Lakewood Yeshiva Head Visits Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, Recalls Historic Ties with Rabbi Aharon Kotler

Last week, Rabbi Malchiel Kotler, head of the Lakewood Yeshiva, visited Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch at his residence. The meeting was warm and respectful, with Rabbi Sternbuch modestly responding to Rabbi Kotler’s request for blessings by emphasizing that their role is to give blessings rather than receive them. Rabbi Kotler humbly replied that he sought Rabbi Sternbuch’s blessings but did not intend to bless him in return. Rabbi Sternbuch warmly blessed Rabbi Kotler and his yeshiva, expressing hope for divine assistance and many future successes in leading the yeshiva and supporting Torah study.

During their conversation, Rabbi Sternbuch reminisced about his earlier days studying Torah in London and recalled a historic visit by Rabbi Aharon Kotler, Rabbi Malchiel Kotler’s grandfather. Rabbi Sternbuch shared that Rabbi Aharon Kotler had stayed overnight at his home in London after missing a trip out of the city, even sharing a room with Rabbi Sternbuch’s father, Rabbi Asher Sternbuch. Rabbi Kotler mentioned that Rabbi Aharon Kotler had tried to persuade Rabbi Sternbuch to join him in Lakewood to teach Torah together, but Rabbi Sternbuch declined, expressing his desire to immigrate to Israel and study there. A rare letter related to this episode was preserved.

At the conclusion of the visit, Rabbi Kotler wished Rabbi Sternbuch good health and long life, while Rabbi Sternbuch praised Rabbi Kotler’s significant achievements in maintaining and leading the large yeshiva, blessing him with success and divine support.