The Slutzk/Kletzk/Lakewood Rosh Yeshiva is seen at 0:51 into the film walking vigorously, and in a longer clip at 4:02 talking and gesturing powerfully. It gives us a glimpse into the passion and intensity of the renowned gadol זצ"ל. Keep in mind, that he was already over seventy years of age at the time the video was taken. How many seventy year old Roshei Yeshiva walk with such energy, and speak with such passion and vigor? No wonder that he had such an effect on people and the Jewish world.
There are photos of Rav Aharon, but this is the first video I recall seeing. I read that (as the saying goes, that one picture is worth a thousand words), one film is worth a thousand photos! So this video is worth a lot to me. So many people today never saw Rav Kotler when he was alive. Now they can get a better idea of what it was like to see him in action.
Rav Aharon maintained an apartment in Boro Park, just a few blocks from the school, so it is not surprising that he was at the event. He passed away just over two months after the video (the 50th yohrtzeit is approaching). זכר צדיק לברכה.
To supplement the video footage with some recent fine and informative reminiscences of the Rosh Yeshiva from that time and place, see two recent pieces by Dr. Marvin Schick, here, and here.
P.S. Here is a relatively recently released short video clip of Rav Kotler speaking with Rav Moshe Feinstein at a wedding, where you can again glimpse the intensity of these great leaders, זצוקללה"ה.
