Stories Of Greatness

There was once a man who went through all the tribulations of Siberia together with the famed Maggid, R’ Yaakov Galinsky shlit”a. After their freedom, he found out that he was the only survivor of his family and was alone in the world. He was broken and saw no reason to live. R’ Yaakov felt that he needed some chizuk to strengthen his resolve and brought him to the home of the Chazon Ish, R’ Avraham Yeshaya Karelitz zt”l.

The following story took place a number of years ago in Ramat Elchanan in Bnei Brak. The famed mashpia, R’ Elimelech Biderman shlit’a, personally knows the family to whom this happened, and the story is well known in the community there.

It is well-known that Soviet Jews, through no fault of their own, were denied even the most basic Jewish knowledge. With the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, Jewish schools were shut down, Jewish s’forim and books were destroyed, and ritual objects were ruined. Germany tried to wipe out the Jews, while the Soviets tried to wipe out Judaism.

The following story was told over by R’ Yitzchok Zilberstein shlit’a, who marvels at the greatness of a Jew to become a “partner” with Hakadosh Boruch Hu and merit tremendous z’chusim and even miracles on his behalf.

When the Chazon Ish zt”l departed Vilna for Eretz Yisrael in 1933, a small sum of money was owed to a distributor who supplied his wife’s store with merchandise. Despite many sincere efforts on behalf of the Rebbetzin, she could not locate the person and repay the debt. Twenty years later, after the Chazon Ish passed away in 1953, the creditor, who had relocated to Tel Aviv, heard the news on the radio and attended the funeral. Before it began, he happened to mention to Rav Shmaryahu Karelitz zt”l, a nephew of the Chazon Ish, that his uncle had once owed him money from 40 years ago. Rav Shmaryahu immediately repaid the outstanding sum and, even before the Chazon Ish was buried, the full debt had been discharged.

One person who was never intimidated by people of power and influence was the great Telsher Rosh HaYeshivah, R’ Mordechai Gifter zt”l. His passion for Torah was combined with his incredible common sense and practical view of the world. He learned this outlook and hashkafah in Telz, in Lithuania. He saw it in his father-in-law, R’ Zalman Bloch zt”l Hy”d, and the Roshei HaYeshivah, R’ Avraham Yitzchok Bloch zt”l Hy”d, and R’ Elya Meir Bloch zt”l.