I once heard a story from R Ahron Soloveichik zt"l regarding R Chaim and some kanoim. The kanoim wished to deal severely with a person they considered a kofer while R Chaim preferred a more nuanced approach. R Chaim turned to one of the more vocal kanoim and said to him "You and I are like the cat and the housewife who both detest the presence of a mouse in the house. Each wants to rid the house of the mouse, yet the cat's preferred method is motivated by other concerns as well."
Translation (of the relevant parts)?
ReplyDeleteI once heard a story from R Ahron Soloveichik zt"l regarding R Chaim and some kanoim. The kanoim wished to deal severely with a person they considered a kofer while R Chaim preferred a more nuanced approach. R Chaim turned to one of the more vocal kanoim and said to him "You and I are like the cat and the housewife who both detest the presence of a mouse in the house. Each wants to rid the house of the mouse, yet the cat's preferred method is motivated by other concerns as well."
ReplyDeleteFunny I heard that same story about Rav Sonnefeld and the Zionists.
ReplyDeleteI heard the same story in the name of R'Yitzchak Elchanan, see my post here http://emet.blog-city.com/a_quote_with_a_deep_message.htm
ReplyDeleteAhh... rabbinic folk lore... gotta love it!
And I heard the story about Rav Kook and the kanoim in his day.
ReplyDelete