Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky once fell ill, and the doctors told him to go to Carlsbad to recuperate there. When Elul came around that year, the R’ Chaim Ozer wanted to return to Vilna, but the doctors told him he was still too weak.
They made him stay there through all the Yamim Noraim, including Simchas Torah. It was extremely difficult for R’ Chaim Ozer to be so distant from the lively Jewish community he was accustomed to being with. To spend Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur with barely a minyan in a place basically devoid of Jews was not a pleasant experience.
On Shabbas Shuvah, R’ Chaim Ozer noticed a new person there. He went over to speak to him. The man said he came from America. His brother had recently passed away, leaving a widow and three children. The brother-in-law decided that he was going to marry her and take care of the family.
Rav Chaim Ozer couldn’t believe his ears. Marrying a brother’s widow who left children would violate a terrible averah from the Torah. R’ Chaim Ozer told this individual of the severe transgression he would be making if he went through with the marriage, but the individual did not believe him. R’ Chaim Ozer tried convincing him every which way, but to no avail. He was ready to do it anyway.
Finally, Rav Chaim said to him, “Is there any rabbi in this world that you trust?”
The man said, “Yes, the great Rabbi of Vilna, Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinsky. If he would tell me that it is forbidden, then I wouldn’t do it.”
Rav Chaim Ozer told the man who he was, and the man accepted it. At that moment, he got a tiny glimpse as to why Hashem kept him there for all that time. Hashem puts everyone in different places for different reasons. If we do our best to serve Him, no matter where He puts us, then we will always accomplish what we are meant to accomplish.
