A father asked one of the roshei yeshivah of Tchebin, Reb Avraham Ganichovsky zt”l, to speak with his son and encourage him to study Torah diligently. Reb Avraham told the bachur the following mashal:
A king, his aide, and three advisors strolled through a forest near the king’s palace. The king became thirsty and sent his aide to the palace to get him water. The aide filled a large crystal cup with water and placed it on a diamond-studded wooden tray. Rushing through the forest, the aide tripped, the water spilled, and the tray fell into a pit. The aide returned to the palace and brought another cup of water.
The king quenched his thirst and thanked his aide, but now the king asked his advisors to help him retrieve the tray from the pit. The pit was narrow, and it was impossible to climb inside. One advisor said, “We can widen the pit. That way, we can get inside and retrieve the tray.” Another advisor spoke up, “That isn’t a good idea. The tray might break while we dig. It is also possible that the tray will fall even deeper into this ditch. Instead, I suggest that we dig another hole next to the original pit. Then we can connect the two pits and retrieve the tray.” The third advisor said, “That is a very costly and time-consuming venture. So instead, I recommend that we fill the pit with water. Then, the wooden tray will float, and we can easily take it out.”
Reb Avraham Ganichovsky explained to the bachur that everyone suffers; it is impossible to go through this world without hardship. There are methods that help overcome distress, but often, these approaches cause more harm than good. (In the mashal, this was expressed by widening the pit, which might cause them to lose the tray forever.) And even when the attempts to attain happiness are helpful, the effort is enormous, and it is doubtful whether it is worth the time and effort. (In the mashal, this was represented by the counsel to dig another pit and then connect them.) But there is one foolproof way to acquire joy and tranquility in this world: to study Torah. Torah is compared to water (and in the mashal, it is compared to pouring water into the pit until the tray comes up). When one is immersed in Torah, nothing will disturb him. His life will always be good.
RABBI ELIMELECH BIDERMAN
