Today is the Yartzheit of HaRav Avrohom Pam, Z’tl. Rabbi Shimon Finkelman has written an almost five-hundred page biography entitled Rav Pam (Artscroll), which is highly recommended, because it provides so many essential teachings. Set forth below are only a few brief samples from this lesson-filled Sefer:
1. At a Shmuess on Da’as Torah, Rav Pam said: “Da’as Torah emerges after decades-long immersion in the Sea of Talmud. It comes from strenuous, relentless effort to understand the word of Hashem. It comes from total submission to Hashem’s will, and from a life lived in holiness and purity, unencumbered by physical desires. It flows from a person whose very essence has been elevated by Torah; everything in his world is based solely on Torah. The mind of the Talmid Chacham will bring a clear perspective to all that transpires in this world. Such a person is endowed with Da’as Torah.”
2. HaRav Matisyahu Salomon, Shlita said the following at a Yartzheit Shiur for Rav Pam, “In the order of Kabbalos for the new year, Kiddush Hashem has to be our first priority. To make Hashem’s Name beloved is a positive commandment in the Torah. When a person makes Hashem’s Name beloved, this bears witness that he feels a closeness with the Ribono Shel Olam. To act in the way of Rav Pam is not beyond the letter of the law. He merited to teach the Jewish world about its obligations regarding behavior. And it is quite possible that we are still in Galus because we have been remiss in not learning sufficiently from him. If he could return and speak to us today, as we stand on the threshold of a new year, this is what he would tell us: ‘A’ahvaihu Al Habrios--Inspire people to love Him! I gave my entire life for this purpose, to make Hashem’s Name beloved!’”
3. One of his Talmidim was questioning whether he should go into Chinuch, or into another profession. The student recalled this as Rav Pam’s response: “Baruch, some people will tell you Chinuch because this way your portion in Olam Haba will be assured. And I tell you, Baruch you should enter the world of Chinuch because there is no greater Simcha in this world than to teach Jewish children.”
4. Rav Pam taught: The stage at which a child has minimal ability to acquire an object is when he knows to “discard a stone and take a nut,” that he is old enough to understand that a nut has value and realize that a stone is worthless (Gittin 64B). Life is something that has to be returned at some point in time. A grown person who ignores this fact and conducts himself as if he will live forever, is like the youngest of children.
5. Before summer recess, he would tell his students, “If you are going to camp, make sure that you do not make fun of the food.” He would go on to describe how hard a camp cook works and the pain that he or she is liable to suffer if the food is ridiculed. He would also remind them to thank the cook for his or her efforts. He would add some advice for those who were exceptionally dedicated to their studies: “If learning fifteen extra minutes will mean coming late to lunch and causing the waiter to work harder, it’s not worth it.”
6. In his last Shmuess in the Yeshiva, he discussed Tzaraas, which was a Divine punishment for the sin of Lashon Hara. There were two components to this sickness; the physical discomfort it caused and the disgrace the Metzora experienced because of his Tzaraas. “The physical discomfort,” said Rav Pam, “was a punishment for the harm and suffering that the sinner brought upon those of whom he spoke evil. The disgrace which the sinner endured, on the other hand, corresponded to the Chillul Hashem which he caused by speaking Lashon Hara. As the Chofetz Chaim explains, one derives no physical pleasure from speaking Lashon Hara; it is simply a Midah Ra’ah, a wicked carelessness in matters of speech. This sort of sin, in which one is not tempted by physical desire, is a flouting of Hashem’s will, and a desecration of His Name. This desecration is compounded when one’s words are uttered in public...ultimately it will be the one disgracing, who is, in fact, disgraced.”
7. He taught: It happened that a renowned Rosh Yeshivah visited a wealthy Jew at his office to solicit a donation for his Yeshivah. The businessman excused himself, saying that at the moment he was busy with a few customers and could not interrupt. The Rosh Yeshivah said to him, “Do you think that you were sent down to this world for nothing other than to sell dry goods? We were placed here to accomplish something for K’vod Shamayim!” It is our obligation to demonstrate the beauty of Torah. The essence of Torah is “Its ways are ways of pleasantness” (Mishlei 3:17) meaning, a pleasant approach in all interpersonal matters--within the family, between husband and wife, between neighbors, and a fastidiousness regarding truth and uprightness even beyond the letter of the law.
8. Once HaRav Pam told his dentist, “I envy you. You do Chesed all day. People come to you in pain and you make them feel better.” The dentist replied, “It’s a fringe benefit of the profession.” “You’re wrong,” replied Rav Pam. “Your profession is to do Chesed with people. The fringe benefit of it is that you earn a living.”
9. HaRav Pam related the following after returning from Eretz Yisroel: Upon my first encounter with the Kosel HaMaaravi, I was enwrapped in lofty thoughts and the tears flowed naturally, as one would expect. Chazal teach that the souls of the Avos come there on Shabbos eve, so I returned there for Kabbalas Shabbos. Then, too, I prepared myself mentally as I stood ready to visit a holy site on a holy day, when holy Neshamos would be present. To my dismay, when I arrived there, it was like coming to the market. “Shalom Aleichem!” people called out to me. “When did you arrive?” “Where are you staying?” “When are you heading back? Which airline?” I saw that people were conducting themselves there the same way they conduct themselves in Shul--the same conversation, the same lightheadedness. If this is how they act at the Kosel, one can assume that they will act this way as well at the site of the Third Beis Hamikdash?...Prepare yourselves now for how to act then!
10. Once, HaRav Pam knocked on the closed door of the office of HaRav Moshe Wolfson, Shlita, but would not open the door a bit until he first heard the words “Come in.” HaRav Wolfson, who did not know who was at the door, said of HaRav Pam, “Whoever is knocking is a Ba’al Derech Eretz.”
11. He once told his son, “By us, a word is a contract.”
12. Regarding character development he would say, “It’s not your ‘nature’--it’s your choice,” as the Rambam teaches in Hilchos Teshuva (5:1). Similarly, he taught that one should not say, “What can I do if I don’t like him?” For a person can control his emotions and refine his Middos--if he makes the proper effort.
13. Rav Pam would remind his students to strive to act according to Hashem’s will when going about their daily business. If this is how we act, then we have the special right to say to Hashem (from time to time throughout the day), “Ribbono Shel Olam--Chazei DeAlayich Ka Somichna-Hashem--see that I am relying on You! (Bava Kamma 100A)”
14. He once said, “What is the definition of an Am Ha’aretz”? One who thinks that in order to serve Hashem, one must forgo enjoyment of life in this World in favor of life in the World to Come. A Talmid Chochom by contrast, knows the truth--that a Ben Torah has the best of both worlds.”
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Important Numbers
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