I
We are forbidden to marry the descendants of Amon and Moav forever (Devarim 23:4). The Torah explains the reason: "Because they did not greet you with bread and water on the road when you left Egypt" (ibid. 23:5). Why such a severe punishment for a sin of omission?
The Ramban explains that Amon and Moav were recipients of the chessed of Avraham Avinu, who saved their father (Lot) and mother from the sword and captivity (Bereishis 14:16) at the hands of the four kings (ibid. 14:12). Moreover, in the merit of Avraham, Hashem saved them from the upheaval, i.e. the destruction of Sedom (ibid. 19:29).
The Ramban (Bereishis 19:29) adds that Avraham risked his life to pursue the four kings in order to save Lot. He did so as an act of hakaras hatov, as Lot had performed an act of chessed for him, accompanying him to an unknown destination (Bereishis 12:4). Lot's descendants, the nations of Amon and Moav, were likewise dutybound to reciprocate and perform an act of chessed by providing bread and water to Avraham's descendants. Failure to do so was a very serious infraction and resulted in a prohibition for us to marry them.
II
My close friend and neighbor, Harav Avrohom Ausband zt"l, Rosh Hayeshiva of Telz-Riverdale, passed away last Thursday. In the spirit of hakaras hatov, I would like to share some perspectives particularly relevant to this audience, direct and indirect talmidim and followers of our great rebbi, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt"l.
Rav Ausband learned for three years with our rebbi's first cousin and namesake (known as "Rav Berel") in Yerushalayim, whose hashkafas olam was different from and often even opposed to that of our rebbi. A lifelong and staunch supporter of his rebbi's Brisker tradition and the values of his ancestors in Telz and in his birthplace of Cleveland, Rav Ausband's ahavas Yisrael knew no bounds. For example:
At a pidyon haben, the Rosh Hayeshiva met Zev Karasick and heard about our rebbi's famous derasha at Zev's own pidyon haben. He asked for a recording and expressed his appreciation in a letter dated Chanukah, 5779, from which I quote: "I listened to the recording several times, and I find the thoughts expressed therein fundamental and truly special. May we merit to live up to the ideals that he expressed by devoting ourselves to doing our part in ensuring the perpetuation of the mesores haTorah for all generations!"
Rav Ausband's "part" extended well beyond the talmidim of his yeshiva in Riverdale. In January 2017, he met a group of YU students, led by me and Rav Etan Schnall, during our bein hasemesterim break. In his remarks, he quoted the Chafetz Chaim, who valued every moment of life as an opportunity to serve Hashem. Our talmidim were very impressed by his personal interest in each one, as well as by the thundering responses at the Mincha minyan in his yeshiva. A picture of the Rosh Hayeshiva with the guest talmidim adorned the cover page of the next Telz yeshiva newsletter.
III
The Riverdale community in general, and my shul, The Young Israel of Riverdale, in particular, owe a debt of hakaras hatov to the Rosh Hayeshiva zt"l. He had very close relationships with many YU alumni and was not deterred at all by the type or size of their yarmulka. He gave a regular shiur for doctors, most of whom learned in YU. He respected their brilliance, and they were in awe of his.
About twenty years ago, Rav Ausband helped organize a kollel, for which he assumed responsibility ever since. Kollel members have established chavrusas and shiurim, enhancing Torah learning in our shul, and the kollel wives, by deed and example, have had a very positive impact.
About five years ago, the Rosh Hayeshiva arranged an hour-long morning chabura in our shul. At present, thirty to forty baalabatim learn b'chavrusa from 6-7 A.M. every weekday, followed by Shacharis. Rav Ausband was extremely proud of this initiative, which he correctly described as "transformative," and he constantly extolled the dedication of the "kollel boker wives."
All this began when the yeshiva moved to Riverdale forty years ago this week. At his levayah, I recounted his very first derashah in Riverdale, which took place at a siyum Mishnayos in our shul on motza'ei Shabbos, 7 Adar II, 1984.
The Gemara (Megillah 13b) tells us that when Haman's lot fell on Adar (Esther 3:7), he was overjoyed, as it was the month in which Moshe died. But he didn't know that while Moshe died on the seventh of Adar, he was also born on the seventh of Adar. What does this mean?
The Maharal (Ohr Chadash op. cit.) explains that Moshe represented all of Am Yisrael. His passing in the twelfth and final month of the year indicated the end of Am Yisrael, Haman's very goal. However, Moshe's birth on the seventh of Adar shows that his passing on that same date is not an end, but a completion. When the beginning and end join together, there is a completion, as in a round ball. This is what Moshe meant when he said, "Mal'u yamai - my days are complete" (Sotah 13b; see Bereishis 29:21). Hashem completes the years of tzaddikim from day to day and month to month (see Shemos 23:26). When there is a completion, there can be no end.
Moshe led Am Yisrael in the desert for forty years. So too, Rav Ausband led the yeshiva in Riverdale for exactly forty years. His passing is not an end, but a completion.
IV
Finally, a personal hakaras hatov. The Ausband family moved into an apartment down the hall from ours just before Pesach in 1984. We were close neighbors, in both senses, for forty years. The positive impression the Rosh Hayeshiva and his family made on ours is incalculable. My children admired him, learned from him, and were transformed and elevated by his direct and indirect influence. We shared in each other's simchas and losses throughout the years.
The very last wedding the Rosh Hayeshiva attended - less than three days before his passing - was that of our grandson. He danced with three generations of Willigs with characteristic gusto. Those moments, captured on video, deepen both our sense of appreciation and our sense of loss.
The next day, my son Moshe had a lengthy conversation with Rav Ausband. His final sentence was, "Your father wrote in his Haggadah, in describing our relationship, 'The land was tranquil for forty years' (Shoftim 5:31)." We lived - both personally and communally - in peace and harmony for forty years. His passing leaves a gaping hole in our family, community, and the entire olam hatorah.
Much, much more can be added to this brief tribute to a great man. As hakaras hatov, he would certainly want us to repay his Torah and chessed by strengthening our own. May his unique and unforgettable personality inspire us to serve Hashem, as he did, with all our might.
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