Novardok
When I asked R' Gershon Liebman Zatzal why he ended up by the Nazis, whereas most Novardokers ended up in Siberia, he told me that when the Nazis came to his Yeshiva and everyone ran away, he remained, since he had heard so much about the Nazis, that he was overcome with curiosity to see what they were all about.
I told this over to R' Galinsky Zatzal, and he laughed. He told me that R' Gershon was just playing down his greatness, and he told me the real story, which was different. When the communists became powerful and wouldn’t allow any Torah learning, the entire Novardok movement decided to leave Russia, and steal the borders to Poland.
I'm not sure of the exact numbers, but for sure the lion’s share of hundreds of Novardokers made it across the border with Nisei Nissim and replanted Novardok Yeshivos all over Poland. They were learning Mussar and whispering Pesukim of Bitachon throughout the dangerous ordeal. While the Steipler Zatzal was crossing the border, he suddenly found himself along with the Goyishe guide… who was a woman.
He risked his life not to be Nichshal in Yichud, and he turned back immediately, which is extremely dangerous! Being real is #1 in Novardok, and: בְּכָל נַפְשְׁךָ to love Hashem “with your entire life” (i.e., being willing to give up your life) is a reality in their lives. When R' Gershon hid from the Nazis by standing by Davka a THIN tree, he was only being “Yotzei” the Mitzva of Hishtadlus. He even spoke publicly about not being afraid of those Reshaim! People admired his greatness in Bitachon, but nobody was holding on his Madrega. I heard another story from a person who saw R' Gershon learning in a Bais Medrash while Yidden were hiding in all kinds of trap doors, while the Nazis were making a house-to-house search. When this person asked R' Gershon how he can put his life in Sakana (danger), he answered that when he notices the Nazis coming near him, he gets up from his seat, and stands by the wall to be out of their view.
But never does he do any serious hiding like everyone else. Shlomo HaMelech said: חֶרְדַּת אָדָם יִתֵּן מוֹקֵשׁ (Mishlei 29:25) your fear itself causes your Tzara! Not only wasn’t R' Gershon afraid, but he actually organized a Yeshiva in the ghetto that was under the Nazis! All his life, he laughed at the world, and during the war, his greatness became apparent.
