Nefesh HaChayim, An Introduction by the Author's Son

This was the way he taught holiness from when he was very young. Whether it was related to Torah or any of the other pathways of God that he would teach, he would set aside his own honor and decide to teach whatever would benefit others, children or adults, drawing from the reservoir of Torah that he merited, and by which he enabled the public to gain merit. He never ceased teaching those who lived in his town, after morning prayers, daily, something about the weekly Torah reading. All who entered the study hall exited full of his words, each one retaining according his ability. Those who loved learning the plain meaning of the text absorbed his deep understanding of the plain meaning of Scripture. And those who expounded commentaries were able to expound based on what they heard him say in his concise statements. All who heard him rejoiced in the sweetness of his words which were so clear it was as if he were reciting the section before very young children learning from their teacher. Fulfilling this mitzva was so dear to him that he would finish his prayers and would rush off to the study hall while the rest of the congregation were still praying, young and old. And he expressed perfect joy when he taught something that required teaching, something that few had learned. And this Torah, all of it was equal in value, and beneficial to all. And his heart/mind would rejoice in it. Let the humble learn from his ways46Paraphrasing T’hillim 25:9.