Yesterday, along with hundreds of thousands of other people, I accompanied the Minister of Torah, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky.
I walked after his bed with tens of thousands of Israelis, many thousands from all walks of life - ultra-Orthodox, religious, secular;
Everyone was there on Maran's last journey, which was always for everyone.
The heart refuses to believe, the body does not digest: the Minister of Torah is gone.
The rabbi of all the children of Israel left us sighing.
For many years I had the privilege of entering the Holy of Holies, ascending the staircase leading to the house on Rashbam Street, presenting the Minister of Torah with questions for his decision. We set out with renewed strength, and with the blessing of the way to continue working for the people of Israel.
But not only did we come out with a clear decision, each time I came out thrilled by the rare sight of the sunsets of the Torah, the love of the Torah of Rabbi Kanievsky, who knew no bounds.
His faithful grandson, Yanki Kanievsky, would sit me next to Maran.
Then silence, a thunderous silence: sitting and waiting for a conservative to raise his head, waiting patiently for the rabbi to finish his studies and see those present in the room.
As expected, the rabbi never finished studying.
It was always the grandson who had to signal to him "Grandpa, the Chief Rabbi here."
Then I saw how the love of the amazing Torah is replaced by the love of Israel.
How he listens patiently There is no end to the question, as if the Gemara is not waiting for him on the table, sitting and listening even though I stopped him from studying which he loves so much.
But the needs of your people are multiple.
And it was not just questions of the Chief Rabbi that came up on his desk.
In the long line that ascends the steps of his house, one could see all the shades of the people of Israel, who came from far and near.
He would listen to everyone patiently, give advice, blessings and also a kind word.
Such was the simplicity of Maran the Minister of Torah, who lived in a simple house, with walls covered with books from floor to ceiling;
A special simplicity that characterized him.
Yesterday, when I saw and cried, as I watched his bed descend to the fresh tomb, I noticed how special simplicity is also expressed in the simple tomb - next to his wife, Rebbetzin Kanievsky, peace be upon her.
Maran's simple tomb plot perpetuates our heritage, showing us the path to continue on his path: the love of the Torah, out of incredible simplicity.
And yesterday, at the end of the funeral procession, when I left the gates of the cemetery, one of the policemen who had secured the funeral procession approached me.
"Honorable Rabbi," he turned, "Rabbi Chaim has passed away, the generation will be missing."
Indeed, he will be missing.
Not only to the uniformed man, who knew Maran mainly from the media, but to the whole people of Israel who delved into his books, who went into his light and who was led for years by his wisdom.
Were we wrong?
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