Our Mission in Exile | Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum

Many years ago, HaGaon R’ Shmuel Berenbaum, Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, came up with a marvelous thought. When Yaakov Avinu heard that Yosef HaTzaddik was alive, he was very thrilled. We find Yaakov Avinu saying the following Lashon, Tremendous news that my son, Yosef, is alive. I'll, therefore, go and try to see Yosef before I die. And the Rosh Yeshiva asked, It's obvious that Yaakov Avinu would not be able to see Yosef after he dies. Why was it necessary for Yaakov Avinu to mention, I will go and try to see Yosef HaTzaddik before he dies? And he pointed out with the following illustration. HaGaon R’ Elchonon Wasserman, as we know, was a Talmid of the Chofetz Chaim. And R’ Elchonon encouraged many, many times for his Talmidim to go at every opportunity, to try and be able to see the Chofetz Chaim, and he pointed out for the following reason. The Chofetz Chaim is a Gadol HaDor, he’s one of the greatest Tzaddikim in the generation. While he is here in this world, we are able and have the opportunity to be able to see him. However, once the Chofetz Chaim passes away in the next world, who knows that even after we go to Olam Haba, we will never be able to have the opportunity to see the Chofetz Chaim, because he'll be in such a high Madrega, that there, in the next world, we will never have the opportunity to see him. Said the Rosh Yeshiva, The same thing Yaakov Avinu, with his great ענווה, considered Yosef HaTzaddik to be much greater than him. Yosef HaTzaddik, Yaakov Avinu understood, withstood one of the greatest temptations, as we are told that every day, for 12 months, literally, Eishes Potiphar tried to tempt Yosef HaTzaddik and he refused. Says Yaakov Avinu, Yosef HaTzaddik in the next world possibly will be on such a high Madrega, that I, even Yaakov Avinu, would not be able to meet up with my son in the next world, so, therefore, אלכה ואראנו בטרם אמות. Now, while he's still in this world, I'm able to come and go and see him and take the opportunity. I think, Rabosai, when you see a Yid that is going on the street, and is going through life through many, many challenges, and he’s struggling, I want you to know that that Yid, למעשה, when it comes to the next world, will have a very, very high position. Go take a look at that Yid. Who knows whether in the next world you’re going to have the zchus to be able to see that Yid. Each and every one of us, when we go through our Nisyonos, we go through our challenges, recognize how Chashuv the struggle is in Shomayim. Even if sometimes, Rabosai, we fall and we are not Matzliach, realize in Shomayim, the עצם struggle, the fact that we tried, has tremendous Chashivus in Shomayim and we are viewed as Tzaddikim, merely for putting in the effort and putting in the Ko’ach to be able to overcome our Nisyonos and our challenges. The Satmar Rebbe, the Divrei Yoel, pointed out that the Gemara says in Megillah Daf 29, When Moshiach comes, HaKadosh Baruch Hu will transport all the בתי כנסיות, all the Shuls, all the Beis Medrashes, everything will be transported to Eretz Yisroel. And the Rebbe asked, We can build new בתי כנסיות, we can build new בתי מדרשות. Why bring over the old ones, those that are in Chutz LaAretz, and make a Nes to bring them over? And the Satmar Rebbe says: When Moshiach comes, the Yidden will have a benkshaft, they will have a yearning for the old Avodah, for the Avodas HaGalus, when they had Nisyonos and they had to be Misgaber. They understood the gevaldig Chashivus of the Avodas HaGalus, but they will no longer have it when Moshiach comes. So what does HaKadosh Baruch Hu do? HaKadosh Baruch Hu does, He says, I'm going to transplant the בתי כנסיות and בתי מדרשות of Chutz LaAretz so you’ll be able to be attached to the old Avoda, just so you’ll be able to be connected to that old Avoda. Because that, Rabosai, that is what gives HaKadosh Baruch Hu the greatest Nachas Ruach, when a Yid למעשה is going through life with all different types of difficulties, and yet, he does not allow that to block and stand in the way of his Avodas Hashem. My Bracha is to everyone, as we go through our own Nisyonos in life, B’ezras Hashem we should be Mispallel to HaKadosh Baruch Hu to give the Siyata D’Shmaya, to be able to reach our goals in Yiras Shomayim and in Tzidkus, and to overcome all our Nisyonos. חזק ואמץ and B’ezras Hashem, you will be Matzliach.