The Verdict in the Heavenly Court

It was the third day of Chol HaMoed Sukkos, the yahrzeit of the Vilna Gaon. The Munkaczer Rebbe, author of Minchas Elazar, sat with his chassidim in his sukkah and told a story that he had heard from reliable people, who had received it directly from Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev, author of Kedushas Levi.

“It was the third day of Chol HaMoed Sukkos in the year that the Vilna Gaon passed away. Rav Levi Yitzchok said, ‘Just now the Vilna Gaon has passed away and been brought before the Heavenly court. They looked over his case and ruled that the gates of Gan Eden would be opened for him at once. At that moment the souls of the talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov appeared and appealed the ruling, because the Gra had opposed them and made their lives so difficult. The Vilna Gaon answered that his intentions were purely for the sake of Heaven, and that he had misunderstood the ways of the chassidim. The talmidim of the Baal Shem Tov replied that even if his intentions were purely for the sake of Heaven, his opposition had kept them from serving Hashem properly.

“‘The court was about to reconsider its judgment, but then the holy Torah herself surrounded the Gaon and shielded him on every side. Other versions say that it was the thousands of pages of Gemara he had learned. The Torah testified that the Gra never transgressed even the smallest detail of any law, Torah or rabbinic. “How can it be,” said the Torah, “that someone who spent his whole life studying me should be treated this way? Do not touch him.”

“‘Then and there the court confirmed its first judgment and sent the Gra straight to the highest level of Heaven, Gan Eden HaElyon, to receive his reward.’”

The Berditchever told all this on the very day of the Gaon’s passing. Then word went out in Berditchev that the Gra had passed away and ascended to Heaven to walk before Hashem in everlasting light.