How Rav Aharon Became a Talmid of the Berditchever

Rav Yitzchok Neshchizer related one Shabbos during the month of Menachem Av that the holy Rav Araleh (Aharon) of Zhitomir was originally a talmid of the Vilna Gaon. However, that path was not acceptable to his heart. He heard that in Zelichov there was a certain Rav Levi Yitzchok who ran a yeshiva. (The Berditchever was still Rav in Zelichov at the time.)

Rav Araleh visited the yeshiva, and the Berditchever saw him from far away, five seats from where he sat, and did not turn toward him at all. Even though all of Rav Araleh's questions were good and right on target, Rav Levi Yitzchok at first paid him no heed and did not answer him. He said that as long as Rav Araleh had even a trace of haughtiness or arrogance in him, he would not draw him close.

Afterward, when the Berditchever felt that Rav Aharon had refined himself enough, he drew him close and sat him next to him. They studied together the Gemara that asks about a person who finds a bill of debt that proves liability: why should he not return it? The Berditchever explained this to Rav Aharon in the following way: "If you find your own liability, why should you not return to Hashem and repent fully?"