Today we mark the sixth anniversary of the passing of the Rosh Yeshivah, the Rav of all Israel, the gaon Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman zt"l

His life story:

Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib was born to R’ Nach Tzvi and Mrs. Gittel Feiga on the 14th of Marcheshvan, 5675 (1914), in the town of Kamenitz in Germany—then under the Russian Federation. After his birth, his parents returned to Brisk, where he learned in the city’s Talmud Torah. Because of his extraordinary diligence and broad mastery of Torah, already at the age of only 12 he was accepted to the Toras Chesed Yeshivah in Brisk. He later went on to learn in Switzerland at the Etz Chaim Yeshivah, where he was appointed as a maggid shiur. During this period he also married his wife, Rebbetzin Tamar. During World War II he was taken to the Shonberg labor camp, where he was forced for a short time to work paving a road. On the 8th of Tammuz, 5705 (1945), he ascended to Eretz HaKodesh, where—by the instruction of Maran the Chazon Ish—he was appointed Rosh Yeshivah of Chofetz Chaim. After a decade he was appointed Rosh Yeshivah of Ponevezh HaKetanah. Another decade later he was appointed head of the Ponevezh Kollel. In 5738 (1978) he founded the Gaon Yaakov Yeshivah in Bnei Brak, where he served as Rosh Yeshivah. Twenty years later, in 5758 (1998), he opened the Orchot Torah Yeshivah and served there as Rosh Yeshivah until his final day. He also served as Rosh Yeshivah of the yeshivos: Rinah Shel Torah in Karmiel, Ner Zerach in Otzem, and Torah BeTifartah in Elad. After the passing of the posek of the generation, Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt"l, he became the leader of the Lithuanian public and rendered decisions on all the questions that came to the doorstep of the Gadol HaDor.

The connection to Breslov and to The Rav Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a:

Rabbi Steinman—unlike the prevailing opinion among the Lithuanian public—many times encouraged traveling to Uman. Here is an answer to a question published in Kupat HaIr: The husband wants to travel to Uman because he went there last year, but the wife does not agree that he should go—what should be done? The gaon Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib answered: “A worthy wife fulfills her husband’s will.” His close associates testify that when several Roshei Yeshivah came many times to ask whether a bochur who traveled to Uman for Rosh Hashanah should be expelled, he would answer: “What’s wrong with traveling to Uman?” The chassid R’ Nachman Rosenthal shlit"a testified in the hall of the Breslov Yeshivah: Before my trip to Rabbi Berland for Yom Kippur in Marrakesh, Morocco, a decade ago (5774/2014), I went in to request the blessing of Maran the gaon Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman zt"l. After I told him that I was on my way to The Rav shlit"a in Marrakesh, Rabbi Steinman answered with these words: “Ich ken im, er iz a erlicher Yid.” “I know him—he is an ehrlicher Yid!”

His passing:

On Tuesday, the 24th of Kislev 5778 (2017), on the eve of Chanukah, the lights were extinguished and he was summoned to the Heavenly Yeshivah. At the time of his passing, The Rav Rabbi Eliezer Berland (may he be granted long life) recited the verses of unification and the acceptance of the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven together with the members of the community during Shacharis. He also spoke in his praise—that he always welcomed Breslov chassidim into Talmud Torahs and yeshivos, and that he never opposed traveling to Uman.

Below is an article written by The Rav Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a about the greatness of the gaon Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman zt"l:

Rabbi Yehuda Leib Steinman was the true Tzaddik of the generation, and all the good things that are done in this generation—everything is in the merit of his Torah and in the merit of his awesome prayers. And all of the People of Israel live and endure in his merit forever and ever, for all eternity. And his soul is from Atika Kadisha, from Atika Setima’ah—the Hidden Ancient One, hidden beyond all hiddenness, the hiddenness that encompasses everything. And such a soul will not be again until Melech HaMoshiach comes.