I met R' Michel personally on 2 occasions - The first was a quick, private meeting in his home while seeking a Bracha on Chol Hamoed Sukkot. I was in Yeshivat Hakotel at the time and a friend visiting from chu"l asked me to go with him to B'nei Brak to "make the rounds" and visit the big Rabbanim who were available.
The second and last time I met with R' Michel was about 7 years ago when R' Ilson took the yeshiva on a shabbaton to B'nei Brak. On Friday, we visited several prominent Rabbanim in B'nei Brak and R' Michel's simple home was one of our stops.
He greeted us warmly and invited us to come in and sit with him in his study. He was very excited when he was told that we were students from chutz la'aretz and told us he was reminded of a Gemara at the end of Brachot (63b):
One who leaves his home to study Torah is a "Mevakesh Hashem" - one who is actively seeking Hashem. Coming to Israel to learn Torah is not only a privilege and a responsibility, but also a badge of honor that the talmid should be proud of.
I am not well-versed in R' Michel's writings, but I believe this brief encounter characterizes the thousands of opportunities taken by the Rosh Yeshiva to positively encourage talmidim during his lifetime
