Despite his greatness, the Bach had his share of troubles and enemies. Even at the end of his days, he suffered bitterly from those who sought conflict. This was also the case in his earlier years. When the Bach was a rabbi in Belz, his salary was not even enough to buy candles. Every night, the Bach sat in darkness and studied Torah by heart. When the townspeople noticed that his house was dark at night, they decided to dismiss him: a rabbi who does not study at night is not worthy of being a rabbi in their town...
Before leaving Belz for Brisk, where he had found his next rabbinical position, he asked the people of Belz: Why was Sodom destroyed by its bedrock turning upside down; was there no other punishment fitting for them? He answered his own question: The people of Sodom turned the natural order upside down. Instead of providing for the rabbi's livelihood so that he could care for their studies, they concerned themselves with the rabbi's studies and imposed upon him the responsibility to support the city's poor...
