The following story of mesiras nefesh, as told by Rabbi Shlomo Brevda, shows the sacrifices made by our Gedolim and the previous generations. The high price that they had to pay in order to keep Shabbos should be an inspiration for us, as we realize the wonderful gift that we have today of being able to keep the Shabbos properly and without suffering.
The Steipler Rav’s Sacrifice in Siberia
The Steipler Rav, Harav Yaakov Kanievsky zt”l, was a gaon and a tzaddik. His brilliance and encyclopaedic knowledge of Torah was only overshadowed by his righteousness and total devotion to serving Hashem. Prior to his engagement to the sister of the Chazon Ish, he shared an incident with her that happened to him in Siberia. He felt it was important that his intended be fully aware of his mesiras nefesh for mitzvos.
The Czar’s Army and the Shabbos Dilemma
As a soldier conscripted into the Czar’s army, the Steipler was forced to perform back-breaking labour in the frigid cold of the Siberian winter. Regardless of the overwhelming toll and below-freezing conditions, he performed the difficult work because he knew it was the only way that he could continue to serve the Al-mighty. The problem was that army demanded that everyone work seven days a week. This obviously created a problem on Shabbos. The Steipler emphatically declared that by no means was he going to work on Shabbos. The Russian officer did not tolerate even one insolent Jew who had the gall to refuse his orders. He predictably flew into a rage, typical of the anti-Semitic brute that he was. Suddenly, he stopped screaming, as a diabolical smile crossed his face.
The Brutal Test of Mesiras Nefesh
Yes, he would grant the Steipler’s request on the condition that he pass a little test. If he could prove himself to be a strong warrior, he would be permitted to observe Shabbos. The test was “simple.” The captain ordered his soldiers to form two rows opposite each other, arming themselves with wooden planks. The Steipler was to “attempt” to make it from one end of the row to the other as the soldiers beat him mercilessly with their planks. If he survived the ordeal, he would be allowed to observe Shabbos.
The Steipler understood the situation. He was probably risking his life, but Shabbos was worth the ordeal. He put his hands over his head as protection, whispered a heartfelt prayer and forged ahead. The guards began to beat him with all they had: no mercy, no sensitivity, just pure brutal malevolence. The pain was intolerable, but the reward of keeping Shabbos was the pot of gold at the end. Inch by inch, he trudged forward, blinded by pain and covered with blood. He reached the end of the line and collapsed with a faint smile on his lips. He had made it! The Shabbos that he cared about so much must have surely protected him. The captain reluctantly gave in to the Steipler’s demand to observe Shabbos. The Steipler lay on the ground, bloodied and broken. Nobody bothered to pick him up, but he did not care. He had triumphed over the cruel officer. He had triumphed over the yetzer hara, the evil inclination. He had won Shabbos Kodesh!
A Life of Sacrifice
The Steipler concluded the story, looked at his intended kallah and asked, “Are you prepared to join me in a continuous quest of self-sacrifice for Torah and mitzvos? This is the life I plan to lead.” The future Rebbetzin, the mother of today’s pre-eminent gaon Harav Chaim Kanievsky shlit”a, replied in the affirmative and they became chasan and kallah.
The Power of Shabbos
There’s a famous saying that goes “As much as the Jews kept Shabbos, the Shabbos kept the Jews!” The Shabbos that we keep today and that we kept throughout the generations is the secret that has kept the Jewish people alive as a great nation until this very day.
Reprinted from the Parshat Vayakhel 5779 email of Rabbi Amram Sananes as written by Jack E. Rahmey.