Rav Henoch Leibowitz and the Cave, Dungeon and Dragon

The dining room was originally a projection hall and lacked central heating. Instead, there was a large commercial heater in the corner affectionately known as “the dragon.” When it became too hot, a call would go out to “put the dragon to sleep.”

Due to limited space, an additional room on the first floor was converted into a dormitory, which was nicknamed “the dungeon” because of its below-ground location.

In the high school and dormitory wing, the hallways were too narrow for two people to pass each other comfortably. Many can recall the persistent roof leak in front of the main office. Rav Avrohom Ginzberg, zt”l, the long-time executive director of Chofetz Chaim, once jokingly remarked, “If the building catches fire, just take out the seforim and let it burn!”

With this background, one can imagine how excited the Rosh HaYeshiva was when the Yeshiva finally built a state-of-the-art, spacious building in Kew Gardens Hills. This marked the culmination of half-a-century of effort. However, some controversy arose. A group opposed the Yeshiva’s relocation and requested a meeting with the Rosh HaYeshiva. HaRav Yosef Singer, shlita, the menahel of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, exclaimed, “The building is already constructed! The Yeshiva will be relocating soon! What is there to discuss?!?” Nonetheless, the Rosh HaYeshiva was prepared to forego the long-awaited building if daas Torah dictated such a decision. The Rosh HaYeshiva was willing to live with the cave, dungeon, and dragon if that course of action proved correct.