Rav Zundel Kroizer, zt”l (1924-2014), had a manuscript of his Chiddushim (original insights) on Masechta Kesubos, that he uncharacteristically would not lend out. There was a young Talmid Chacham who knew this Masechta very well, and he kept asking Rav Zundel to borrow it so that he could learn from it, and finally, Rav Zundel lent it to him.
This fellow took it with him to Mei’ah She’arim, but he somehow misplaced it and it got lost. He was completely shattered. He just couldn’t bear to return to Rav Zundel without his manuscript. After spending much time looking for it, he built up the courage and told Rav Zundel what had happened, and that his manuscript was gone. Rav Zundel did all he could to console this Talmid over the loss. The fellow soon walked away remorseful, but felt reassured by Rav Zundel’s warm response.
Sometime later, an antique Seforim collector was sifting through some piles of Sheimos, and a handwritten pamphlet caught his eye. He took it home, and miraculously saved it from being buried. He later showed it to someone, who recognized the handwriting to be Rav Zundel’s. He went to see Rav Zundel, and asked if it was his. When Rav Zundel said that it was, his precious manuscript was returned to him.
Rav Zundel thanked the man and told him that those particular Chiddushim were written with tremendous Mesiras Nefesh, as Yerushalayim was being bombed in 1948. With all the neighbors crammed into the dark bomb shelter, he found it impossible to learn, so he returned home, despite the danger. Rav Zundel said, “Bombs were exploding and the windows were shattering, but I did not move from that room. It was under those traumatic and stressful conditions that I learned Kesubos and wrote those Chiddushim in that notebook. I knew the fruits of that labor would not be permanently lost. I knew someday it would come back to me!”
Rav Zundel taught that one’s most treasured learning and greatest growth occurs during his most difficult times. Similarly, the opportunity for anyone to grow the most is greatest in times of hardship and challenge!
Reprinted from the Parshas Emor 5785 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’ Tefilah.
