Stories Of Greatness

One of the most renowned traits of the great Volozhiner rosh yeshivah, Rav Naftali Tzvi Yehudah Berlin zt”l, otherwise known by the acronym of his name, Netziv, was his intense diligence. Even as a teenager, he developed a reputation as a tremendous masmid. He studied Torah with great fervor, and it was this trait that enabled him to acquire universal renown. Still a boy, at the age of 11 he was sent to study at the famous Volozhin Yeshivah, where Reb Itzele Volozhiner zt”l, the Rosh HaYeshivah, took him as his son-in-law at the tender age of 13 years old. The Netziv came to live in Volozhin, and there he once again isolated himself in incessant study and made his nights into days of Torah study. Truly extraordinary stories are told concerning his diligence in study. For example, when he felt sleepy, he would put his feet in a bucket of cold water to continue studying.

One of the first and most successful kiruv organizations in the US is Hineni, founded by the dynamic Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis a”h in the 1970s. The organization was an instant success, and the Rebbetzin was asked to speak and engage with people at many events all over the world. She recalls one very special event that she was asked to speak at.

The problems facing a fellow Jew are our problems, and the tears streaming down their faces are just as real to us as they are to them. If we are looking for ways to repent our sins with a complete t’shuvah and herald the holy day of Yom Kippur when we reunite with our Father in Heaven, this is where we must begin. We reach upwards by reaching outwards.

Sometimes, we are worthy. Sometimes, we see two random events and never know why they occurred. Other times, we witness two seemingly isolated incidents and watch how they intertwine and come together. We recognize that Hashem placed us in that spot, that office, that street, that city – all for a reason. It is then that we have a renewed appreciation of hashgachah pratis, and we marvel in awe and gratitude at how the Creator runs His world using us as his messengers.

On Rosh HaShanah, the Yom HaDin, when we daven, the key is for us to ask Hashem to shower us with all that we need – not for our good, not for our comfort, but because we wish to be able to serve Him better. Hashem wants us to reach out to Him, but we must remember to beg and beseech Him so that we can be more complete ovdei Hashem, using our every day to serve and bring honor to His name. There will be no greater z’chus.

The following story occurred a number of years ago, and it demonstrates to what lengths a Jew will go to help his fellow Jew. In Jerusalem lived a man who became a master plumber and worked for himself. He was good – so good, in fact, that it wasn’t long before he developed a reputation as an expert in all matters related to plumbing. On numerous occasions, he was brought in to figure out how to expertly handle a delicate situation or to correct someone else’s mistake. He was creative and had “hands of gold,” and whatever he worked on, he managed to bring to a successful conclusion. He became prosperous.