It was in my ninth year that the presence of Reb Menahem Mendl of Kotzk, known as the Kotzker,entered my life. Since then he has remained a steady companion and a haunting challenge. Although he often stunted me, he also urged me to confront perplexities that I  might have preferred to evade.

A.J. Heschel, A Passion for Truth , Jewish Lights Publishing, p. xiv