As Shavous is approaching, I would like to share with you a special story about Torah learning that Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l (Rav Chaim on Chumash) would say over: The Chasam Sofer headed a prestigious yeshivah in the city of Pressburg. One day, a young man knocked at his door and said that he wanted to join the yeshivah. However, he was completely ignorant of Torah; he did not even know the Alef-Beis. The Chasam Sofer tried to explain to him that his Yeshiva was for advanced study, and with his lack of knowledge made he won’t be able to succeed in the yeshiva. The young man, however, persisted, insisting that he had a strong desire to attain Torah knowledge in the Pressburg Yeshiva.
When the Chasam Sofer saw how stubbornly the young man clung to his dream of becoming a scholar, he agreed to make a one-time exception and accept him into the yeshivah. The Chasam Sofer assigned his son, as well as some of the advanced students to tutor the young man in the Alef-Beis and begin teaching him Chumash and other fundamental basics of Torah study. While the young man succeeded in absorbing these studies, when the time came for him to begin learning Gemara, he just couldn’t do it. Try as he might, he simply could not wrap his mind around the complexities of the topics.
The more experienced students, who were serving as his tutors, recommended that he should stop. They told him that he should be happy that he had already attained some basic Torah knowledge and he should raise his children to be Torah scholars. The young man, however, refused to give up. Tired of tutoring him, the students asked the Chasam Sofer if the young man should leave yeshiva. The Chasam Sofer said that if the young man still wants to become a Torah scholar, then should keep trying to teach him – no matter how hard it is. Years passed, and the young man continued to learn with all his might. Eventually, with time, he finally began to be able to understand the difficult topics. Eventually, he got married and moved away.
Thirty years passed, and the Chasam Sofer received a letter with a halachic inquiry from the rabbi of a distant town. He showed the letter to his son and successor, the Kesav Sofer, and asked him for his opinion of the writer’s capabilities. The Kesav Sofer carefully read the letter and told his father that the author displayed a knowledge of Torah that was both broad and deep and was certainly an accomplished Torah scholar. With great excitement the Chasam Sofer told the son that the writer of the letter was the young man who learned in the Yeshiva many years ago, who was almost refused due to his lack of ability to learn! Nothing stands in the way of a sincere desire to learn Torah! If there is a will then there is a way!
Learning takes tremendous toil. With Hashem’s help, one has a real desire to learn, will soon become successful! No one should say Torah is not fit for them – every bit counts! This Shavous, may Hashem open our eyes and may we all see the beauty, and the amazing wonders of the holy Torah! It’s never too late to start – start now! (Subscribe by emailing [email protected]) Have a great and uplifting Yom Tov!
Aryeh Fingerer | parshaknowledge.com
