Toiling in Torah

A small community in Galicia had a most complicated halachic question, and the answer could affect the whole community profoundly. Their own Rav had left for a post in a larger community and they had not yet replaced him. The leaders decided to bring their question to none other than the world-famous Gaon, Rav Meshulem Igra, who was then Rav of Tismenitz.

The trip meant staying overnight at an inn. As the leaders were about to leave in the morning, a young Torah scholar who had also spent the night there began talking with them. When he learned the purpose of their trip, he told them that he was on his way to their community to apply for the vacant position of Rav. He asked what their question was, offering that perhaps he could answer it. They were reluctant, since they were on their way to the great Rav Meshulem Igra, but they decided to put the question to him just to fulfill his request. They resolved that however satisfying his answer, they would still go on to Rav Meshulem and abide by his ruling. After hearing the details, the young man asked for a short while to go back to his room and try to find the proper answer. He soon returned and gave them a clear, detailed response.

The delegation continued on its way and presented the complicated question to Rav Meshulem Igra. He told them at once that the matter was very complex and would require him to study many texts in depth, so that it would probably take close to three days. The leaders waited patiently, and after three days the Gaon gave his decisive ruling. To their great shock, it was exactly the answer the young scholar had given them at the inn a few days earlier. Rav Meshulem noticed their surprise, and they told him what had happened.

Rav Meshulem was so impressed that he decided he must meet a talmid chacham of such stature. After some inquiries he found out where the man lived. He put on his Shabbos clothing in honor of meeting such an outstanding scholar. When they met, the young man told him that he had not really worked out the answer through deep study. Hard-pressed to find a position as a Rav, he had met the leaders of the community to which he planned to apply and realized that this was a unique opportunity to secure the post if he answered their question correctly. He had gone back to his room and with heartfelt prayer begged Hashem to place the correct answer in his mind. Evidently Hashem had accepted his plea.

Hearing this, Rav Meshulem Igra said a quick good-bye, adding that it is no great accomplishment to reach the correct conclusion through prayer. What Hashem wants from us is toiling in Torah.