The Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman

It was only last week when the great event took place.

I had called his son, Rabbi Eliezer Krohn, beforehand and asked, "Do you think your father is up to speaking?"

He said he would check with his mother and get back to me.

When the return call came in, Rav Eliezer mentioned, "My father can do it. I am sure you will get a big crowd."

I also felt that having Rabbi Peysach Krohn speak on Sunday afternoon, Shiva Asar B'Tammuz, would draw a large crowd.

After all, since his stroke at the Agudah convention last December, his name, Paysach Yosef Ben Hinda, has been constantly in my Tefillos and in the Tefillos of thousands.

I was certain that the first public event in Passaic since his stroke would be well-attended.

However, I never could have predicted what would transpire.

I waited on the sidewalk in front of the Shul to greet Rabbi Krohn.

As I waited for him, I felt as if I had said Shalom Aleichem to the entire neighborhood.

Hundreds were streaming to the Shul: men, women, and young people.

People from every walk of life and every Shul were streaming into the Ahavas.

As I entered the building with Rabbi Krohn, the Shul's main gabbai, Jonathan Pittinsky, informed me that the Milton and Eleanor Brown ballroom was already filled to capacity, and people were still arriving.

We quickly realized that the venue had to be changed to the Main Shul.

In a matter of moments, both the women's and men's sections were filled to capacity.

Over five hundred people packed the large Shul to hear words of Chuzuk and inspiration from the master Magid himself, Rav Paysach Krohn.

As he was wheeled into the room, a hush went over the overflow, standing room only crowd.

The audience sensed the Mesiras Nefesh, the physical exertion Rabbi Krohn was expending to share his Torah with us.

As he slowly yet deliberately made his way up the stairs, the mesmerized crowd looked on in sheer amazement at Rabbi Krohn's steadfast determination to climb the steps to deliver his Drosha.

As I introduced him, I mentioned that his first words to me in the very first conversation I had with him after his stroke were, "How is Tuvia Nissan ben Yehudis?"

Tuvia is my son, who has served proudly and with distinction for over 300 days since October 7 in the IDF reserves.

As he made his way to the Amud to speak, he characteristically made light of his inquiry into my son's well-being by stating, "Who could not be focused on the soldiers who protect all of us?"

He then, in line with his stellar Midoos Tovos, publicly thanked his Filipino medical aid, Voltaire, as he stated, "He has a heart of gold, and I thank Hashem that he gave me this wonderful aid."

Once again, Rabbi Krohn, through his own personal actions, impacted all of us in the most meaningful of ways.

He began with the Passuk in Tehillim, "Mi Yaaleh B'Har Hashem, Umi Yakum b'Mkom Kodsho"- "Who will ascend upon Hashem's mount and who will stand in His Holy place?"

Rabbi Krohn explained that it's not enough to go up to Hashem's mountain; you have to stand there —you have to feel it! It's not enough to fast; you have to "feel the fast."

The reality was that Rabbi Krohn's actions (not minimizing his words, which touched all of us deeply and were certainly "Words which emanate from the heart, are able to penetrate the hearts of the listeners") were perhaps even more impactful than his actual D'rashah, as he personally displayed the enviable and much-needed midah of resilience.

It was his sheer willpower that enabled him to carry on, continuing to teach and inspire despite what he had been through.

This personal demonstration of a man's power and strength, with Hashem's help, to overcome challenging situations and once again stand in the holy place of Hashem, was the greatest inspiration of all.

As Rabbi Krohn descended from the bimah, he was mobbed by his admirers seeking Brochus.

The sense of Kedusha was palpable throughout the room.

It was a memory that will live forever in the hearts of all of us who were privileged to be present.

May Rabbi Krohn have a Refuah Sheleima, and may we merit to be inspired by him for many more years to come.