Bread for My Bochurim
Torah learning
Rav Elchonon reached America on 18 October 1937, and the Torah community waited eagerly to hear him speak. Years later, an older man recalled the occasion for Rav Avraham David Niznik, av beis din of Montreal. Everyone assumed that a legend would deliver a sharp and brilliant discourse. Rav Elchonon stood and noted that the Gemara in Yoma 75a calls it improper to ask for meat. “I am not asking for meat,” he said. “I ask only for bread, and that is proper. Please help me give bread to my bochurim.” With that he took his seat.
Those plain, heartfelt words moved the audience deeply, and his appeal succeeded.
It is told that a reporter from the Morgen Journal asked him on his arrival what sum he expected to raise for the yeshivah. Rav Elchonon replied that the amount had already been decided by hashgachah (Divine Providence), that he would not collect more or less than that, and that he did not know how much hashgachah had allotted.