It was already close to two o'clock in the morning, when the Rav of Volozhen was still giving his speech to the "security group" of the yeshiva members. Rabbi Chaim interrupted his speech and asked to find out what time it was, but no answer came. In those days, and especially among young people who were aliyah, the clock was included in the list of luxuries. With the permission of the members of the group, as a count of selected young men, There was not a single watch. Therefore, Rav Chayyim returned from the matters of the hour to the eternal life in which he was busy, and the wish of the clock turned to the issue of security, dear students, he said, it seems that we have not yet acquired true confidence in our hearts, otherwise they would have ordered a watch for us from Heaven, even if it was made entirely of gold. Once again, he turned to his deep conversation about the degree of trust in God's providence. He also clarifies the issue in its definitions, generalities, and details. A Russian soldier entered, peered to the right, looked to the left, and approached Rabbi Chaim with hasty steps.
I am a Jew and live in a town near Łódź, according to the man, I was called to report to the Royal Army, and my father, a great gentleman, gave me money to the chief physician to release me from the army, I trusted the doctor's promise, and I came alone to receive the certificate of discharge. I was so confident in my release that I did not feel that I had changed my habits and exchanged my fancy clothes for simple ones, but I was pleasantly surprised, when it was my turn, it became clear that the doctor and the surgeon had made a mistake in the other. The happy anonymous man was released in my place, I was taken to the army like everyone else. In the meantime, I have been in the camp for several weeks, the only Jew among many non-Jewish soldiers. I am afraid that they will steal my precious watch, a gold watch. Now I took advantage of a short vacation from the camp and went out into the city, as if from heaven I discovered the light emanating from the beit midrash, and I went in, therefore, to ask the rabbi to keep my watch as a deposit.
Rabbi Chaim was a little astonished at the sight of the soldier and his strange story, but he willingly agreed to his request. However – they announced in advance – you must know that my home is in the public domain, and as someone who tries to stay away from an obstacle, I cannot take responsibility for the fact that the watch will be well preserved. The soldier thought for a moment and said: Rabbi, I am giving you the watch as a complete gift. It is better to give it as a gift to a Jewish rabbi than to steal it by uncircumcised. The soldier did not expect Rabbi Chayim's approval, but abandoned his watch and left. Rabbi Chayyim ran after him to return the clock to him, but he was unable to reach it. At that point, Rabbi Chayyim concluded his conversation: Have you not heard what I said before, for if we were privileged and truly confident, they would have sent us a clock from heaven, even gold. Here is a concrete example of trust in God that stood the test.
