The Mashgiach, Rav Mattisyahu Solomon, was a man of the masses and a leader of Klal Yisrael. His initiatives shaped not only Lakewood but the Jewish world at large. Recently, I was privileged to interview Rabbi Mordechai Levi, the Mashgiach’s right hand for nearly two decades. My conversation with Rabbi Levi shed light on the Mashgiach’s multifaceted personality and gave me a deeper understanding of who the Mashgiach was and what drove him to become one of the most influential people of modern history.

 

 

Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5772

Over 60,000 Yidden focused their full attention on the roshei yeshivah and rabbanim. They came to Citified and the auxiliary Arthur Ashe stadium from across the country to impart a unified message at this monumental event. Those in attendance left uplifted, reinforced with a newfound understanding about the serious dangers of the internet, and strengthened with the fortitude they needed to protect themselves and their future generations from its potential harm. It was a spectacular experience for all those fortunate enough to have been there.

Kinus Klal Yisrael at Citifield was the brainchild of the Mashgiach. He’ll always be remembered for his instrumental role in making it happen. But when I mentioned the internet asifah at Citifield to R’ Mordechai, he made an important point. Citified was certainly a major accomplishment, but it doesn’t encapsulate who the Mashgiach was. In Rabbi Levi’s words, “The Mashgiach was not Citifield.” He leans over to me for emphasis. “The Mashgiach’s life was, in fact, one long string of avodas Hashem.” He explains, “He made decisions not out of fear, but out of faith. He lived with Hashem—every action, every word, was weighed by ratzon Hashem.”

From his youngest years, Rav Mattisyahu recognized what needed to be done and got to work. “He seized the opportunity,” Rabbi Levi explains as he references Rav Mattisyahu’s close connection to Rav Eliyahu Lopian. The Mashgiach wielded a special relationship with Reb Elya that molded his entire life.

 

 

The Mashgiach Comes To Lakewood

The Mashgiach arrived in Lakewood at the age of 60 upon the request of Rav Nosson and the roshei yeshivah. He wasn’t new to the position of Mashgiach, as he’d served as Mashgiach in Gateshead for nearly three decades prior to his arrival. Reb Mattisyahu’s treasure trove of divrei mussar and hashkafah were complimented by the clarity and ahavah with which the shmuessen were delivered. “He delivered the message every time,” Rabbi Levi says.

Such clarity comes from a devotion to the truth from a drive to do what’s emes because it’s emes. Rabbi Levi expounds on the popularity of the shmuessen and on their profound impact on the ir haTorah of the late 90s. “When he came to Lakewood, people couldn’t get enough of his shmuessen. Every time he spoke, there was a crowd. The famed Monday night shmuessen were widely attended. Every shmuess had close to 1,000 people!” Rabbi Levi continues, “The whole shtut revolved around the Monday night shmuess. The wives knew that their husbands were coming home later every Monday night.” His message was always heeded by the attendees. The Mashgiach understood the impact that these shmuessen had. “The Monday night shmuess was something he didn’t want to ever push off,” says Rabbi Levi.

Both bachurim and yungerleit sat transfixed at the shmuess each week as the Mashgiach’s pearls of wisdom were transmitted from his heart to theirs. Devarim hayotzim min haleiv nichnasim el haleiv. Rabbi Levi summed up the Mashgiach’s impact on Lakewood in those initial years with a quote he heard from an adam gadol: “He blew a nishmas chaim into the yungerleit (bachurim).”

Rabbi Levi continues to reminisce about those first years. The Masgiach had a profound hashpa’ah on the entire city. Because of his impact, people turned to him for guidance in the delicate ruchniyus’dige details of day-to-day life within the shtut. Everything from what stores sold to making sure that every girl had a place in school became his undertaking. It was the Mashgiach’s burning desire to fulfill the ratzon Hashem that propelled him to be involved. To quote Rabbi Levi, “He took initiatives that others were too scared to touch. He put himself on the line again and again because it needed to be done.”

 

 

A Personable Personality

But the Mashgiach wasn’t just a man of the masses. He possessed the same finesse in his dealings with individuals. The care he showed for almanos and yesomim was legendary. Rabbi Levi recalls when the Mashgiach made it a priority to visit a choleh at his home on Purim morning. At a time when people are busy with their own inyanei Purim, the Mashgiach was thinking of others. He danced with the family and even the choleh himself. He blew a nishmas chaim into the home of the individual and uplifted the spirits of the entire family.

The Mashgiach had the ability to connect with everyone, even small children. When a young child lost his father, the Mashgiach knew just what to say to help reconcile the loss in the child’s mind. The Mashgiach’s message was so powerful that it became a staple in the house of the niftar’s family for months and years to follow.

 

 

A Dedicated Gabbai

Rabbi Levi first became involved with the Mashgiach through impromptu rides to and from the shmuessen. The Mashgiach took to Rabbi Levi’s personality and appreciated his devotion. A relationship quickly developed between the two, and from time to time, the Mashgiach would call on Rabbi Levi for his assistance in an unofficial capacity.

Things changed in 2005 immediately following the first internet asifah in Lakewood. Spearheaded by the Mashgiach himself, this important gathering was followed by takanos, and with them would come a myriad of questions. A formal gabbai, or secretary, was needed. Naturally, Rabbi Levi came to mind. Rabbi Levi jumped at the opportunity, and the rest is history.

When I asked Rabbi Levi what his hours were, he told me, “I tell everybody I was like a fireman. When the call came, I was there. I had to be.” Rabbi Levi drove the Mashgiach to cholim, to simchos, as well as to personal engagements.

Being in the proximity of an adam gadol allowed Rabbi Levi to see a side of the Mashgiach that most others did not. He gives us a glimpse into the daily life of the Mashgiach. “Many times, it was overwhelming for the Mashgiach. He was carrying a lot. He was listening to people’s tzaros all day. Part of the difficulty,” Rabbi Levi explained, “was that the Mashgiach only heard the tzaros. People would pour out their hearts and unburden themselves of their troubles and think that he would forget about it.” In fact, this was not the case. Rabbi Levi points out that at times after hearing so much, the Mashgiach would turn to him and ask for chizuk.“I also need someone to give me chizuk,” he would say.

Rabbi Levi shares another eye-opening detail about the Mashgiach’s personality that he was privy to. “He was normal,” quips Rabbi Levi. “He was very down-to-earth.” And it was this practical side of him that helped him understand and relate to people. It’s what drew people to him.

Being near the Mashgiach consistently gave Rabbi Levi the opportunity to ask his personal questions frequently. “I asked him every single thing. I wouldn’t say yes or no to a shidduch suggestion for my children without asking the Mashgiach first.” Rabbi Levi encapsulated the benefits of his relationship with Mashgiach. “What did I gain? Everything, that’s what I gained.” When people ask Rabbi Levi if he’s the one who helped the Mashgiach, he answers, “Yes, but let’s not forget who really helped whom.”

 

 

Leader Of The Generation

As effective as the Mashgiach was with the individual, it was his leadership qualities that allowed him to have a profound impact on so many. Rabbi Levi tells us about the Mashgiach’s legendary altruism. “He didn’t work for honor. He worked for Hashem. He used to say, ‘I just want to give the Eibershter a nachas ruach.’” These were the words Rabbi Levi used to describe what drove the Mashgiach to be so heavily involved in the affairs of the klal. The Mashgiach was a man of integrity. He shied away from the limelight, never looking for respect or acknowledgment. As Rabbi Levi puts it, “When others hesitated, he moved. He wasn’t looking for backup or applause. He was looking for the ratzon Hashem.” And when he had to take an uncomfortable stance on a sensitive issue, he did so, the opinions of others notwithstanding. “He didn’t care about being popular or accepted. If it was for the good of Klal Yisrael, he did it.” Rabbi Levi quotes the Mashgiach, “I always do what I feel is emes al pi my rebbe’im.”

 

The War Against Technology

At the turn of the century, the advent of technology and its widespread access posed a serious threat to the Jewish world at large. In the Mashgiach’s later years, the war against technology would become a primary focus. He had keen insight into the sugya of the internet. He was already aware of the dangers of the internet at a time when many were just beginning to grasp the magnitude of the issue. In the words of Rabbi Levi, “He saw something about the internet that no one else saw. He heard the stories. He knew.”

The Mashgiach wasted no time getting to work. He was determined to launch an initiative that would change the way the frum world viewed technology. He began in Lakewood. The first large scale gathering for internet awareness was held in Bais Faiga just before Rosh Hashanah 5766—September 2005. As Rabbi Levi puts it, “That first asifah was attended in great numbers. Bais Faiga was filled to capacity. The hall, chuppah room, and hallways were filled. There was even a screen set up outside for the overflow crowd. Both men and women came to hear the dvar Hashem on a burning issue of the day.” As always, the Mashgiach succeeded in giving over his message with passion and clarity, and everyone walked away with chizuk. That was the beginning of a revolution, and the Mashgiach was at the helm. Rabbi Levi put it so eloquently, “He was a general—not because he ordered people, but because he carried the responsibility when no one else would.”

Lakewood was the first kehillah in the United States to establish a unified set of takanos regarding technology. But the “general” wasn’t satisfied. This was an issue of great magnitude, and the message had to be spread to all kehillos throughout the country. “He saw a need, and it had to get done. He didn’t fold at the challenges that lie in his path—he just marched forward,” explained Rabbi Levi. The idea of one unified gathering attended by leaders and members of all major communities in the United States and Canada was brewing. It took a couple of years for this dream to become a reality.

On Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5772, the Mashgiach’s dream became a reality. The results were widespread awareness about the dangers of the internet and steadfast resolutions to fight this threat by both individuals and kehillos. It was the culmination of the Mashgiach’s determination to do ratzon Hashem. It left an impact on Klal Yisrael that will remain with us until the coming of Mashiach.

True, “the Mashgiach was not Citifield,” as Rabbi Levi aptly put it. Rather, Citifield was the Mashgiach. Only someone with the pure focus to do the will of Hashem could lead such an initiative. Sure, there were naysayers, Rabbi Levi points out. There were those who were afraid to tackle this issue head on, but not the Mashgiach. “He wasn’t afraid. That’s what I keep saying—he wasn’t afraid. If it was the right thing to do, he did it. He gathered the right people to make sure the right thing was being done. He didn’t want to be known; he wanted things to happen.”

 

A Legacy

Shortly after the great event, the Mashgiach’s strength began to wane. His health deteriorated, until he passed away a little over a decade after the unforgettable gathering at Citifield. The general in the war against technology left us with much more than takanos regarding technology. He left us with a treasure trove of shmoozen and perhaps most importantly, he left us with a life-altering lesson. In the words of Rabbi Levi, he taught us to “view everything as a mission from above.” The Mashgiach’s greatest accomplishment was proliferating altruistic acts, which symbolize the sovereignty of the Ribono Shel Oilam. This is his legacy.