Why Isn’t There a Mirror in the House of R. Motele Chernobler

The Apter Rav was particular that there should be a mirror hanging [in his house] so that he could check the exact placement of his Tefilin (phylacteries) on his head.

The opposite was the case with R. Motele Chernobler, there was no mirror hanging [in his house].

The Apter remarked: this is understandable – [for] there is only one R. Motele, hence he doesn’t want to see more than one R. Motele.¹

We know that there are many Apters,² hence it doesn’t bother us that we see another one.

I.F.

Dovid Fishman

1. I.e. the mirror reflects the image thus “multiplying” the person whose gestalt it reflects.
2. i.e. many individuals like the Apter. He is not unique in that he has no double.