The following story was told by Rav Avraham Hillel Goldberg z”l, a prominent student of the holy Chofetz Chaim, HaRav Yisrael Meir Kagan zt”l, and later Rav of Kfar Pines in Israel. He recorded the episode, which he was privileged to witness:

It was near the end of the Chofetz Chaim’s life, and he was resting at a summer cottage near Radin. As the sun set on the holy Shabbos, the venerable sage spoke on his favorite theme: the future redemption. As he visualized the time of spiritual grandeur, when the pains of exile will be no more, his mind turned to the sufferings of the present, to the decrees against his brethren and the persecutions they were enduring. In particular, he was heartbroken over the plight of the Jews in Russia. He saw their situation as the severing of an entire limb of the Jewish body from its life-sources of Torah and mitzvos.

“There is only one real hope, only one way to outlast these harsh days,” he said. “Mashiach must come soon. The Final Redemption will have to occur sooner or later, but it is up to us to hasten its arrival. We must demonstrate our overpowering desire for Mashiach. Is this yearning apparent – at least among us religious Jews who say Ani Maamin every day? Why don’t we cry out to Hashem to help us? This is no time for silence! If the people are indifferent, then it is our duty to arouse them to cry out from amidst travail and pray for the Redemption. Even during the Egyptian exile, the Torah tells us that when the Children of Israel cried out for help, only then did their outcry go up to Hashem and their redemption was hastened.”

The Chofetz Chaim became lost in thought as his students stood around him silently. Suddenly, his head, which had been bent in concentration, lifted up; from the glimmer in his eyes, one could see that an idea was beginning to form.

In a soft voice, as if talking to himself, the tzadik announced, “I must go to Vilna to Reb Chaim Ozer (Rav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski zt”l, widely revered as a gadol and poseik ha’dor), for without him nothing can be done!”

Shabbos was spent in sweet serenity; but the moment Shabbos ended, the Chofetz Chaim remembered his idea and began to plan his trip. His family and students were aghast. He was over 90 years old and he could scarcely leave his chair for the length of a day. He might not survive the arduous trip to Vilna. They pleaded with him to abandon his plans, but he would not be dissuaded. The goal of bringing Mashiach, he said, was worthy of sacrificing one’s life.

He told a story, as he often did to make a point. When the previous Rav of Brisk, Rav Yehoshua Leib Diskin zt”l was forced to leave Brisk (due to pressure from the authorities), the city’s Jewish community sent a delegation to Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt”l (the Beis HaLevi) inviting him to become their Rav. Reb Yoshe Ber, as he was known, would not even consider it! Who was he to sit in the chair that had been occupied by the Gadol HaDor, Rav Yehoshua Leib? He could never do such a thing! The delegation argued and pleaded, but nothing could persuade Reb Yoshe Ber to change his mind.

Finally, in anguish, one of the Jews of Brisk said, “Rebbi, can’t you see that 25,000 Jews are waiting for you? How can you disappoint them?” Reb Yoshe Ber stopped arguing and bowed his head – he was defeated. His love for his fellow Jews would not permit him to refuse the earnest request of 25,000 Jews and he dutifully accepted.

The Chofetz Chaim concluded, “If Reb Yoshe Ber could not disappoint the Jews of Brisk, surely Hashem Yisbarach would not disappoint millions of Jews who beg for the coming of Mashiach with all their hearts! We must find ways to make our fellow Jews truly want Mashiach to come, for then it surely will come. For that, I must go talk to Reb Chaim Ozer!”

His son-in-law, Rav Mendel Zaks zt”l, produced a pen and paper to write to Reb Chaim Ozer and also to summon leading roshei yeshivah to a meeting about the matter. However, the Chofetz Chaim would not relent.

Someone tried another approach. He said that Reb Chaim Ozer was a man of halachah and practical action; such esoteric ideas as the Chofetz Chaim’s current one to bring about the Redemption were out of Reb Chaim Ozer’s domain.

The Chofetz Chaim knew better than that and smiled slightly as if to say, “What do you know about Reb Chaim Ozer?”

To his deep regret, the journey to Reb Chaim Ozer never took place for unspecified reasons. Had they met… who knows?


Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, filled with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.