Rogatchover Maaseh

Overheard this maaseh:


Amongst the many chiddushim, novellae,  he published, the Rogatchover included an explanation of a posuk, explaining why the verse in two places uses two different words to describe what seems to be the same thing. 

(The Rogatchover)

[I could not hear which specific posuk]


Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Zevin, editor of Encyclopedia Talmudit,  wrote the Rogatchover regarding this particular chiddush, "I saw one particular small and old book, by the name of the "Chumash", and there the pesukim (the verses) do indeed use the same word".

(Rabbi S.Y Zevin with grandchild)

The Rogatchover responded by first thanking Rabbi Zevin for the correction and then continued, "see Maimonides chapter... in this particular version of the text, you will see he quotes the verse as I did".

Story of the Rogatchover Gaon

A story I recently heard of the Rogatchover Gaon:

A certain Rov once came to consult with the Rogatchover and in the course of the conversation a woman entered the room asking the Rogatchover for a bracha, a blessing. The Rogatchover responded by saying he is not in the habit of giving brochos but the woman tearfully persisted in asking. At this point the visiting rabbi interjected, quoting the gemara brochos that teaches " al tihyeh birchos hedyot kalah beinecha", "the blessing of a simple person is not to be taken lightly". "If this is the case," reasoned the rabbi, "then kal v'chomer you the Rogatchover Gaon are capable of giving this women a blessing."

To this the Ragotchover replied, "Why wait for the kal v'chomer?".

(the Rogatchover)