This very readable biography of one of the giants of Slabodka Mussar of the past generation inspires and teaches that anyone can grow to great lengths with organization and a plan.
Rabbi Miller was an American born Torah scholar from Baltimore and after taking advantage of the truly only advanced yeshiva at the time RIETS and realizing that that institution was going in a direction he disagreed, he decided on a course of European study that took him to Eastern Europe to study at the famed Yeshiva of Slabodka. Although by the time he arrived at the yeshiva, the Alter of Slabodka had since passed away, Rabbi Miller nevertheless absorbed everything that the Alter represented and grew into a well developed Torah scholar. With the second world war looming and the American consulate recommending all American citizens leave Lithuania, Rabbi Miller and his new wife returned to America where he began an amazing innovative rabbanus that changed many lives. His rabbanus started out as a Mashgiach, the spiritual guide in Yeshiva Chaim Berlin under the direction of Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner, a student of the Alter of Slabodka and then as a community rav in East Flatbush, Brooklyn and then in Flatbush of Brooklyn.
Rabbi Miller was an extremely orderly and organized individual. He was consistent in his behavior and stressed 'simchas Hachaim' the joy of living. He stressed the importance of counting one's blessings and thanking the Lord for all His kindnesses. He was innovative in calling his synagogue a
'Torah Center' to stress that the purpose of a synagogue is not gathering together (church) but rather a place to study Torah! So his synagogue had constant learning going on. This also reflected the vision of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter, the founder of the Mussar Movement - the Torah movement to stress personal growth and ethical behavior, Beis Mussar for the layman. Rabbi Miller utilized the tape recorder to disseminate his Torah teachings. He understood the power of technology could revolutionize the size of a class.
He stressed the 'Torah only' world outlook. He despised American culture but actually understood it well to be able to address the emerging, new penitent. He despised the medium of Television arguing that nobody would want to be told what is important and what is not - that the influence of the TV was like an uninvited guest to one's home. The rabbi saw the total immodesty of the American world and actually banned the reading of any books written after 1920 in his family due to the rising bawdiness in literature. He also saw the philosophy of the theory of Evolution as heresy and a negation of the belief in the Creator. Many of his books include counter arguments to Evolution and he wished that religious scientists would reject such an idea instead of trying to reconcile science with Evolution. He also saw the study of history as antithetical to the Jewish world outlook because he understood that historicism creates independent values that clash with traditional Jewish values. He enjoyed citing Josephus as proof that the study of History is problematic because Josephus was actually sponsored by the Roman Caesar. He could not be trusted - although Josephus acknowledges that the Jewish people value the words of the Pharisees. Calling them a 'sect', however, is a complete distortion of the role that they played in the nation.
Rabbi Miller was almost deliberately dogmatic in his views to teach that Judaism has absolute truths. He reflected and personified the ultimate Baal Mussar of the Mussar movement. One should not forget, however, there are other legitimate approaches eg. Chasidic approach, or Sephardic approach etc. even a less Mussar approach. One cannot, however, dismiss this approach. One must remember that the great Yeshivahs of America: Beis Midrash Gevoha, Lakewood, Ner Yisroel, Baltimore, Yeshivas Chaim Berlin, NY were products of the Yeshiva of Slabodka!
Rabbi Avigdor Miller marveled at Hashem's genius and at his creation. His famous lesson of the apple seed - that the tiny seed had all of the ingredients to reproduce more trees and fruit was an eye opener. He taught one to appreciate Hashem's kindness and to thank Him always and as a result one would lead a happy life.
This book is a very worthwhile read, inspiring to let one 'set time for Torah study'!
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