R’ Chaim of Volozhin, founder and Rosh Yeshivah of the famous Yeshivah of Volozhin, also bore the burden of ensuring the institution’s financial stability. During one difficult period, R’ Chaim heard of a wealthy man who was offering to support the Yeshivah on a steady basis, pledging a considerable sum. R’ Chaim traveled to the man’s town to thank him personally, and the man told him that he had no family.
All he asked in return was that when his time would come to leave this world, R’ Chaim would undertake to say Kadish and to study Mishnayot in his memory. The bargain was struck and the money was sent regularly every month. The man was one of the main supporters of the Volozhiner Yehsivah.
After several years, the man passed away on a hot summer’s day. Remembering his promise, R’ Chaim traveled to the city where the funeral was taking place, and recited kadish there. Following the funeral, he returned home, went to the Bet Midrash and sat down to study Mishnayot. He encountered a very complicated passage which he could not understand. Due to his fatigue from the journey, coupled with the strain of struggling to fathom the Mishnah and the extreme heat of the day, R’ Chaim fell asleep.
The man who had just recently been buried appeared to him in a dream and said, “Rebbi, I must thank you heartily for saying kadish for me; it was a great source of merit for my neshamah – as is your learning Mishnayot for me. Regarding this Mishnah which you find difficult: I will explain it to you...”
When R’ Chaim awoke, he was astounded. He remarked, “I know that if a person provides support for Torah, then in the Next World he will acquire knowledge of Torah. I understand that in Heaven he deserves to be granted Torah knowledge, which he enabled others to achieve during his lifetime on this earth. What I did not realize is that it happens so quickly! It is only shortly after his funeral and already he can explain a complicated Mishnah in Seder Taharot that I do not understand!” (Excerpted from the ArtScroll book – “Gut Voch)
Reprinted from the Parashat Shemot 5785 email of Rabbi David Bibi’s Shabbat Shalom from Cyberspace.
