In 5685, when R’ Isser Zalman Meltzer came to Yerushalayim, he visited R’ Zelig Reuven Bengis, the Raavad of the Eidah Chareidis. Before talking, tears began rolling down R’ Isser Zalman’s face.
“What is moving you to tears? asked R’ Zelig, a bit surprised.
After R’ Isser Zalman composed himself, he explained that everything he had was all in R’ Zelig Reuven’s zechus.
Perplexed with what he was hearing, R’ Zelig Reuven asked R’ Isser Zalman to explain.
“When I first came to yeshiva,” R’ Isser Zalman started, “I was overtaken by the intensity of the learning. Seeing the other bochurim and their ways, I also took myself to learning. I dedicated days and nights to the study of Torah. My satisfaction was uplifting, and I felt my life changing for the good. I was hooked.
“One day, though, I noticed how everyone was dressing differently than I was. The other bochurim had such dignified attire, while all I had was ragged, worn-out clothing. I was completely ‘out of style.’
“Humiliated and ashamed, I decided that I could not return to the beis medrash. I couldn’t handle the mortification. Sooner than later I’d be the talk-of-the-town. I decided that instead of standing up to the challenge, I’d take the easy (but unproductive) way and just avoid the problem by leaving yeshiva.
“On my way out, a boy approached me and notified me that the rosh yeshiva was very impressed with my learning and had even recommended that other boys talk to me in learning. ‘It’s not easy to impress the rosh yeshiva,’ this boy said, ‘but after talking in learning with you, the rosh yeshiva sees how well you know how to learn, and therefore he recommended that the good questions make their way to you.’
“Hearing that I had been pointed out by the rosh yeshiva changed my perspective. If the other boys admired me, despite my appearance, then I realized that I had nothing to be ashamed about.
“Rav Bengis, you were the boy who delivered those impactful words to me.”
His geonus grew from day-to-day, and everyone in the yeshiva benefited from his insights in Torah, and eventually became the Gadol Hador.
During the recent elections, there was a very tight number between the two perspective candidates. Perhaps this was brought to us to display how the vote of one person can make all that difference. The next four years, America and maybe the world will look different based on your vote. Well, if that’ll change America or not – maybe. But one thing is sure: the actions you do will definitely affect the world. That one challenge that you overcome is going to benefit the entire universe.
