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<p>Those who are not familiar with Rav Yisroel Zev Gustman, ZT"L, should read the write-up about him at </p>
<p><a href="http://matzav.com/rav-yisroel-zev-gustman-ztl-on-his-20th-yahrtzeit-today-28-sivan/">http://matzav.com/rav-yisroel-zev-gustman-ztl-on-his-20th-yahrtzeit-today-28-sivan/</a></p>
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<p>He was truly an outstanding Talmud Chocham and an exceptional man. He was the only Vilna Dyan to survive WW II. </p>
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<p>More than once people have referred to me as "rabbi," which I am not. When they do, I jokingly say, "Being a rabbi is no profession for a Jewish boy." and then say that I am not a rabbi. <br>
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<p>The following is from a biography about him that was recently released by ArtScroll. </p>
I have a feeling that Rav Gustman would have agreed with my quip about being a rabbi.
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<p>On another occasion, a student who excelled in his learning<br>
received semichah from the Rosh Yeshivah. The student thereupon<br>
decided to become a congregational rabbi. R' Gustman advised<br>
him against doing so. If the student were to accept a position as a<br>
congregational rabbi in America, the Rosh Yeshivah counseled, it<br>
would mark the end to his spiritual growth. He would be too busy<br>
dealing with the demands of his congregants to find time for learning.<br>
Moreover, in a culture in which "money talks," the congregants<br>
would run the rabbi rather than the rabbi running the congregation,<br>
dictating to him rather than the other way around.</p>
<p><br>
R' Gustman told him, "In your case, it is better to be a truck driver<br>
than to be a congregational rabbi, because being a truck driver will<br>
not be a source of constant aggravation. You can leave your job when<br>
you step out of your truck, and you will therefore have an unburdened<br>
mind to learn Torah in peace in your free time. In addition,<br>
you will not be required to sacrifice your health for the capricious<br>
demands of the synagogue board members and lay leadership. This<br>
will be a hardship for you."</p>
<p><br>
The talmid did not heed R' Gustman' s advice. Even after the<br>
student assumed his rabbinic post, the Rosh Yeshivah conveyed his<br>
dissatisfaction with that choice. As it turned out, after a few years,<br>
the student found himself unable to withstand the headaches and</p>
<p>the heartaches of his position and determined to leave the rabbinate.<br>
He asked forgiveness, which was immediately granted, for not having<br>
heeded R' Gustman's advice. The student became a successful<br>
businessman who had time to learn, time which he had never found<br>
as a congregational rabbi.<br>
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