LIVED 1838–1933
93rd yahrtzeit 24 Elul
BURIED Radin, Belarus
The legendary Chofetz Chaim, Rav Yisrael Meir HaKohen Kagan, was one of the greatest Torah leaders before the Holocaust. His influence on Klal Yisrael continues until today, especially through his famous sefarim, Chofetz Chaim, which teaches us the laws of proper speech, and Mishnah Berurah, which teaches the laws of everyday Jewish life. He was also the Rosh Yeshiva of the famous yeshiva in Radin.
A certain bachur once traveled a long way to visit the Chofetz Chaim. After a long train ride followed by a horse-and-wagon ride, he finally arrived in Radin at three o’clock in the morning. He was freezing cold and exhausted. Even though he had not yet davened Maariv, he decided to climb under his blanket for just a few minutes to warm up. Before he knew it, he fell asleep and missed Maariv.
The next morning, the bachur went to see the Chofetz Chaim. When he gave him shalom, the Chofetz Chaim lovingly told him, “Once upon a time, when people had plenty of money, a copper penny was hardly worth anything. But when people are poor, even a copper penny becomes precious.”
Then the Chofetz Chaim explained his message. “In earlier generations, when there were so many great ovdei Hashem, if one Yid missed a Maariv, it may not have seemed like such a big loss. But today, every Maariv of every single Yid is so precious to Hashem!”
The Chofetz Chaim was teaching him—and us—just how valuable every single mitzvah of every single Yid really is.
Two bachurim once wanted to join the yeshiva in Radin, but they were not accepted. They went to speak with the Chofetz Chaim, who then asked the yeshiva staff to please accept them.
The staff asked the Chofetz Chaim why he wanted these two boys in the yeshiva. He explained that while speaking to them, he had discovered that they were descendants of the holy Berditchever Rebbe, who was famous for always defending the Jewish people.
The Chofetz Chaim said, “The Yamim Noraim are around the corner. I want the yeshiva and me to daven together with descendants of this great melitz yosher!”
(As told by Rav Gamliel Rabinovitch)
I WANNA BE LIKE …
The Chofetz Chaim
Let’s stay away from lashon hara and arguments, and instead use our words to speak kindly and say good things about every Yid.
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 97.