The rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chiddushei Harim in Tel Aviv, Reb Gadol Eisner, survived the Holocaust and went on to rebuild himself, along with his yeshiva, from the ground up. The rosh yeshiva said that the only way he pulled himself through the difficulties was through his simcha. If not for his simcha, he would’ve been in despair from the very beginning, and there would be no way for him to pull himself through the horror that he faced. Before the war, he was already a sought-after mechanech, and his advice was accepted across Poland. During the war, when things seemed very bleak, he was still bubbly. People told him that he wasn’t being nosei b’ohl, for he was happy even when seeing others’ suffering, but he responded that the only way to survive was through being b’simcha. Without that, there was no chance of survival — and he needed it.
But at times, even Reb Gadol needed support. Toward the closing of the war, when the Germans realized that they were losing the battle, they tried with their very last hopes to pain the Yidden. One of their tactics was to line up all the inmates for a march. On one such occasion, after marching for many miles, Reb Gadol felt that his feet could no longer carry him — he had no more physical or emotional strength to persevere. He fell to the ground. He knew that it was his end, but what could he do?
Seeing his friend lying in this danger, Reb Nachum Bluestein called to Reb Gadol: “Gadol, lief. Gadol lief (Gadol, run. Gadol, run)!” By that time, the Germans had already noticed him resting, but hearing those words gave Reb Gadol new vigor and energy. He picked himself up and continued the trudge, sparing him from death. He was forever grateful for those few words that delivered him a fresh breath of air.
After the war, Reb Gadol related that there were several lessons that he took away from that episode. One poignant one is that there are great kochos buried within everyone. With a mere few words, many deep, undiscovered worlds can be exposed. All it took was that simple utter to give Reb Gadol the strength that he never knew he had. All the thousands of talmidim, who now are continuing his legacy, are credited to four words that brought forth unexplored capabilities.
A good word can change a life. A good word can give life. Don’t be skimpy.
