Hidden in one of my file cabinets, underneath a pile of hand-out mareh makomos to a shiur given more than a decade ago, rests a sheet of paper. Worn and yellowed, it awaits me. In times of distress and chalishas hadaas, it is there to offer me a little comfort.
Of all the pieces of advice I have received over the years, only once did I seek it out in its original sourced written form and file it away, so as to re-read it from time to time.
It was my brother, Rav Shmuel Taub, who shared with me this piece of guidance, which came from the holy Chazon Ish, and which is recorded in the multi-volume biography of his life, the monumental ‘Maaseh Ish’, 4:95. Depending on one’s vantage point, these are either words of comfort or a charge of responsibility.
A yungerman with semicha came to Bnei Brak to seek counsel from the Chazon Ish. This fellow was offered a position in rabbanus in a town outside of Haifa.
While on paper this offer appeared to be a wonderful opportunity, the young rav was not so convinced. He explained to the Chazon Ish the reason for his reticence. “I am not a baki in halacha, nor have I dedicated my time delving into the words of the poskim”
This is a common fear, and hopefully one that does not dissipate with time.
What makes the Chazon Ish’s forthcoming response so extraordinary is not so much what he says, rather who stated it –a masmid par-excellence who put Torah and the daled amos shel halacha above any and all other pursuits.
Dispelling this man’s fears, the Chazon Ish answered, “True, it used to be that the main purpose and role of a rav was to answer and pasken shailos, however today the tafkid (purpose) of a rav is the be mikarev and draw his fellow Jews under the kanfei hashechina”
The main role!
To add an exclamation point to his bold statement, the Chazon Ish concluded with a beracha to this rav in his new position, “May Hashem bring you hatzlacha in being mikareiv people to Torah”
Of course, the Chazon Ish was talking to a ben torah –one who likely knew a lot more halacha than he let on -and indeed, a few moments later, assuaged his fears in paskening as well.
Several years later I saw another story brought in this same sefer that colored the first one.
Someone came to the Chazon Ish asking if a certain rav in a certain town was reliable.
“In relation to what?” asked the Chazon Ish
“Well, his eiruv and his kashrus” the shoel responded.
The Chazon Ish, who was apparently unfamiliar with this rav in question, wondered aloud, “Why do you not call the rav and speak to him and see if he is holding in learning?”
The man responded that indeed he had done just that. However, when he asked this rav if he could be rely upon him, the rav responded, “While everything I do is kdas u’kdin, I would prefer if you would not be someich on me. It enough of an achroyos that my own membership trusts in me, I don’t need to add to my pekel acher meah v’esrim your cheshbon as well.
The Chazon Ish was delighted with this response. “A rav that answers this way, who prefers not having any achroyos beyond what he must, is a rav that one may be someich on!
To me, this second story always colored the first story. It was due to the very fact that the young rav in the initial incident was so concerned about his abilities in psak halacha that gave the Chazon Ish confidence in him to go out and shine in other areas as well.
The story is told that when Rav Yitzchak Blazer was once approached about accepting a certain rabbinical position he responded in horror.
“Chazal teach in the name of Rav Shmuel bar Nachmeini (Sanhedrin 7a) that when someone rules in halachik matters they should view it as if a sword is drawn toward them with the gates of gehennim below! Mah Li L’tzarah Hazos! Why should enter into such achroyos?”
That was all the balla battim needed to hear. “Rav Itzelleh! That is precisely why we want you as our rav! What, should we hire someone who is less afraid?!”
When looking at the first perek of Pirkei Avos one discovers a peculiar pattern.
The 8th,,9th and 11th mishnayos are directed to rabbanim and poskim. For example, Mishneh 8: “…When litigants stand before you they should appear as if wicked, and when they leave, as if they are righteous…” Mishneh 10: “…Thoroughly examine witnesses…”. Mishneh 11: “Chachamim! Be carefull with your words…”
Inexplicably, stuck in the middle of these teachings is Mishneh 10. Ostensibly speaking to all people, it states: “Shemayah says, “Love work, hate positions of power (‘rabbanus’) and do not become overly familiar with the government”.
Many wonder why, in the midst of offering directives to rabbanim would the Mishneh suddenly, and momentarily, switch gears. And, if indeed this is speaking to leaders as well, why would it tell them to hate their jobs?!
I once saw a beautiful idea brought in chasiddeshe sefarim to explain this order. In truth, even Mishneh 10 is speaking to rabbanim and leaders. However, now that chazal have the attention of these members of klei kodesh it wishes to express the following idea: When one is a rav or an av beis din he must be very careful which part of the job gets him out of the bed each morning, which part of his duties gives him direction.
The Mishneh is then read as follows: Rabbanim, and those serving am yisroel, when it comes to your jobs love the work involved (‘ohev es hamelacha’ –the answering shailos, the learning of Torah, giving shiurim –but do not become enamored with the power and kavod itself (‘u’sneh ess harabbanus’). And, should one fall victim to that temptation, beware lest the heavens notice him and judge him harshly (‘v’al tisvadah l’reshus’)!
As we are soon to return to our summer series of the History of Early American Rabbanim, it is important to keep all of this in mind. These were men who gave up so much of their own kavod to fight important battles. Not only was their goal not for kavod or acclaim, they gave those up to wage a holy milchama lmaan hatorah. More importantly, in many cases, they were willing to give up renown as poskim and lamdanim with the understanding that their main job at that juncture was kiruv and teaching the New World the mesorah and the truest values of the Torah.
Shul Chronicles 
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