A Mini-Series on Ahavas Yisroel and Ahavas Chesed

A Talk with the Rosh Yeshiva HaRav Ahron Walkin Shlita about his Grandfather HaRav Shmuel Dovid Walkin zt’l

HaRav Aharon Walkin: My grandfather HaRav Shmuel Dovid was a giant, a tremendous role model in Ahavas Yisrael and Ahavas Chesed. At his levaya he was titled ‘HaGaon B’Chesed’. The following stories highlight his exemplary Ben Adam le chavero and his sensitivity to others and their needs.

HaRav Shmuel Dovid Walkin was once invited to a Shabbos convention as one of three guest speakers. The set up was twenty minutes a speech, with HaRav Walkin set to close the night. As things go, the first speaker spoke half an hour and the second spoke 40 minutes. With ten minutes already overtime, my grandfather had reservations about overburdening the tzibur. As the director of the convention moved to introduce him, HaRav Shmuel respectfully asked to forgo the privilege.

“The hour is late, the people are tired, and it’s shabbos,” he said. The director wouldn’t hear it and instead insisted, “Please say something short and on point, that the people will enjoy!” My grandfather agreed and stood up and faced the crowd, “it’s late, I want to wish you good shabbos and a good night. He then turned to the director and said “nu, it was short and on point and the tzibur definitely enjoyed it”.           My grandfather’s close talmid once questioned him on this incident; why did the Rav refuse to speak Divrei Torah? HaRav Shmuel replied that the real reason he declined the speech was because he noticed that the first two speakers failed to connect with and inspire the crowd; they were not great speakers. If my grandfather would speak, he was worried it would overshadow and embarass them. People would associate the event with him alone which would reflect poorly on the honor and reputation of the first two speakers.

I heard this next story about my grandfather from Rav Mordechai ‘Max’ Braude. Rabbi Braude was once met with an offer to buy an existing business. It was a tremendous opportunity, except he didn’t have the money to invest. He went to my grandfather to seek advice regarding the merits of the deal. At the time, Rav Shmuel Dovid Walkin was staying at a bungalow colony in the mountains.

When he sat before him, Rav Braude focused on the question of sound business and only slightly implicated that he was short of funds. Rav Braude returned to his bungalow after the meeting. After a short moment, he heard a knock on his door and opened it to find HaRav Shmuel Dovid’s son holding an envelope in his hand. “Here,” he said. “My father wants to help you start the business”. 

When recounting the story to me, Rabbi Braude marveled at how my grandfather precisely detected underlying concerns. He had an uncanny ability to connect and ‘read between the lines’ of his followers thoughts and hearts.

 By Adam Suionov

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HaRav Ahron Walkin shlita is the Rosh Yeshiva of Beis Noson Meir in Queens, the Yeshiva gedola of the Chazaq organization.