Profiles in Greatness

Rabbi Moshe Wittow grew up surrounded by greatness in Torah.

Not only did his family live in the same building as Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg, ztz”l, but R’ Moshe’s father, R’ Asa Wittow, was Rav Scheinberg’s disciple and driver for over 50 years. The close relationship gave R’ Moshe an unparalleled opportunity to see the gadol up close in his everyday life.

Rav Zeidel Epstein, ztz”l, a Rosh Yeshivah in Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef (RJJ) for nearly 40 years and the mashgiach ruchani at Torah Ohr, lived in the now famous building as well. R’ Moshe looked, listened, and learned – and stayed close to the living sefer mussar that was Reb Zeidel.

Growing up among greatness, it’s no wonder that R’ Moshe later chose to become a close talmid of the mussar giant Rav Shlomo Wolbe, ztz”l, and sought out Rav Mordechai Zuckerman, ztz”l, Rosh Kollel Chevron in the Prushim beis medrash in Givat Shaul for 56 years.

R’ Moshe’s zeal for shimush talmidei chachamim brought him into close contact with Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, ztz”l, Rav Nosson Tzvi Finkel, ztz”l, Rosh Yeshivah of Mir, and others. He saw the quiet, everyday gesturesג€¦the private momentsג€¦the shining examples of authentic greatness in action.

Rabbi Moshe Wittow, now a Rosh Kollel in Kiryat Sefer, shares his personal recollections and impressions in Profiles in Greatness.