Who was Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz? Check out these 10 quotes that shed light onto the personage of the Chazon Ish:
1. “One who merits Torah knowledge walks among people and, to all appearances, looks like a person; however, in truth, [such a person] is an angel, who lives with mortals, and lives a dignified life, exalted above all blessings and glory” (Igros Chazon Ish 1:13).
2. “The only pleasure that I have is to do the will of my Creator” (Igros Chazon Ish 1:153).
3. “The Torah way is to maintain peace with everybody and to overlook insults… Just as it is inappropriate for an intelligent person to be angry with and take revenge against an mentally ill person who harms him, so too, it is inappropriate to be take revenge against and be angry with a person who harms you because they are emotionally ill or lacking a good character. [In this matter,] there is no difference between a rogue or a lunatic (Chazon Ish, Orach Chaim, Shabbos 56).
4. The Chazon Ish writes an amazing thing regarding non-observant Jews: “The law of moridin only applied in the time where the Almighty's Providence was evident to all. Then, the eradication of evil was necessary to protect the world,” the Chazon Ish writes. “But in a time of [spiritual] concealment, where faith has been severed from the nation, the act of 'casting down' irreligious Jews is nothing more than a further breach, an act perceived as destructive and violent, G-d forbid…” The Chazon Ish continues, beautifully noting the job incumbent upon observant Jews, during the time of exile, regarding non-observant Jews: “It is our obligation to bring them back with bonds of love and to show show them the light, to the best of our ability” (Chazon Ish, Yoreh Deah, 2:16).
5. “The root of rectifying one's character,” the Chazon Ish writes, “is to turn away from evil.” The Chazon Ish, elaborating, explains, “A person prefers to 'do good' and, [only] with difficulty, turns away from evil… There are individuals who are prepared to sacrifice every ounce of energy for the betterment of their fellow or community [but] they're [also] extraordinarily exacting and when somebody says the slightest thing against them, they rage and are immediately ready to give out murderous blows… How could the sounds of honor, praise, or glory be heard over such a 'philanthropist'? Such a person hasn't worked on their character… He may be illustrious and fine in the realm of glory and praise given to a desired item; however, a person is truly glorified by his intelligence, and it rewards the wise person who toils to control himself, in the face of lowly desires.”
6. The Chazon Ish defined the mitzvah of bitachon as follows: “Bitachon is matter of trust that there is no coincidence in the world; everything that transpires under the sun results from an announcement from Him, may He be blessed” (Emunah U'Bitachon, beginning of chapter 2).
7. In the first chapter of his monumental work Emunah U'Bitachon, the Chazon Ish describes at length the wondrous wisdom involved in the creation of the Universe. Regarding the Creator's wisdom evident in the human eye, he writes, “How much wisdom there is in the human eye… generation after generation wise and intelligent people will continue knowing and understanding the treasures of wisdom that are hidden in the creation of the eye, and they'll never fully comprehend it.”
8. The Chazon Ish continues, detailing the wonders of the human body, “In front of us, we have a sight that could shock every wise-hearted [person]: the construction of the human body to receive food, digest it, chemically distribute distinct elements, and send each element to its rightful place … The system that involves the large and small intestines, the liver and bladder, the spleen and kidneys… the bladder, heart, brain, and every organ with its unique duty. They all work together with tremendous alacrity, repeatedly filtering and purifying the blood, insuring the proper quantities of red and white blood cells required for the machine known as 'man.' It balances the amount of sugar the body needs, along with other functions that are balanced incredibly precisely. Man is [naturally] fool-hearted and unaware of the ‘forces’ constantly acting on his behalf, to keep him alive and maintain his presence in this world.”
9. The Chazon Ish describes the personality of an individual with refined character traits: “There are those who desire to benefit others; when they encounter a friend, their heart delights. Such individuals receive their friends with a pleasant expression. Such a person is concerned that perhaps he has misinterpreted his friend’s emotional state of being and spoke inappropriately. For an individual like this nothing would cause him emotional pain as much as insulting somebody else or refraining from performing kindness. An individual like this never feels insulted by others for his heart is filled with a love that overcomes all misdeed. He is ready and willing from the get-go to lovingly accept emotional injuries and insults, for he knows that most people do not have refined characters – what more could be expected of them? – and to display honor and glory towards them.”
10. The Chazon Ish continues, noting, “[A person with a refined character] doesn’t [even] mentally entertain disparaging thoughts about others… he judges his brethren absolutely and completely favorably, even if their sins are as thick as yoke-ropes…”
Click here to read the sefer Emunah U’Bitachon in Hebrew.
