The Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman

This past Sunday was Mother's Day.

I was planning to write this Vort on Sunday; however, as they say, "Mann tracht un G-tt lacht." (In English, "Man plans and G-d laughs")

So, better late than never.

I don't have a mother to call to wish Happy Mother's Day.

And my wife is not my mother.

So, I called my mother-in-law to wish her a Happy Mother's Day.

Why, you may ask should one celebrate Mother's Day?

After all, isn't every day for a Torah observant Jew Mother's Day?

Maybe.

However, what's bad about making another person feel good and remembered?

One of my favorite stories about Rav Chaim Kanievsky is more about his father, HaRav Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky, known as The Steipler (1899-1985), than about Rav Chaim.

The Steipler, who I had the privilege of meeting, was serious and austere.

He did not give off the "warm and fuzzies" when you met him.

I recall how as the person before me exited, even though it took me less than a minute for me to get seated, he immediately immersed himself in a Mishnayos as that person stood to leave.

He only looked up from his Mishnayos when I was completely seated.

I vividly remember how he kept his finger between the pages of the semi-closed volume as I spoke to him.

As I rose to exit, he already had the Mishnayos reopened and was back to his learning.

He did not engage in chit-chat, and learning Torah was his exclusive focus.

One might imagine that he would limit his conversational and social activities.

Now back to Rav Chaim.

For all the years Rav Chaim learned in Kollel Chazon Ish, he would stop by his mother's house on the way to the Kollel for breakfast.

This was his way of honoring his mother daily.

Sometimes his father was also present, yet, often, Rav Chaim spent quality time alone with his mother.

After his mother passed away, Rav Chaim no longer stopped by his parental home for breakfast.

One day his father asked him why he no longer stopped by for breakfast.

Rav Chaim was surprised as he no longer understood the need to come after his mother's passing.

The Steipler, a man who, by all accounts, was a serious and austere individual, replied, But, I enjoyed your visits as well."

Rav Chaim resumed his daily visits to his parental home.

That's why I say, "Happy Mother's Day."

I have yet to meet a mother who, when you say, "Happy Mother's Day," doesn't smile.