Skverer Chassid

 

Rabbi Yonason Geffen relates the following story about Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky:

A family close to Rav Kamenetsky was shocked when the youngest of their seven sons informed them that he wanted to be a Skverer Chassid.  They went together with the boy to Reb Yaakov expecting him to convince their son that boys from proper German-Jewish families do not become Chassidim.  To their surprise, Rav Kamenetsky spent his time assuring them that it was not a reflection on them that their son wanted to follow a different path of Avodas Hashem.  Obviously, their son had certain emotional needs which, he felt, could be filled by becoming a chassid and they should honor those feelings.  Rav Kamenetsky even recommended a step more radical than the parents were willing to consider - sending the boy to a Skverer Yeshiva !