know that I like them all.” He enjoyed the students visiting him before the holidays and bringing him Torah thoughts that they developed from whatever section of Talmud they were studying. He would say, “That makes my holiday.”

Shmuli came with his little girl (who he took with him to make it easier for Miri to finish things up). He left in more than ample time to get home before Yom Tov. Minutes before the holiday began, Miri called me. “Mommy, what do you think I should do? Shmuli left for the Rosh Yeshiva hours ago, and he still didn’t come back. He left his phone here by accident. I don’t know where they are. Do you think I should call the police to see if something happened?” I told her that before she calls the police, she should call the Rosh Yeshiva’s house to find out when he left exactly. Maybe he was delayed there for whatever reason.

She called, and the Rosh Yeshiva himself answered the phone. After Miri identified herself, and told him about the reason for her call, he said, “Of course they were here. Your little girl looked so cute. Her pink gingham dress is so adorable.” He went on to discuss her socks, and how the ribbons on top matched the ribbons in her hair. Bus schedules were soon on the agenda. Miri didn’t know what to make of the entire conversation. Why would the Rosh Yeshiva spend so much time on small talk? As he was soldiering on (is the material wash and wear?) the doorbell rang and Shmuli came in. When the Rosh Yeshiva heard Shumli’s voice he immediately wished her a good Yom Tov and hung up. He was sure that Shmuli would be home any minute, and kept her on the phone to prevent her from becoming hysterical. Shmuli told her about the suspicious object that prevented the bus from getting to Har Nof on time, the absence of taxis on the road, and finally the trek home with the baby, who by this time looked considerably less adorable than she had hours earlier.

Would you have seen the outfit?

I doubt that I would, and even if I did, that I would be sensitive enough to know what to do with the information filed in my mind under “trivia”.

Rav Finkel started out in Chicago, went to Arie Crown Day School, and was known as Natie. He came to Israel wearing a baseball cap (although, he would quip, “I knew enough to leave my golf clubs back in Chicago). He obligates all of us to question our level of our caring, dedication, courage, perseverance and most of all love of Torah.