Anonymous

Reb Volf is famous for his immense concern and devotion to halacha, and ensuring that others were just as meticulous.

A few things stick out which I keep to this day (I am in my thirties). I say that not as to brag but to show what a special person Reb Volf was. So many years have gone by since he has been my mashpia and yet his impact and chinuch remains with me. His teachings are imbedded within my being and way of life and will stay with me forever:

(1) Reb Volf said that according to Shulchan Aruch one must not walk around with bare feet. You must always have socks on your feet. Hence, when going to sleep you should take your socks off under your blanket and put them on in the morning under the blanket. When I once asked him that Shulchan Aruch says that it goes by what is the norm, and the norm in the world is to go around one's house bare foot, he replied, "Nisht by a yiray shamayim." He explained that it may be the norm by the "world", but it's not the norm for a G-d fearing Jew. To this day I never walk around my house bare foot.

(2) Reb Volf greatly disliked when bochurim ate while standing. He would often tell guys to sit down, explaining that only animals stand while they eat! To this day if I catch myself standing while eating I recall Reb Volf and I sit.

(3) As someone already mentioned, Reb Volf said one should not talk until after birchas haTorah. I keep that to this day.

(4) Reb Volf said that one is not allowed to learn Torah Shebiksav - i.e. Chumash - without a hat, as it is disrespectful. He said that furthermore, one should not learn Tanya without a hat because that is the "Torah Shebiksav of Chassidus." I never learn Chumash or Tanya without a hat. It's become a habit.

(5) Reb Volf discouraged bochurim from learning anything that wasn't Chassidus before davening. He told me I should not even learn Rambam or Chumash before davening, only Chassidus! I have never rebelled.

(6) Reb Volf did not like it when people ate in a grub manner. He did not approve of bochurim eating with their hands, or breaking pieces of food with their hands. Moreover, he often strongly stressed the importance of not eating something that is bigger than a k'zayis - but rather everything should be cut up into pieces. For example, he said you are not allowed to eat a sandwich without first cutting into bite size pieces with a fork and knife. To this day I keep to that - even when eating a slice of pizza I think of Reb Volf!

(7) I must also make mention Reb Volf's passion for the mitzvah of giving loans. There were a few times I borrowed from his free loan fund. He would always say that it is a bigger mitzvah to pay back a loan than it is to lend it!

Reb Volf's influence on hundreds and hundreds will love on forever, biz der geula sheleima bikarov mamash!