It’s reported that close to a million people attended the funeral of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky on March 20th, making it the largest funeral in Israel’s history. Dozens of schools were cancelled, roads were closed, traffic was redirected, there was even a special train from Jerusalem to Bnei Brak for those who wanted to pay their respects. It was advised not to travel anywhere near the center of the country unless it was absolutely necessary. But this was more than just an inconvenient travel day. What was so special about this rabbi? Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky wasn’t just any rabbi, he was a Gaon.
The literal translation of Gaon in Hebrew means “excellency”, with this title previously given to Jewish spiritual leaders who led Talmudic academies from the 7th to the 13th centuries and to those who interpreted Talmudic Law to safeguard Jewish tradition. After this period, called the “Gaonic Period,” the term Gaon was used as a title of honor to describe excellence in Jewish learning.
(photo credit: דודי פרידמן, CC BY-SA 3.0)
The Rav literally learned Torah from sunrise until sunset even up until his death, and when he wasn’t learning, he would listen to the stories of those in despair, offering blessings and support, asking for not a shekel in return. Hundreds of thousands of people have lined up outside of his humble apartment in Bnei Brak for decades, both religious and secular alike. While experts called him the most “knowledgeable Torah scholar of our time,” it wasn’t just his Halachic knowledge that brought close to a million people to Bnei Brak. As one reads stories of the Rav it becomes clear; this was no ordinary man. He was modest, kind, dedicated, sincere, never turning anyone away and provided leadership when others could not.
For someone who had hundreds of thousands of followers, it seemed the relationship he had to each was quite personal. Stories of him being a matchmaker for a student and then having the engagement party in his very own apartment, including a cake baked by his wife and all, or even performing the Brit Milah, circumcision, for the very baby whose life his advice saved.
At a time when life seems a bit unclear, it is genuine leadership that helps people continue on. It is no doubt that this leader, HaRav HaGaon Chaim Kanievsky and the light he brought to others will be greatly missed.
