About 100 years ago, there lived in Europe a wealthy man, whose name was Rabbi Eisel Harif of Slonim. The rabbi's daughter reached maturity, and her father began looking for the most successful young man, who would marry her. In those days, the meaning of "the most successful man” was usually the most successful yeshiva student. Rabbi Eisel then traveled all the way to the city of Volozhin, which was under the Torah responsibility of the famous Rosh Yeshiva, the Netziv (it is said that in the days of the Netziv of Volozhin, about 10,000 students were studying in his yeshiva!) When Rabbi Eisel arrived there, he entered the beit midrash, knocked the central table, and announced aloud: "I have a very complicated problem about a certain issue in the Gemara. Whoever succeeds in answering my question will be privileged to meet my daughter for a match!"
There was a great commotion in the hall of the beit midrash. A real chance to marry Rabbi Eisel's daughter! Soon a long and orderly line was formed, and each of the students in the yeshiva was allowed to provide the rabbi with the answer. One after the other, Rabbi Eisel rejected all the answers that were heard from the students. The process continued like this for several days, with some of the students standing in line even two or three times. But still, none of the students were able to provide the rabbi with the correct answer. When the students had finished all their answers, Rabbi Eisel began to pack his belongings, intending to return home.
He reached the edge of the city when suddenly he heard a voice behind him shouting in his direction: "Rabbi Eisel, Rabbi Eisel!" The student explained: "Rabbi Eisel, I know that I have not been able to fulfill your condition and that I will not be able to marry your daughter, but only for me, can you please tell me what is the correct answer to your question? " "Ahh!" shouted Rabbi Eisel in a loud voice. "You'll be my son-in-law!"
In our lives, the search for truth can be hindered if we don't dare to ask. When we ask for help from others, we are, in fact, admitting that we do not have all the answers. Sometimes we are required to ask embarrassing questions, questions that we are not comfortable asking. Sometimes we are required to admit that we do not know, or even risk being thought to be ignorant. But all of these risks, very small for a lifetime, are based on lies and falsehoods. The yeshiva student acted with courage of exactly this kind; Such behavior is a sign of personal and intellectual honesty.
