When the gaon, Rav Yitzchok Zev Yadler zt”l, father of the famous Yerushalmi maggid, Rav Ben Tzion Yadler zt”l, was preparing to leave Lithuania and travel to Eretz Yisrael, the gaon and tzaddik, Rav Nochum of Horodna zt”l, asked him, “Have you already accustomed yourself to fasƟng?”
Rav Yitzchok Zev was puzzled by the quesƟon. “Rebbe, I do not understand why someone traveling to Eretz Yisrael would need to become accustomed to fasƟng. If you mean because of the kedushah of Eretz Yisrael, I have never seen or heard of such an obligaƟon. And if you mean because of the poverty and difficult living condiƟons there ח''ו Is it possible that Hashem, Who provides sustenance for all His creaƟons, מקרני ראמים עד ביצי כינים, provides for those living in חוץ לארץ, but does not provide for someone who has chosen to seƩle in Eretz HaKodesh? Could such a thing ever be?”
Rav Yitzchok Zev conƟnued, “I am traveling with complete בטחון in the words of the pasuk (Tehillim 145): ‘ עיני כל אליך ישברו ואתה נותן להם את אכלם בעתו’ — The eyes of all look to You with hope, and You provide them with their food at the proper Ɵme — and ‘פותח את ידך ומשביע לכל חי רצון’ — You open Your hand and saƟsfy every living creature with its needs.”
When Rav Nochum heard these words and saw his genuine love for Eretz HaKodesh and his powerful בטחון in Hashem, he declared, “With such an aƫtude, you must travel to Eretz Yisrael without any doubt! It is a great mitzvah for you to hurry your journey as much as possible.” He blessed him that he should be successful on his way.
Having received the encouragement and blessing of the tzaddik, Rav Nochum, Rav Yitzchok Zev hastened his departure with great joy and excitement.
However, during his first year in Yerushalayim, he faced biƩer and difficult hardships. His family members became ill with various illnesses, rachmana litzlan, and all the money he had brought with him from חוץ לארץ was spent on doctors. He, too, became ill, and the family was leŌ without even a slice of bread.
Nevertheless, he accepted his suffering with love, remembering the words of Chazal that Eretz Yisrael is one of the three things that can be acquired only through suffering.
One day, his wife said to him, “You see that we are not zocheh to manage here in Eretz HaKodesh. We sƟll have our silver utensils and jewelry, and we could sell them and use the money to return to Horodna. But if we lose those as well, we will have no way to pay for the journey back.”
Rav Yitzchok Zev answered firmly, “We will not return to Horodna under any circumstances! And if I am not zocheh to live in Eretz HaKodesh, then Har HaZeisim is here!”
He conƟnued, “We must wait and hope for Hashem’s salvaƟon, for ישועת ה' כהרף עין — Hashem’s salvaƟon can come in the blink of an eye. And I place my trust in the words of Chazal, who teach that even the judgment of the wicked in Gehinnom lasts no longer than twelve months.”
Such was Rav Yitzchok Zev’s unwavering אמונה and בטחון. Even when he and his family faced terrible suffering and crushing poverty, he never regreƩed his decision to seƩle in Eretz Yisrael. He remained steadfast in his belief that Hashem would provide for him, and that no hardship could diminish the preciousness of living in Eretz HaKodesh.
The Yahrzeit of Rav Nochum of Horodna zt”l is יהי זכרו ברוך –ח׳ חשון .