Under the Lantern | Rabbi Elchonon Jacobovitz

What’s said in this shiur

The opening of this shiur, in Vayimaen’s own words — taken from the captions, so names and Hebrew terms may be approximate.

Officially, Avi was a student at Ponevezh Yeshiva, but everybody knew he didn't really belong there. When everybody else was in Beis Medrash, he was in the dorm. When everybody else was learning Gemara, he was analyzing Yediot Achronot, the secular newspaper. But somehow he made it through, and eventually, he even got engaged. Before his wedding, he went through the motions, like everyone else, and he went into the Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Shach, to get a blessing for his new home. But Rav Shach didn't just bless him. Rav Shach made a request. He said: You know, over here in Bnei Brak, most people are stringent not to use the public electricity. There's Shabbos generators on every corner. But you're moving to an out-of-town city, and over there, there are no generators. So instead, those who are stringent have to use kerosene lanterns. It's hard, but I want you to promise me that even though you're moving out of town, you're not going to use public electricity. You're only going to use lanterns, like the Chazon Ishniks. The groom agreed, Rav Shach gave him a blessing, and the groom leaves the room. As soon as he leaves the room, the Gabbai turns to Rav Shach and says: Rosh Yeshiva, I don't understand. Doesn't the Rosh Yeshiva know this Bochur? This is a Bochur who needs to worry about being stringent on electricity on Shabbos?

Jump to a moment

1. 0:07Officially, Avi was a student at Ponevezh Yeshiva, but everybody knew he didn't really belong there.…
2. 0:38There's Shabbos generators on every corner. But you're moving to an out-of-town city, and over there,…
3. 1:10This is a boy who reads Yediot. You're talking to him about stringencies? So Rav Shach…
4. 1:40we're soft, we’re vulnerable. We're like a Ben Zekunim [a son of one’s old age]. And…
5. 2:11And tried to convince him that he could be doing this sin. But Yosef remembered his…
6. 2:41And that is what saved him. My friend drives the Van Wyck Expressway every day, and…
7. 3:11take on a stringency, put on a gartel, buy yourself a beautiful pair of glasses. Do…

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