[1] My name is Moshe Steinberg. We went to learn in Baranovitch, three bochurim together from Kobrin. One of them was Aharon Kaminetzky, the second was Yeshaya Wolowitz. Aaron Kaminetzky was my neighbor. And Yeshaya Wolowitz had a nephew,  R Dovid Kornglass.

[2] Dovid Kornglass was originally a talmid of Kobrin. Subsequently, he learned in the Mir, and was on eof its respected students. When he came to America he became the Mashgiach Ruchani of Yeshivas Ner Yisrael in Baltimore. He was also a magid shiur. This was his uncle.

[3] We learned in Kobrin and we then went to Baranovitch, to R Elchanan Wasserman. This was in 1934. We learned in Baranovitch and then we continued on to learn in Kletzk. Baranovitch was a Yeshiva for younger students. R’ Elchanan Wasserman zt”l said the Gemara Blatt shiur for the fifth and sixth shiurim. We remained there {in Baranovitch} for a couple of years, and then left to a different, larger Yeshiva. Some left to Kletzk, some to Kaminetz or Mir. Most went to Kaminetz.

[4] We were three together, and we went to Kletzk. The Rosh Yeshiva in Kletzk was R’ Aharon Kotler zt”l. Kaminetz had R’ Boruch Ber zt”l. Why did we go to Kletzk? Because the Mashgiach Ruchani  in Kletzk was R’ Yosef Leib Manewitz. He was previously the Mashgiach in Kobrin, where R’ Pesach Fruskin was Rosh Yeshiva. When the Yeshiva dwindled, he switched over to Kletzk.

[5] We knew him very well from Kobrin. My father wanted me to go to Kletzk. So we went off to Kletzk. We arrived in Kletzk, summer of 1936. When we arrived, the Rosh Yeshiva, R’ Aharon zt”l, was in America. He had gone to collect funds and was not present upon our arrival. He appointed the Mashgiach and one of the respected bachurim, Shaya Steitz, to speak to us in learning. We spoke with Shaya Steitz in learning, and he accepted us to the Yeshiva in Kletzk.

[6] Later, after a few months, R’ Aharon returned from America and a Kabbalas Panim was made for him. Following R’ Aharon’s return and his big Kabbalas Panim, we stayed on to learn. We learned in Kletzk until the war broke out in 1939.

[7] When the war broke out the Yeshiva relocated to Vilna. At that time, Russia was busy with Vilna, because the Russians claimed that if they gave away Vilna they are thereby giving up on Lithuania. It would then belong to another country. All the Yeshivos and Rabbanim relocated to Vilna. We arrived in Lithuania in Vilna with all the other Yeshivos. Every Yeshiva had a Beis Medrash, and established it’s own Yeshiva. Amongst these were Kletzk, Kaminetz, the Mir, all the Yeshivos.

[8] Kletzk was small shtetl, not far from Nezhbezh, which is 10 kilometers from Rozhengrenizh. Many Jews lived in those villages and they made a living as shopowners. Each one had a store, this kind of store, that kind of store, and everyone came to shop there. This is what they made a parnossa from. On Erev Shabbos, Friday before closing, there was a city committee which saw to it that they did not close shop too late. This committee was comprised of respected individuals, Rabbanim, and Rashei Yeshiva. Many respected people. Each one was in charge of overseeing a certain section at that time.  They were appointed specific streets.

[9] On Erev Shabbos, each one of the respected committee members stood and oversaw – everyone must close their stores before shkiya, before candle lighting and not be mechalel Shabbos. For the tougher people, the more respected Rabbonim and Rashei Yeshiva were appointed – they oversaw these tougher streets.

[10] The Rosh Yeshiva was appointed the toughest street, the barbers. The barbers were very difficult people in respect to chilul Shabbos. It was necessary to have committee members whom they would have derech eretz for. The Rosh Yeshiva was appointed that street, and he used to go and tell them to close their shops for Shabbos

[11]  A story once took place – an American Jew, a young American bachur, came to town. He had a mother in Kletz, and he came to visit her. On Friday, he went to take a haircut, a shave, at the barber. It was Erev Shabbos, and the Rosh Yeshiva was standing by the barbershop. He told him it’s already late, and he should please get off the chair. It is no longer permitted to take a haircut or shave. The barber wanted to stop the haircut, but the American turned to the Rosh Yeshiva and said  “Mind your own business! It is not Shabbos for me, how can you tell me what to do!” All this he said to the Rosh Yeshiva!

[12] The Rosh Yeshiva began to rebuke him “You insolent person, you shaygitz!” He really told him off! So the guy got off the chair. This made waves, and they went to inform his mother, that her son is fighting with the Rosh Yeshiva! The mother came running to the shop, to the barber, and grabbed her son, pulled him off the chair and yelled “Get off! Are you fighting with the Rosh Yeshiva?!” This was Friday before nightfall, and he was not mechalel Shabbos. 

[13] Later on at night, he had terrible pains, either his tooth or his stomach, whatever it was, he had very strong pains. So his mother told him “Do you know why you have these pains? Because you fought with the Rosh Yeshiva! This is your punishment!!” But the pains got stronger and stronger, and she could not take it, it was after all her son. So she decided to go to the Rosh Yeshiva and ask forgiveness. He should please forgive her son. She was scared he would pass away. It was 12:00 or maybe 1:00, Friday night. She left, and went to knock on the Rosh Yeshiva’s door.

[14] The Rebbitzen heard someone knocking on the door, and went to see who it was. “Who is it?” she asked. “It is the woman whose son fought with the Rosh Yeshiva today. I want to beseech the Rosh Yeshiva, because my son has tremendous pains”. She was worried that G-d forbid he would not outlive the night. “The Rosh Yeshiva should please forgive him!” The Rebbitzen went to give over the message to the Rosh Yeshiva. And this is what the Rosh Yeshiva answered: “Tell her, that he should give his word that he will never be mechalel Shabbos and I will forgive him!!” She thereupon replied “I will speak with my son, that he should never be mechalel Shabbos.” “All right,” the Rosh Yeshiva responded “If he will not be mechalel Shabbos, I will forgive him.” She arrived back home and her son recuperated! This was a famous Kletzker story, the whole town was speaking about this story! The mother herself told this story over to everyone. This is one story.

[15] Later, when the war broke out, the Russians took over a part of Poland.  So Kletzk, along with all the other Yeshivos landed in the jurisdiction of the Russians. The other side, past Warsaw, was under the Germans. We were considered living in Russia, our town was on their side. So were Kletzk, Kaminetz, Radin, the Mir, all the Rashei Yeshiva, were in that area. Later the Russians decided to give over the city of Vilna to the Lithuanian government. Lithuania claimed that belongs to her, and the Russians took it away against the law. So the Russians said “You are right” and they gave back the city of Vilna to them. And because Lithuania was an independent country, all the Yeshivos moved to Lithuania, and we were considered living in another country, out of the war, and we were able to leave from there to a free country.

[16] All Yeshivos relocated to Vilna. R’ Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky was there, as well as R’ Aharon who came with the Kletzerk Yeshiva. Each Yeshiva had its own Beis Medrash. These included Kletzk, Kaminetz, the Mir, Novardok. R’ Aharon Yaffen was there too. I’m unsure about Radin. Many Yeshivos were there.

[17] In any event, later, the Russians took over the entire Lithuania. They not only took over Lithuania, they also took over the entire Lithuanian government. Everything now belonged to Russia. Now Kletzk was once again under Russian jurisdiction. But this Russian overthrow, was actually a miracle for us. Anyone who possessed a passport or traveling visa , was permitted to leave.  

[18] I did not possess a visa, but I had a passport. A Polish passport. After the Yeshivos left from Vilna, they relocated in various villages.  Each Yeshiva had a different village. Kletzk was stationed in Yanave. Yanave was in close proximity to Kovna. Kletz had its shtetl, Kamenitz had a shtetl, and others had various shtetlach.    

[19] When we traveled from Vilna to Yaneve, we traveled throught Kovna. We made a stopover in Kovna. Kovna was home to a Polish consul, which was under the jurisdiction of England. This consulate had an arrangement with the Polish consul. I went there and showed my passort. I was a Polish citizen, but now I received a Polish pass. I no longer had a Polish passport.

[20] But later, I pocketed this passport. Some time later, we were able to leave. And although I did not have a visa, but I did have a passport. We heard rumor that it is possible to receive visas to embark to other countries. Not false visas, but obtaining these visas via some alternative method. 

[21] At that time it was already possible to obtain a traveling visa – either to Japan or to America. I went into the Rosh Yeshiva and I explained him as if I already have a polish passport, and what should I do? And how can I obtain a visa? I needed advice. “Do you have a passport?” he asked. I took out my passport, placed it on the table. This was the one I had pocketed. He looked on the passport, and said  “Yes, this is a good passport.” He stood here, and stood there, and thought and thought, he looked at me for a good few minutes. Then he said the following “The world is doing, and your are sleeping?!”. I knew that I also had to do. I cannot say how, but there was a way by which it was possible to obtain a visa. “Correct”, I said, “But a visa costs 200 rubel.” I did not have any money. Whereupon the Rosh Yeshiva took out the money and gave it to me.

[22] I immediately traveled to Vilna, from Kovna, with the 200 rubel. The dollar was very high then. There was a black market, but the rubel was very precious. You were able to buy a loaf of bread for a rubel. This was the equivalent of like $ 200. The Rosh Yeshiva had given me $ 200 on the spot, because he knew this was the way to be saved. And so I traveled to Vilna.  

[23] While I had been speaking with R’ Aharon, R’ Aharon was still in Kovna. Together with me was another bachur. His name was Yankel Melamed. He heard me speaking to the Rosh Yeshiva. He also had a passport, and he had the necessary money. He knew me from Yeshiva. When I left R’ Aharon’s room, he asked me “I need to ask you something. You are traveling, do me a favor while you’re at it. Take my 200 rubel and my passport and I will split the traveling expenses 50 – 50.” “Fine,” I answered “This is perfect”. Because the travel from Kovna to Vilna was costly, so I said “Yes, I’ll do it. Whatever I do for myself, I’ll do for you too.”

[24] Before I left, I went into the Rosh Yeshiva. “I’m leaving, can the Rosh Yeshiva please give me a bracha.” “Hashem should help you, you should be successful, and you should be rescued.” This was a good bracha.

[25] I left for Vilna, and I arranged everything. I brought back for myself and my friend. Now, in order to apply for emigration, I required a biographical sketch of myself written in Russian. The Rebbitzen, Chana Perel, knew Russian very well, and she wrote up all the necessary papers for me, a whole ??.

[26] I took all my papers with me to Kevele. The Russians, as usual, made us stand on queue, on line. I took a place in line. I also told my friend to follow me and join up the line too. When this Yankel Melamed came to Kevele, he told me “Moshe, you stand in front of me. You go in first.” I admit, he got me scared. But I went in. There was a Ninatshke, she was the boss, and she took the papers. She had the authority to give or not give permission to leave, to give a visa or not. “As material in the hands of the craftsman” – this is how I felt in her hands. To make a long story short, she told me “Look at me”, and everything was fine. She took my papers, put them on the table, and said, it is 12:00 midday, tell the people to come in an hour. All right, I went out and told the people to come in one hour. Yankel had already had his number on line, he was the first to go in. She looked at his passport, but did not realize that she was accidentally looking at mine! She looked from one face to another and started to ask questions, why did you do this and what is this etc. She put the passport on the side.  She could have asked me the same questions. But everything is decreed in heaven.  But he had not gone to ask a bracha of the Rosh Yeshiva.

[27] To make a long story short, what can I tell you, he did not get his visa, and I got mine, it was the tenth to last visa. My visa was one of the last visas which were given out! I was rescued together with the Mirrer Yeshiva, and he remained in Lithuania where the Germans later caught up with him, and he was subsequently killed there. 

[28] In any case, what can I say, I saw, that I had R’ Aharon’s bracha. He gave me the money for the visa, he was the shaliach for the hashgacha. If he would not have given me the money, I would never have been able to do it. But this was the way I was saved. 

[29] I feel hakaras hatov for R’ Aharon, if not for R’ Aharon I would not have been living today. He was the shaliach of the hashgacha. 

[30] When were in Shanghai, we were only a select few Kletzkers, maybe 10 or 15 who came via various routes. But Kletzk had had a few hundred bachurim! And we were only 10 or 15 out of a few hundred Bachurim! But in any case, we were in contact with R’ Aharon.

[31] Another story. When we left Russia, the last city before China, before Japan, was Vialibostock.  This was by the Grenwich line, by the yellow waters. We were stuck there, and were unable to travel further. Japan did not permit entry to anyone. They said the people whom they permitted entry to were supposed to be in transit, for about 10 days, but they remained a long time because they did not have where to travel to. They don’t want any more people to enter. This was in 1940.

[32] But anyone who has all the pieces of the puzzle, those who have a visa where to continue onto, they will be granted permission to pass through their country enroute to another country, either America or Canada. There was a Japanes consul in Vialibostock, and we went to him to renew our visas. If not, they will expire and be invalidated. We were about 50 people. Yeshivaleit, bnei Torah, non-relgious, various people who were stuck in Vialibostock and did not have where to go. In the end we were left with thirty something Yeshivaleit, and they told us that if we do not have where to go, they will send us to Siberia.

[33] What could we do? R’ Aharon was at that time in Kobe, Japan. We sent a telegram, begging him to rescue the Kletzkers. All those who were together with us at the time, and could not continue onwards. Please rescue us. Whatever you can do for us. He thought of various ideas, and sent telegrams to Eretz Yisrael, where R’ Shneur was at that time, and R’ Isser Zalman was living. He send telegrams to Agudas HaRabbonim, everyone got telegrams to “Try their best.” We tried to help ourselves, but we were unable to do much. 

[34] And then R’ Aharon had an idea. In Shanghai there was an Ashkenazic Rov, Rabbi of the Lubavitcher Kehilla. Shanghai was an international city. Each part had its own concession. One part belonged to England, and the English ambassador took charge of his section. He was the boss of the entire section. Another section was under the jurisdiction of another ambassador. R’ Aharon begged, he beseeched in a telegram to the Ashkenazic Rov, to make a meeting with the English ambassador of his section. He was the boss. R’ Aharon even wrote “You are permitted to be mechalel Shabobs – this is a matter of life and death!” 

[35] This was a miracle from Heaven. In Shanghai there were a lot of Sephardic Jews. There was this Sephadic Jew, a very rich man, his name was Mr. Abrahams. He was a religious Jew, and he even had his own cows to produce Chalav Yisrael milk. He knew the Ashkenazic Rov. This Jew had business dealings with many consuls, he was a very wealthy man. This Ashkenazic Rov came to him and told him over the whole story. Many bnei Torah and Yeshivaleit are stuck in Vialibostock. The only way to rescue their lives is to invite them them to Shanhai for the time being, for the duration of the war. They need to be granted permission by the ambassador, to come and live in his district. “I can do this,” Mr. Abramam said “ I have business dealings with him. I will invite him over to my house, and request permission, I have very good connections with him.”

[36] He invited him to his house, for a supper, and he recounted the story. “Please do me a favor. Give them permits.” “What do I have to write?” he asked. So they quickly sent off a telegram that he is willing to give the permits, and they require the list of names. This list had to go through an organization called “Interist” which was an international organization, and this “Interist” would see to it that the ambassador gave them permits. The “Interist” in Shanghai should write a letter in Vialibostock, requesting visas for all the people on this list. There were about 30 something names. He was a polish priest, but he was a kind soul and a normal person. He knew him from when he had been village priest. A Catholic. But he wrote all the names on the list.

[37] To make a long story short, in any event, Hashem helped, and we received the permits. Now we had a question of how to travel. Either to travel through Japan or straight to Shanghai. But no train goes to Shanghai. So we required a ship. But Shanghai was too large a city to get a ship right away. Each ship costed about $ 2000. We needed a ship for about 30 people. Today this amount is nothing. But then, it was a lot of money! R’ Aharon sent a telegram to Agudas HaRabbonim that they should send $ 2000 to the Ashkenazic Rov for a ship, which he will arrange to send. R’ Silver was involved then. R’ Aharon sent a telegram requesting the money to be sent. They did not have the money, but they collected the funds, and sent it. A ship was rented and we received a telegram saying “A ship is ready” and the appointed date. Everything was mamesh nissim!! Nissim!!

[38] We were in Vialibostock for two months. How did we live there? In Russia you can get hot water, free of charge. Just hot water. But we needed bread . We stood on line, and everyone got a loaf of bread for a rubel. So we had a loaf of bread and hot water. 

[39] In any case, we lived though this. And we came to Shanghai. We did not go through Japan. We came to Shanghai and the Russian Kehilla which was there made us a concession in their Shul. There were a lot of respected Jews there. Very wealthy. Rich people, business people, who came after the first world war. When the Communists took over Russia, they went to China. They wanted to kill them because they were rich people. 

[40] R’ Shneur and his son told me over that when R’ Aharon zt”l was in Japan he needed to leave to America. He was in Kobe and his ship was in another city. He needed to travel by train from Kobe, to board the ship, which would sail to America.  That day many bachurim did not feel well, and they went to look for R’ Aharon to help them. R’ Aharon took very great care of the bachurim. He had rachmonus of them and he took care to bring doctors for them. So R’ Aharon took care – made a telephone call here and one there – until he took care of the bachurim. But he missed his train.

[41] The train left already, and R’ Aharon had to catch his ship. He had to travel with the next train. This next train was due to arrive exactly on time to make the ship. His ship was due to leave in a few hours so he took the next train to the city where his ship waited. The ship was still waiting, all packed up. There was a plank by which everyone was able to walk up on. Everything was all ready, but they told him to come up on the plank. He got scared, and he wanted to hold back. It was a difficult climb, over water. People heard this and they said, the Rosh Yeshiva is going back? Come!!

[42] The tatte (R’ Aharon) had a custom – he had a satchel. This contained all his writings and chiddushei Torah. Even when he was in America and he was in Lakewood, he used to go back to New York during the week but he always took this satchel with him. I once traveled with him, do you know how heavy that satchel was? But what can he do now? He was worried they would take it away from him, everything was packed away on the ship, but the satchel was in his hands. They saw he was standing on the boardwalk. His aide who were close with R’ Aharon, took the satchel and said “I’ll help you.” R’ Aharon ran after him like a young boy! And he was rescued! He boarded the ship and sailed away.

[43] What had actually happened? That train which had left earlier was in an accident! People were killed! This was a neis m’shomayim! That train which left earlier, was in an accident, and he missed that train because he took care of that bachur. R’ Aharon used to say that this is all in the zchus of that bachur. R’ Shneur told me over this story.

[44] When R’ Aharon came to collect money in America before the war, he never said that he was the Rosh Yeshiva. He just said he’s collecting for Kletzk – he’s coming for Kletzker Yeshiva. He did not say more. Everyone thought that he was just a meshulach. Once he was collecting money and the president of the Shul, where he was collecting, was a fine Jew and he became friendly with R’ Aharon. So he told him “R’ Yid, I don’t know why you are shlepping youself around as a meshulach for your Yeshiva? Go learn Shechita. We need a shochet, and we can appoint you as our shochet. We will pay you well.” R’ Aharon looked at him, but he did not reveal his true identity. He never told anyone who he was. He just always said he’s here for Kletzker Yeshiva. They thought he was the meshulach for Kletzker Yeshiva, so why was he working so hard – what does he make already? Stay in America, become a shochet, and make a parnossa. He will not become a wealthy man, but he will have parnossa. And he will also not have to work so hard.

[45] Once, in America, they used to have respected European Rabbonim. He once told me over the name, but I don’t recall it. He once came to a city before Shabbos to collect money for the Yeshiva. R’ Aharon knew who this Rov was but the Rov did not know him. He came in to the Rov and and he told him he’s here collecting money for Kletzker Yeshiva, can he stay by the Rov for Shabbos. “Yes,” said the Rov, “Please stay with us for Shabbos”. And he went into the Rebbitzen to tell her “I have a meshulach for Shabbos.”

[46] Friday, in his house, the Rov began speaking with the meshulach in learning. He asked him “Where did you learn?” And they spoke, and spoke and then he told him over a Yerushalmi and R’ Aharon said he knows where that Yerushalmi is. So the Rov went into his wife and “You should know whe have a very great Jew as our guest! A great neshama! You should respect him!” R’ Aharon later said that he happened upon this Yerushalmi only two days earlier! That Rov helped him collect money, Hashgacha Min Shomayim (Divine Providence)! This story was told over by R’ Shneur.

[47] I came to Lakewood, I was a bachur there, and I arrived before Rosh Hashana 1946. I came from Shanghai with other Bachurim. Who else was there? Meisleff, Malinevitch, Malachovski, Licht, Nadvorna, R’ Nachum Zeldes.

[48] It was necessary to really hear R’ Aharon’s shiurim, otherwise you could not understand them. Pay attention. Pay heed. They were a different style of shiurim. After the shiur, we used to have to hear the shiur again in order to understand it. The good bachurim, the very good ones, used to say over the shiur a second time, this was done in Kletzk, and we used to ask them questions. R’ Aharon’s shiurim were very difficult. Not like other shiurim. 

[49] R’ Aharon was my shadchan for my wedding. There was someone by the name of Broides who lived on the East side and he had two sons who went to learn in the Mir. He was a respectable Jew. So he had a niece and he came to the Rosh Yeshiva to say that he needs a shidduch for his niece. In any case, he was my shadchan. I remember it as if it was today.