Those few words spoke volumes, not only about Rav Dessler, but also about Rav Moshe

Although I was never zocheh to learn under Rosh yeshivah Rav Moshe Shapira ztz”l, what he taught me in one moment of silence made me his talmid for life.

We had the privilege of hosting Rav Shapira at our shul in suburban Atlanta before Shavuos 11 years ago. He came at the invitation of an honored member of our kehillah, an accomplished talmid chacham who began his Torah journey in the Moscow yeshivah where, for a time, Rav Shapira spent Pesach and gave shiurim.

This man had completed both Talmud Bavli and Talmud Yerushalmi, and wrote a sefer analyzing the differences between the two. We scheduled a gala event to celebrate the double siyum and the publication of the sefer, and Rav Moshe Shapira agreed to attend, showing great kavod for his talmid.

Rav Moshe’s visit to Atlanta caused a sensation, and the siyum was packed. As rav of the shul, I had the singular honor of presenting Rav Moshe to the audience. Rav Moshe gave a stunning derashah contrasting the way Bavli cites a proof — using the words ta shma, “come and hear” — with the way Yerushalmi does it, using ta chazi, “come and see.” The entire day was a highlight of my career.