Vampire Weekend's Surprising Jewish Stories
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Over 200,000 people attended his funeral. Who was he and what can you learn from him?
Yesterday over 200,000 people attended the funeral of Rabbi Gershon Edelstein, who passed away at the age of 100. That’s a lot of people. Who was he and what can you learn from him?
Rav Gershon was the Rosh Yeshiva (dean) of the prominent Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak where he taught for more than 70 years, and was recognized as the preeminent leader of the Haredi orthodox community in Israel. Known for his profound wisdom and commitment to Torah study, Rabbi Edelstein left an indelible mark on countless individuals who sought his guidance. His unique approach to teaching, characterized by clarity, humility, love and compassion, and a deep understanding of complex texts, resonated with students from all walks of life.
Here are three lessons applicable to every person.
Rabbi Edelstein treated every person – Jew and non-Jew, religious and non-religious – with tremendous dignity, respect and kindness.
His house was open to people from all walks of life. Last week the head of Israel’s Secret Service paid a visit, as did Tom Nides, the American ambassador in Israel. It didn’t matter if you were a prime minister or a nine-year-old child, he treated everyone with dignity and respect, giving them time and feeling their pain. Part of his greatness was his ability to make himself small.
A distressed student once came to Rabbi Edelstein during Covid and the lockdowns, seeking guidance before the holiday of Sukkot. He asked the rabbi, “What area should I strengthen?”
Most people would think that Rabbi Edelstein told him to strengthen his motivation to learn Torah or to focus on prayer, but the Rabbi said, "Strengthen your humor!" Rabbi Edelstein took the pandemic precautions very seriously, and told him to work on lessening the tension and ensure a pleasant, fun and happy atmosphere at home.
Rabbi Edelstein believed in tolerance and love, despite differences in religiosity, especially with members of one’s family. For example, Rabbi Edelstein encouraged a father to take a stroll with his son on Shabbat, even if the son would be breaking Shabbat by smoking a cigarette. Rabbi Edelstein told the father to continue these walks, build your relationship with him, and have fun with him. You are not his rabbi; be his caring father who loves him no matter what he does.
There were thousands of Jews who are no longer observant who attended Rabbi Edelstein’s funeral, in appreciation for keeping their family together.
Know who your real enemy is. It’s not the external enemy; it’s your internal character flaws. The primary battle in life is against envy, honor-seeking, uncurbed desires, hurting other people with your words. The priority is to focus on refining your personality and striving to be a genuine mensch.
This was the battle he waged for a remarkable 100 years.
