Yehoshua [the name is fictitious] a young yeshiva
student learning in Lithuania, often dreamed of meeting the legendary Reb Aharon Kotler,
the fiery rosh yeshiva in Kletzk. What a zechus it would be to meet such a lion of
Torah face to face!
Once, he asked a friend of his who had seen Reb
Aharon, “Tell me, if I would meet Reb Aharon by chance on a train, how would I be
able to recognize him?”
The friend smiled. “Simple,” he replied.
“If you see a man with blue fire burning in his eyes, you will know it is Reb
Aharon.”
Years went by and the Nazis came to power. Jews
throughout Eastern Europe frantically scrambled to find means of refuge and escape from
the terrible German onslaught. Yehoshua was one of the many yeshiva bachurim who rushed to Kovno in an effort to obtain a visa
to leave the country.
Once he arrived in Kovno, Yehoshua made his way to
the visa office. He was hardly surprised to find a line of people waiting their turn to
talk to the consul, but he was dismayed at the size of the line. There were literally
dozens and dozens of people in front of him. Yehoshua had no choice but to take his place
in line and wait.
Hours passed. Yehoshua tried to tell himself that
all these other people were also trying to save their lives, but he couldn’t help
growing more and more anxious as the line hardly moved. All those people before him would
get their visas, but would he? Who knew how many visas would be issued? What would he do
if they ran out of visas before his turn arrived?
Yehoshua felt himself beginning to panic. I must get
a visa! He thought over and over. I must get out of this terrible country! Desperately, he
tried to push himself forward, longing to be at least a few inches closer to the head of
the line and potential safety.
A young man standing in front of Yehoshua turned
around inquiringly. Yehoshua flushed, embarrassed with his impetuous behavior. Then,
without a word, the young man stepped aside and gestured for Yehoshua to take the place in
front of him.
As Yehoshua slowly stepped forward, he glanced at
the young man with awe. Such an act was true mesiras nefesh. Who could this young
man be? He, too, was surely desperate to receive a visa and escape the Nazi menace. What
kind of nobility did this young man possess that allowed him to act in such a selfless
manner?
Yehoshua finally reached the head of the line.
Minutes later, he was holding a precious visa in his trembling hands. He was glad to see
that the noble young man who had offered him his place was able to receive a visa, too.
Later, Yehoshua discovered that the young man was
none other than Reb Shneur Kotler, Reb Aharon’s son. He marvelled over Reb
Shneur’s wonderful character. If such was the nobility of the son, imagine what the
father must be like!