Rav Elyashiv was a Gadol. There is not a doubt in my mind
about it. He belonged to the previous generation of Gedolim that included names
like Rav Moshe Feinstein, Rav, Aharon Kotler, Rav Yoshe Ber Sololveitchik (The
Rav) The Lubavitcher Rebbi and The Satmar Rebbe… and many more too numerous to
mention.
These were all great men, Gedolim unlike anyone alive today
- with the exception of Rav Ovadia Yosef who is also in that category. Even though
the Hashkafos of each and every single one of the aforementioned Gedolim are
different - in some cases radically so, they were nonetheless great people who
in effect changed the world.
Even though I found myself at times questioning some of the
things that were said or done in Rav Elyashiv’s name, I completely honor his
integrity. He like the other Gedolim of that era was a man of principle and never
wavered from his convictions.
It is only a shame that near the end of his life there were
some unscrupulous rabbis (Gadol Wannabees) who were able to get close to him –
and took advantage of his advanced age to manipulate a desired Psak out of him.
Or worse used his name without his permission or knowledge as a signatory to an
edict or ban they (in their own arrogance and ignorance )only assumed he would
have signed.
This does not detract from his greatness. It only diminishes
those with ambitions and pretensions of succeeding him.
There are a lot of brilliant Talmidei Chachamim in the world
today. Many of them very worthy and principled people. But I don’t see anyone
in a league to be able to take his place. He is the last of that generation.
With all that is going on in the Jewish world today, the current rabbinic leadership
seems to be falling well short of the task. They are not leading. They lead by constantly
looking over their shoulder. The right shoulder.
I have said this before. The previous generation of Gedolim,
of which Rav Elyashiv was a member, were in a class by themselves. They had
continued a tradition of Gadlus that existed in pre Holocaust times. They were ‘old
school’ in the best sense of the word. With Rav Elyashiv’s passing that
generation is almost gone.
It is true that every generation that is further removed
from Sinai is of a lesser stature than their predecessors. That is no less true
today than it was in the days of Chazal, the Rishonim, and Achronim. But there
were major separations between those three eras. My Rebbeim have taught me that
we are in the last such era. Achronim - “the
last ones” will no longer be offset by a new era the way it was from
the era of the Rishonim.
I must confess, however, that from my vantage point
the difference between Rav Elyashiv’s generation and today’s generation seems
to have that same sort of chasm. But only history can judge that.
Rav Elyashiv will be sorely missed. Baruch Dayan Emes.
