A Pesach Need, Protected by R’ Chaim Ozer’s Wisdom
A Yid came to R’ Chaim Ozer on Erev Pesach with no way to make Yom Tov — and no way to bear the shame of asking for help. R’ Chaim Ozer found a way to provide everything he needed while protecting his dignity.
It is told in Pardes Yehuda that one Erev Pesach in Vilna, a prominent member of the community, R’ Noach, came to R’ Chaim Ozer Grodzensky with a painful problem.
Until then, R’ Noach had been a wealthy man. But suddenly he had lost his fortune, and now, on Erev Pesach itself, he had nothing with which to make Yom Tov. There was no food in the house for Pesach — no matzah, no wine, no meat, nothing. But R’ Noach and his wife could not bring themselves to let people know what had happened. They did not want the shame, the pity of their friends, or the satisfaction of those who might rejoice at their fall.
R’ Chaim Ozer asked him why he had waited until so late. R’ Noach explained that he and his wife had tried to keep the matter hidden.
R’ Chaim Ozer thought for a few moments and then told him, “Tonight, after Maariv, when people come over to wish me Gut Yom Tov, come over as well. But instead of saying it aloud, whisper your Gut Yom Tov into my ear.”
R’ Noach did not understand. “What will come from whispering Gut Yom Tov?”
R’ Chaim Ozer told him that this was not the time for questions. There was still Yom Tov to prepare for. He should go home, set the table properly, and Hashem would help.
That night, after Maariv, the people of Vilna came over to wish R’ Chaim Ozer Gut Yom Tov. When R’ Noach approached, R’ Chaim Ozer announced, “Wait. I see that R’ Noach has something private to tell me.”
The people stepped back. R’ Noach leaned in and whispered, “Gut Yom Tov.”
Suddenly R’ Chaim Ozer cried out, “Chametz! Everything is chametz! There is no way out!”
Before R’ Noach could react, R’ Chaim Ozer continued, “But R’ Noach, you do not live in a wilderness. Surely the good Yidden of Vilna will make certain that you have everything you need — matzos, fish, meat, wine, and whatever else is necessary for Yom Tov.”
The people immediately understood that there was a serious Pesach need, without knowing the private story behind it. One after another, they came forward with offers to help. Within a few minutes, R’ Noach had everything he needed for Pesach.
And now he could accept it. It was not that he had gone begging from door to door. The Rav had paskened that the situation had to be fixed, and the community responded.
That Pesach, nothing was missing from R’ Noach’s table. And because of the wisdom and sensitivity of R’ Chaim Ozer, R’ Noach’s dignity remained intact.