There was a religious Doctor who lived in Germany. He was particular on every Halacha in the Shulchan Aruch, he had his daily Shiurei Torah and truly made a Kiddush Hashem with his fine behavior. One day he took off vacation and decided to visit the Yeshivos in Lithuainia.
He was enthralled by what he saw. Teenagers and young men sitting all day in the Beis Hamedrash completely immersed in their studies. They were studying Masechtos he had never learned. Slabodka, Mir, Telz, Kaminetz, Grodno, Kletzk, Ponevez and Radin.
He was very disturbed and decided to go and speak to the Chafetz Chaim. “Rebbi,” he asked, “will I merit Olam Haba?”
“Every Jew has a place in Olam Haba,” answered the Chafetz Chaim.
“I Feel Like a Dwarf Against those Giants”
“But what sort of place will I have,” he asked. “Until now I was happy with my life. I was sure I had done my best. A religious Jew, a doctor, keeping Mitzvos properly, and helping people as best as I could. I attend Shiurei Torah, give time and energy for community affairs, I was sure I had a front row in Olam haba. But now when I see the world of the Yeshivos, those that have given everything they have to be able to study day and night, I’m not sure if I’ll make it to one of the back rows. I feel like a dwarf against those giants.”
The Chafetz Chaim looked at him and said, “you know, its possible you’ll be my neighbor in Gan Eden!” Him, the neighbor of the Chafetz Chaim? But the Chafetz Chaim wasn’t a comedian; the Chafetz Chaim was a person who spoke the truth! How, the Chafetz Chaim, with his vast Torah knowledge, the Chafetz Chaim with his great charity and kindness, the Chafetz Chaim with so many Sefarim he authored. How?
“Let me explain,” said the Chafetz Chaim. “The source of what I am saying is in the Torah. The Passuk in Bereishis tells us that the Etz Hachaim the tree of life was in the center of Gan Eden. The tree of life refers to the eternal life of Olam Haba. What difference does it make if it was in the center or the side?
Your Journey is Similar to My Journey
“The answer is, the center of a circle is unique, no matter which point of the circle you are, you are always exactly the same distance from the center point. Your journey to Gan Eden isn’t a longer journey then mine. I was born in Lithuainia, educated in Vilna, had the opportunity to meet Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, Hashem gave me the idea to write many Sefarim on Halacha and Mussar, He gave me the tools, the potential, the talent and the opportunities, so I grew to be the Chafetz Chaim.”
“You were born in Germany and was educated with the education of ‘Torah im Derech Eretz’ - Torah with working, and you grew to be a religious Doctor, particular to keep all Mitzvos properly, spending your time doing Chessed and attending Shiurei Torah. Everyone is expected to maximize his talents and his potentials.”
Reprinted from the Parshas Shemos 5784 email of Inspired by a Story by Rabbi Dovid Caro.
