A religious doctor from Germany learned of the yeshivas in Lithuania and the mesiras nefesh the boys there had for learning. In a sense, he envied their dedication and was intrigued by the whole idea of yeshiva.
He found a temporary replacement to fill in for him and took a “vacation.” He visited all the main yeshivas — Slabodka, Mir, Grodno, Telz, Kamenetz, Kletzek, Ponovezh, and finally Radin.
After seeing them all, he was very sad and down. He approached the Chofetz Chaim and asked him: “What am I going to get in the Next World? I’m not sitting and learning like these boys, so what am I going to merit in the World to Come?”
“Calm down,” responded the Chofetz Chaim. “Kol Yisroel yesh lahem chelek l’Olam Haba – all Yidden have a portion in Olam Haba.”
“True,” responded the doctor. “But what type will I get? Until today, I thought that I was in for a sizeable portion, but now I see that I’m far from perfection. I have been helping many people and attending shiurim in my community, trying my best, but now I see that I’m far from it.”
The Chofetz Chaim replied with a powerful and fundamental principle. “It is possible that in the World to Come, we will be neighbors.”
“Us?” thought the doctor. “The Chofetz Chaim isn’t saying so as a joke. He must be serious!”
The Chofetz Chaim saw his astonishment and thus asked him: “Why does the Torah say that Gan Eden is situated in the center of the Garden? Why is it positioned so? Why can’t it be on the side? Why is it particularly placed in the center?
“The reason for this,” answered the Chofetz Chaim, “is because when you have a circle around a center point, everyone is equally distanced from the center. Everyone is equally capable of getting to the wanted and aspired destination from wherever he is.
“The same is true with Gan Eden,” continued the Chofetz Chaim. “You were brought up in your situation, and look what you’ve done with it. You’re a doctor who helps people, and so you are therefore in for the greatest Olam Haba.
“I was brought up in Vilna, where I saw R’ Yisroel Salanter, who inspired me to write the sefarim on halachah and mussar that I have written.
“You, on the other hand, were brought up in Germany, where the accepted practice was to work and learn, so for your situation, you’ll be granted with the greatest Olam Haba.” R’ Yankel Galinsky repeated this story and concluded: “Everyone will be granted the greatest Olam Haba through the ‘toll’ that was granted to him. By utilizing the abilities one is granted, one fulfills the purpose of being created and will have an enjoyable Olam Haba.” (V’Higadta)
