15
Feb
In advance of a public Talmudic address, Reb Yisroel Salanter posted a list of a hundred references. Upon entering the auditorium to present his discourse, Reb Yisroel checked the list and found that a prankster had replaced his sheet with another list of a hundred references picked at random. He turned pale, and took his seat for the ten minutes that the introductions were made. He then stepped up to the bimah and delivered a brilliant discourse, tying together all hundred random citations.
His disciple Reb Naftoli Amsterdam later commented, “It did not take Reb Yisroel ten minutes to draw upon his knowledge of Shas to weave together a new pilpul. He turned pale because on the one hand he was reluctant to display his phenomenal intellectual abilities by presenting an ‘instant’ Torah discourse. Instead, he planned to rise to the bimah, declare his inability to give the posted lecture, and take his seat. On the other hand, this would prove to be a grave setback to his campaign to spread mussar. After much analysis and inner conflict - which was why he had turned pale - he decided to present the spontaneous speech, much against his nature.”
