Rav Eliyahu Rotte zt”l, the devoted talmid of the holy Rav Shlomo of Zvhil zt”l, shared numerous stories illustrating the unparalleled humility and self-negation of his revered teacher. Rav Shlomo regarded himself as utterly insignificant, like a barren wilderness open to all, nullified in his own eyes to the point of absolute nothingness—a degree of humility almost unimaginable.
One Friday afternoon, Rav Eliyahu accompanied Rav Shlomo to the mikveh. The Rav found a modest corner to place his belongings. Meanwhile, another man entered the mikveh, visibly agitated, angry, and bitter, muttering complaints. Noticing Rav Shlomo, the man decided to vent his frustrations directly at the Rav. He began shouting at Rav Shlomo, accusing him of various matters entirely unrelated to him. Rav Shlomo, true to his nature, remained silent and composed, not responding in the slightest.
When the man saw that his yelling had no effect, he raised his voice even further, hurling insults and harsh accusations at Rav Shlomo in front of all present. He berated him relentlessly for a long time, publicly humiliating him with ridicule and vulgar names.
Rav Shlomo stood quietly, his profound humility preventing him from reacting. It seemed he regarded the harsh words as directed at someone else entirely, feeling no personal insult or pain.
After leaving, Rav Shlomo turned to Rav Eliyahu with a request: “Would you please go to the home of so and so—a wealthy and capable man—and ask him for a substantial loan? I urgently need funds before Shabbos.”
Rav Eliyahu quickly fulfilled the Rav’s request, approaching the man who, knowing Rav Shlomo’s character, immediately provided the full sum. Returning with the money, Rav Eliyahu was astonished when Rav Shlomo instructed: “Now, take the entire amount and give it as a gift to the man who insulted me earlier at the mikveh.”
Rav Eliyahu stood in disbelief, questioning the Rav with great wonder: “How far can one go in breaking their character traits? Is it possible that because he insulted and berated you, he deserves such a generous gift? And besides, the Rav doesn’t even have the means to repay this loan!”
Rav Shlomo, smiling, explained: “You must understand. When a Jew comes to the mikveh on a Friday and behaves this way, pouring out such bitterness and anger, it’s clear that he doesn’t have what he needs for Shabbos. If his Shabbos preparations were complete, he wouldn’t have acted like this.”
Reflect upon the depth of Rav Shlomo’s humility and how far he delved into the soul of another Jew to understand their struggles. Not once did he consider the insult directed at him. Instead, he sought to uncover what this person was lacking and sought to rectify it.
