Rabbi Eliezer Shnoad Remembers Rabbi Avraham Shapira's Wisdom and Guidance

Rabbi Eliezer Shnoad, head of the Mod'in Yeshiva, has shared 22 personal recollections of his revered teacher, Rabbi Avraham Shapira, zt"l. These anecdotes highlight Rabbi Shapira's profound Torah scholarship, his leadership of the yeshiva, his concern for the Jewish people, his care for students, his blessings for soldiers, and intimate moments that revealed his greatness.

Many of Rabbi Shnoad's memories are encapsulated in specific phrases or rulings from Rabbi Shapira. One such memory involves a halachic question where Rabbi Shapira mused about a lenient opinion he once had but could no longer recall. Rabbi Shapira also emphasized the importance of "knowing the Torah" comprehensively, arguing against rote learning that leads to forgetting earlier concepts. He believed students needed to learn how to synthesize complex topics into general principles for long-term retention. He also stressed the depth required in Torah study, suggesting that dedicating a "term" to a single topic, examining all early and later commentaries, could foster a "Torah intellect."

Rabbi Shapira also had unique perspectives on Torah study for women, humorously remarking that a man who knew the Torah expected of women, which constitutes a significant portion of the Shulchan Aruch, would surely be appointed Chief Rabbi. He explained the concept of a yeshiva by contrasting it with the "Klaus" of Eastern Europe, a communal study hall for general congregants, emphasizing that a yeshiva fosters camaraderie and collective study of a tractate as a unified body.

Rabbi Shapira's leadership extended to practical matters, such as ensuring students attended difficult general lectures by linking attendance to access to the dining hall. He also maintained a clear stance on the authority of the yeshiva head, ruling that a "Rosh Yeshiva" (dean) must be obeyed even if a "Rebbe" (lecturer) disagrees with their administrative decisions. He believed that a rabbi and yeshiva head should dress formally, in a suit and hat, to uphold the honor of Torah.

Beyond academic rigor, Rabbi Shapira demonstrated deep concern for students' basic needs. During a visit to the Golan Heights, his first question was about the students' meals, surprising younger rabbis who expected him to prioritize more pressing matters. He also offered practical advice during wedding ceremonies, reminding grooms to hold their wives' hands. He firmly rejected the practice of a bride covering her head after the wedding ceremony, deeming it an unnecessary imposition not supported by earlier authorities.

Rabbi Shapira's guidance extended to military contexts. During Operation "Defensive Shield," Rabbi Yaakov Shapira, his son, relayed a blessing from his father to Rabbi Shnoad, who was then a deputy brigade commander. Rabbi Shapira, unable to join physically due to his age, blessed the soldiers for success and safety. This blessing deeply moved Rabbi Shnoad and reportedly bolstered the morale of the soldiers in the command post. The operation, despite its dangers, concluded without fatalities for Rabbi Shnoad's unit, which he attributed to his teacher's blessing.

In his final year, Rabbi Shapira would refer to students visiting him as "angels," expressing his profound appreciation for their dedication to Torah study.