Inspired Lives II Class 12

[Devora1]

When we hear in which conditions Rav Shach passed his youth, we believe, understand and know that this is why he merited becoming the great man he was. Nevertheless, we cannot help being appalled at these very conditions and we wouldn’t want or even consider allowing our children to learn under such conditions. How do you explain this contradiction in our conviction?



I think it only goes to show that the less gashmius a person has, the easier it is for him to concentrate on growth in ruchnius. Somehow too much materialism seems to blind a person to what his true purpose in life is. Of course extreme poverty can have the opposite effect too. It seems to me that striking a balance of histpakus b'miut is the key to growth in Torah and mitzvos.