I did not have any connection to Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, zt"l, who passed away recently, except hearing of him from afar. Being that I am from Chicago and had some connection to the Soloveitchik family, Rav Lichtenstein was somebody I sort of would hear about every now and then and was always interested, but never connected. I do have a lot of friends who were connected in various ways, and have heard and seen many stories of his life this past week.

I just saw the following short story online, and thought it particularly poignant, and I think it follows perfectly with much of what I heard of him this past week - how he made everybody feel important, there was no such thing as a stupid question, he did not stand on airs, no pomp and circumstance...

When a High School educator in Chicago asked Rav Lichtenstein several years ago to autograph a baseball, he put his pen to the baseball and wrote: "Aharon Lichtenstein, who strives for stardom in another league"

Rav Lichtenstein could have balked (pun itended) and said why a baseball? I'll sign a sefer for you. He could have said no, not appropriate. He could have taken it as an insult and considered it demeaning - what do I have to do with a baseball??!!

But someone asked, and he did what he could for that person, while teaching a lesson, without being demeaning or insulting to the other person, without standing on his own kavod.