Nochum Reichmann, a ben bayis for years in the Kanievsky home, shares memories of treasured times

Photos: Family archives

Rebbetzin Kanievsky called him an einekel, and while Nochum Reichmann may not have actually been a blood relative, he ate hundreds of seudos at the small home on Rashbam Street and spent countless hours in the company of the Rav and Rebbetzin.

He was there when the open door was closed, he was there during the quiet times and the busier ones, with the constant flow of people, and with the knowledge that he was observing greatness, Nochum Reichmann imbibed it all.

Ahavas haTorah and kavod for those who plumb its depths was the foundation of the home Nochum grew up in. It was an example set forth by his parents and grandparents, and today Nochum Reichmann and his wife, Ayala, are passing these values down to their own children, who include a Batsheva and a Chaim. In fact the couple, who live in Monsey today, even married in Eretz Yisrael so that Rav Chaim and the Rebbetzin could be there. It was the last chasunah that the Rebbetzin attended before her petirah, two months later.

Roots of a Relationship

Rebbetzin Batsheva had worked for Nochum Halpern a”h, Nochum Reichmann’s great-grandfather, for about a year and a half after she married, until their eldest daughter was born. Always good with numbers, she did the accounting for Rabbi Halpern’s business. In their younger years, when Rav Chaim and the Rebbetzin went for walks down Rechov Chazon Ish, Rav Chaim used to tell the Rebbetzin calculations from Perek Hazahav and Perek Eizehu Neshech, the fourth and fifth chapters in Bava Metzia, which are known to be two of the most complex in Shas.

“Rav Chaim told me a number of times,” Nochum remembers, “that when he printed his sefer on mezuzah, he didn’t have the money, so he went to my great-great grandfather Yaakov Halpern who gave him a nice amount for the sefer, but told him, ‘Wait, my son Reb Nochum Yoel is coming shortly, he gives b’ayin yafah.’

“Rav Chaim told me, ‘So I waited and he came and he takkeh gave me b’ayin yafah.’ [He gave Rav Chaim the remaining balance needed.] I wrote him a thank-you in the sefer.’ ”

The Halperns, both Reb Yaakov and his son Reb Nochum, were fortunate to have a close relationship to the Chazon Ish, the Steipler, and Rav Chaim Kanievsky. They conferred with the Chazon Ish before doing anything.

The Halpern family would travel to Tzfas during the summer, and the Chazon Ish accompanied them a few times, together with his sister, Rav Chaim’s mother, and Rav Chaim. The Chazon Ish and Reb Yaakov were going for a walk in Tzfas when they walked by some esrog orchards.

The Chazon Ish pointed and said, “This is the real esrog.”

Upon hearing that, Yaakov Halperin promptly negotiated to buy the orchards, and thanks to  Yaakov Halpern, we have the Chazon Ish Halpern esrogim today.