Hillel taught: “Be as the students of Aharon: Love peace and pursue peace, love people and bring them closer to Torah” (Pirkei Avot 1:12). These words of Hillel are more than just a nice idea put forward by one of our sages. Although Hillel was referring to Aharon, the saintly Kohel Gadol, whenever I learn this passage in Pirkei Avot, another Aharon HaKohen comes to mind- Aharon Halley z”l.

I first met Aharon in January 2007 at Central East’s Winter shabbaton in Cleveland. I thought he was just a regular guy like me. Yet, when the shabbaton really started the next night, I realized that my new friend Aharon was anything but. He was a rockstar. A legend. The older NCSYers wanted to be friends with. The older NCSYers wanted to be like him. The advisors wished they could be as captivating as this young man. The staff adored him and smiled every time Aharon would daven or give a dvar torah. He was truly larger than life. That shabbaton showed me that Aharon was no ordinary high schooler.

Aharon Simcha Halley z”l was a true a friend to all, very approachable and personable. He knew how to have a good time, and at the same time he knew how to buckle down and be serious. But most of all, like the talmidim of Aharon HaKohen, he brought people close to torah. During his illness, there were countless initiatives to “Learn for Aharon” where NCSYers dedicated their learning to his recovery. He would continually ask those around him for a torah thought for him to think about. But more than all of this is a story that is well known to those in Central East NCSY. At that winter shabbaton in Cleveland in 2007, Aharon got up in front of the entire group and spoke about a friend of his from Alderdice who watched him put on tefillen during a free period. This was Aharon’s time to daven during his hectic day, and rather than push the guy away, he brought him in and shared his tefillin with him. He went on about how this individual was making strides in his commitment to yiddishkeit and then, in front of everyone, he and regional director Rabbi Tzali Freedman presented this young man with his very own set of tefillin. It was one of the most inspiring moments of my life. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room:

Central East NCSY Scholarship Campaign!