The Admiration of Rav Moshe Feinstein

On the Pnei Menachem's first visit to America, he was to take part in the Agudah convention, where the gaon and gadol Rav Moshe Feinstein was to present him as the guest of honor. Rav Moshe was unsure how to introduce him. An ordinary introduction was out of the question. How could he present the son of the Imrei Emes and the brother of the Bais Yisrael of Ger as just another honored guest? On the other hand, Rav Moshe did not know the Pnei Menachem personally at all.

The solution was that, although Rav Moshe's schedule was packed, a single hour was set aside for the two Torah giants to meet beforehand. That one meeting, slated for a short hour, stretched on for many hours. When Rav Moshe came out, he told those close to him, "I couldn't believe my ears, He knows the entire Torah, and I mean the entire Torah, mamash," At the convention, Rav Moshe heaped praise on the Pnei Menachem and told the assembled audience that he could vouch for these praises from personal experience.

Years later, the Pnei Menachem's son, Rav Yehuda Arye, married the daughter of the Mishne Halochos, the Ungvar Rav in America. His father asked him to be tested for semichah by gedolim and rabbonim in America, and the first name on the list he gave his son was Rav Moshe.

Rav Yehuda Arye was disappointed when Rav Moshe's family told him at the door that, because of Rav Moshe's advanced age and weak health, the gadol hador had already stopped testing and giving semichah. Rav Moshe overheard what was happening at the door. He agreed with the statement, but asked who the young man was. When he introduced himself, Rav Moshe asked whose son he was. On hearing the Pnei Menachem's name, Rav Moshe said that his decision had not been made for every circumstance. "For your father, the Gaon, I am making this special exception, because I hold that he is a Ge'on Olam, mamash," And so, as a rare exception, Rav Moshe tested him and gave him semichah.