““The Torah of truth was in his mouth,
And injustice was not found on his lips;
He walked with Me in peace and integrity,
And turned many away from iniquity.
For the lips of the priest (kohen) shall guard knowledge,
And people shall seek Torah from his mouth;
For he is a messenger [lit., angel] of the Lord of Hosts” (Malachi 2:6-7)
Our Sages z”l comment on these verses: “If the teacher resembles an angel of the Lord, seek Torah from his mouth. If not, do not seek Torah from his mouth” (Mo’ed Kattan 17a)
Chazal consolidated all of the qualities required of a rabbi – spiritual guide – into one, central attribute: resembling an angel of the Lord.”
- From the Publisher’s Preface to An Angel Among Men – Rav Avraham Yitzchak KaKohen Kook
Rabbi Dubrawsky used to say that Yeshiva wasn’t a program. Yeshiva was a place you learned. You sat and learned. As if to suggest that wherever you sit and learn …that is Yeshiva! And Yeshiva never ends. Programs end with certificates but true learning never stops. The true mark of a Rav is not the certificate he earned but the life of Torah that he leads.
When Pirkei Avot exhorts us to “sit amid the dust of their (the sages) feet, and drink in their words with thirst” the authenticity of the sage we visualize in our mind’s eye is the iconic image of an ancient Tanna, or a Rishon of the Middle Ages, perhaps a shtetl Rav – Rabbi Dubrawsky was, for many of us, …that Sage.
“…. the Vilna Gaon, quoted by his brother (Maalos HaTorah), taught that the number 613 cannot mean that those are the only acts that the Torah either requires or forbids. From the beginning of the Torah until Parashash Bo – a total of sixty-one chapters – there are only three commandments. In addition, there are many other chapters that contain no commandments. It is illogical to say that so much of the Torah is without any expression of G-d’s will.
Rather, the Gaon explains, the 613 commandments are like the roots of a tree. From the roots grows the trunk, from which grow the branches, twigs, leaves and fruits. So too, every word of the Torah is an expression of G-d’s will, so that “everyone with a discerning eye and an understanding heart” can obey G-d’s will constantly at every moment. Thus, every activity in life should be an emanation of G-d’s will, even though it is not technically on of the 613 commandments.” - Rabbi Nosson Scherman, in his overview to the book The Six Constant Mitzvos
So often the measure of “frumkeit” is reduced to check-marks on a list:
- Keeps Shabbos …. Check
- Keeps Kosher…. Check
- Keeps such and such…. Check
But check-marks are no measure of authenticity. Authenticity emanates. The authentic “frumme yid” radiates. He IS Shabbos, he IS Kosher …. He IS Torah!
Rabbi Dubrawsky’s entire being spoke Torah. The way he gave shiurim, the way he answered questions, his gentle patience with all around him …. his humour. His Shabbos table – was the definitive Shabbos table… Torah, Torah, Torah. Five minutes of Kli Yakar on Shabbat morning was a cosmic call to your Neshama not just a nice thought on the Parsha. Sometimes during davening he would let out a sigh… “Oi Tatte, Tatte” and you could only wonder at the kesher he had with the Aibishter and the conversation they were having.
Watching him “give over”, in those moments when his Neshama was touching the highest worlds and his face radiated with the joy of Torah, was the truest chinuch and those of us who had the z’chus to learn from him are better for it.
They say that a Talmid Chacham is a Living Torah.
Rabbi Dubrawsky was a Living Torah!
No sefer … no library… can replace his immediate recall, his sharp insights, his deep understanding, his keen sense of his individual students, his gentle guidance or his knowing eyes.
Rest peacefully Rabbi – but stay close – we miss you, we miss your Torah …. we need you to show the way.
David Emanuel
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