Reb Chaim zt”l and Rav Avrohom zt”l

Reb Chaim Kanievsky zt”l shared a closed relationship with my late relative Rav Avrohom Genechovsky zt”l. They were friends, confidants and chavrusas. Rav Avrohom zt”l told over that when he was seeking a shidduch for his daughter, Reb Chaim zt”l was the final arbiter. Many times he brought possibilities to Reb Chaim zt”l and he said not to do it. Rav Avrohom zt”l treated this as a psak. In the end he got a yes, and his daughter is now married to this talmid chacham with a blossoming family.

I can't forget when Rav Avrohom zt”l took my cousin and I to see Reb Chaim zt”l. Though they were so close, Rav Avrohom zt”l trembled in his presence. After my cousin asked a question of Reb Chaim zt”l and heard a response, Rav Avrohom zt”l bowed his head and thanked Reb Chaim zt”l profusely for giving of his time.

Two thoughts struck me when I thought of Reb Chaim zt”l’s petirah. First, it happened quickly with little fanfare, at least that was the way I experienced it. There was little time to discuss it because Shabbos was coming. This made so much sense, because Reb Chaim zt”l’s greatest wish would probably be to leave this world quietly with no chance for people to elongate in discussions about him. Second, he was naturally taken before Shabbos because Shabbos is above teva just like Reb Chaim zt”l was; it was the perfect transition.