Rabbi Chaim Kreizwirth
Rav Chaim Kreizwirth zt”l, who later became the rav of Antwerp and a world‐famous gadol and talmid chacham, was already a rosh yeshiva in Warsaw and Krakow as a bachur of only 18 years old! As he was a bachur, he slept in the yeshiva building, even though he was one of the roshei yeshiva, but of course, he had his own room.
Once, he heard that there was a bachur from a small town who was coming to Warsaw for special treatments by a big doctor in the city. This bachur's name was Yossel, and he was blind. He was a very special bachur, and he memorized many mishnayos ba'al peh, which he constantly would review to himself. In fact, he was known as "Yossele Mishna"!
He would be in the city for a few days while the doctor tried to help him, and Rav Chaim decided that he would go to the train station to greet this special bachur, and help him get to the place he was staying at. Rav Chaim waited at the station, and when Yossele finally arrived, it was discovered that somehow there was a mix‐up and there were no sleeping arrangements made for Yossele!
Rav Chaim immediately said, “I know of an extra bed!” Rav Chaim took him to his own room, and led Yossele to his bed. “Here is a bed for you!” Rav Chaim set up for himself a place to sleep on the floor on the other side of the room.
As it turned out, the doctor began a series of treatments that were going to take several weeks or even months. Rav Chaim happily kept Yossele in his room, while he himself slept on the floor. No matter how the talmidim of the yeshiva tried to convince Rav Chaim to have Yossele sleep elsewhere, so that he – the Rosh Yeshiva – could sleep in a bed, nothing worked to make Rav Chaim give up this special mitzvah.
After a few months, Yossele finally returned to his hometown, and life got back to normal. But it didn’t remain that way too long. As the Nazis ym”s came into power, one day there was a commotion outside the bais medrash. A group of soldiers were coming towards the beis medrash! Often, the Nazis would storm into a shul or yeshiva, and take away the rabbanim or roshei yeshiva, or even kill them, without warning.
They entered the bais medrash. Everyone froze. The leader pulled out a paper and began calling out several names. Those who were called were commanded to go outside. The names of a few of the rabbeim were called out.
Then Rav Chaim heard the Nazi say, “Kreizvert!” Trembling, he stepped outside. A Nazi motioned him to the side of the building, indicating that he stand against the wall. As he stood there, another Nazi walked up and lifted his gun, aiming directly at Rav Chaim.
Rav Chaim began to say Shema, and daven with all his heart.
“Hashem,” he whispered, “in the zechus of all the Torah I’ve learned with such hasmadah...” The Nazi raised the gun to his eye.
“Hashem,” continued Rav Chaim, “In the zechus of all the talmidim to whom I’ve taught Torah with such dedication...” The Nazi’s finger slid onto the trigger. “Hashem,” pleaded Rav Chaim silently, “in the zechus of Yossele Mishnah, and all I did for him...” At that very moment, the soldier slid his gun down, and quickly said, “Jew! I will shoot the gun and miss you on purpose. As soon as you hear the shot, run to that woods as fast as you can! I will need to shoot after you, so it will appear as if you ran away, but I will miss you. No matter what happens, keep running! If the others follow you, they will surely kill you!”
A shot rang out, and Rav Chaim felt a bullet whiz by him and hit the wall. He began to run and run through the woods, as shots rang out around him, and angry cries echoed through the trees. He kept running until it got dark.
Eventually, he survived the war, and went on to live for many more years (1918-2001), becoming a Gadol Hador. He would always say that he was certain that it was in the zechus of his kindness to Yossele Mishna that his life was saved.
Reprinted from the Parshas Lech Lecha 5785 email of Shabbos Chayeinu. Stories selected by Tzvi Schultz.
