מרן הרב אלעזר מנחם מן שך זצ"ל
told the following story: |
| Reb Shach Voting in 1992 |
The Nesivos (ר' יעקב לורברבוים זצ"ל) suffered terribly in an unhappy marriage. He wished to divorce his wife, but she refused to accept a גט.
R. Akiva Eiger זצ״ל became involved and attempted to persuade her to accept the גט.
She responded: “My husband is such a great and holy man. I would never willingly accept a גט from such a great Tzaddik!”
Rav Shach זצ״ל commented: Even though she recognized her husband’s greatness and holiness, she nevertheless caused him צרות גדולות עד לשמים — terrible suffering that reached the heavens.
Rav Shach explained that we find a similar idea in the pasuk concerning Avraham Avinu:
"... וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כֹּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה ... וּמְקַלֶּלְךָ אָאֹר"
All the nations of the world will recognize the greatness of אברהם אבינו and, by extension, כלל ישראל. Nevertheless, there will still be those who curse him and seek to harm his descendants.
