PARSHAS HASHAVUA
ויאמר ראובן אל אביו לאמר את שני בני תמית
Maran Harav A.Y.L.
Shteinman zt"l said he
heard that Reb Chaim Brisker would not add his father's name (בן הגרי"ד)
when signing his name.
The reason is because the first year after the death of a parent or
Rebbie one is obligated to add הריני כפרת
משכבו when mentioning their name.
(as if to say that all sins
of the parent/Rebbie should be transferred to the child/Talmid.
It is true that the Halacha
requires you to add הכ"מ but if you don't mention the father there won't
be a need
to add הכ"מ.
Reb Chaim was concerned and
fearful of accepting the sins of his father the Bais Halevi. Since he didn't
mention himthe first year he kept it up and *never signed his name "בן הגרי"ד"
Harav Shteinman brings this
story as one more proof that one can actually transfer sins from one
person to another.
This is what Reuvain told his
father that he is prepared to accept all the sins which might even cause the
death
of his two sons should he not
bring back Binyamin. (see Malbim)
Rav Shteinman writes
some say that R. Chaim changed his
mind later in life.
