RAL: What characterized the Rav and, to some extent
characterized his greatness, was not only his greatness in a particular area,
but the complex, the totality of his personality. He had great sweep, great
depth - he was the archetype of the fusion of the integration, at times to a
degree of internal conflict, tension if you will - which he was aware of and
preached - but a conflict which he felt was also very productive and fruitful
in terms of trying to build a more total spiritual personality.
He sought a certain harmony - not the total harmony of which
Rav Kook referred. And, in addition to his outlook, looked with some measure of
favor upon some internal ‘Ratzo VaShov,’ within the context of
dialectical movement, as it were.
He was indeed multifaceted, and at Yeshiva, his
accomplishments and exposure unique. No one that I know comes close to carrying
his mantle - the range, the depth, the level of greatness which he had.
What’s happened is that, given his status as a Gadol
BaTorah and Gadol BiChochma, people naturally like to grab
his coattails and go for a ride. By and large, what has happened is that many
people have perceived and experienced one facet of the Rav and remained
oblivious to other facets - either out of shortsightedness or because they
didn’t want to be aware of them. Some people would prefer to know only the Rav
of the Beit Medrash, only the Rav who was saying a Shiur - which was
unquestionably his central priority, in terms of activity and values - while
totally ignoring and sometimes even denying the existence of other aspects of
his interests. There are others who do the reverse.
I think that it does harm to the proper appreciation of who
the Rav was, and perhaps even worse, I think that it does harm to the Jewish
community which could have benefited from a more integrated and organic view of
the Rav, rather than the bifurcation and dissension which has been created in
certain circles today.
There are people who have agendas and try to enlist the Rav
in whatever crusades they want to run - whether in this or that direction. I
try to shy away from it, but there may be somebody who sees how I understand
the Rav and think that I’m doing the same thing - I think not, I hope not, and
I try not.
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