Rabbi Natanel Elyashiv Shares Untold Stories of Rabbi Avraham Shapira

Rabbi Natanel Elyashiv has shared personal anecdotes about the late Rabbi Avraham Shapira, former Chief Rabbi of Israel and head of the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva, on the 19th anniversary of his passing. Rabbi Elyashiv, who studied under Rabbi Shapira for four years between 1993 and 1997, recounted several lesser-known stories illustrating Rabbi Shapira's wisdom, guidance, and character.

One story involved a secular teenager preparing for his bar mitzvah. When asked how to teach him, Rabbi Shapira instructed the tutor to teach the entire Tanakh, Mishnah, Talmud, Shulchan Aruch, and Mishnah Berurah, explaining that once a Jewish child enters the covenant of mitzvot, their soul demands they learn the entire Torah. Rabbi Shapira emphasized that a teacher must believe this is what the soul desires, otherwise, they are unfit to teach.

Another anecdote concerned a young Rabbi Elyashiv's desire to travel to Jordan after the peace agreement. When he asked Rabbi Shapira if it was permissible given the likely inability to pray in a minyan, Rabbi Shapira responded indirectly, stating, "The Chofetz Chaim would not have done that," and added, "Even less than the Chofetz Chaim would not have done that," conveying his disapproval without a direct prohibition.

Rabbi Elyashiv also recalled a student expelled from the yeshiva. This student later prayed with immense fervor during a difficult security period, impressing Rabbi Shapira, who inquired about the identity of the fervent worshipper. This moment, Rabbi Elyashiv suggested, may have contributed to the student's eventual return to the yeshiva.

In a story about a student leaving for Harvard Law School, Rabbi Shapira did not try to dissuade him but asked him to "learn a daily page of Talmud." Rabbi Elyashiv saw this as Rabbi Shapira's way of providing a consistent learning framework for the student amidst a demanding secular environment.

Perhaps the most significant story involved a couple facing parental opposition to their marriage. After the young woman approached Rabbi Shapira, he agreed to officiate their wedding. Despite a prior commitment to officiate another wedding that same evening, Rabbi Shapira resolved to attend both, demonstrating his commitment to his word and his students.