In 1940, Russia annexed Lithuania. Everyone was terrified. As we mentioned, Rav Chaim Ozer was the Gadol HaDor at the time. All the hard work, of his entire life, was about to be destroyed and crumble around him.
Yet he kept his morale strong and raised the spirits of those around him.
As we mentioned earlier, towards the end of his life, just as the war was starting, he was very sick.
In Vilna, there were printing shops that were printing false visas. He was asked whether they should print one for him. He said, “All I ask for is a visa to remain in this lowly world.” What he meant was that he wanted to stay alive long enough to help all the people that were depending on him. He wanted a visa just to live in this world; he wasn’t even thinking about getting out of war torn Europe.
As we get ready for Rosh Hashanah, that is supposed to be our attitude. What do I want? I want a visa. Not a visa to get into Israel now because of corona, but a visa to stay another year in this world. Why? In order to be able to help people that need me.
That is the attitude of great people, people that have Ahavat Yisrael.
Rav Wolbe writes, in is Sefer Alei Shur, vol 2, that the Heshbon HaNefesh, the accounting that a person should make before Rosh Hashanah, is that one should clarify to himself, בשביל מה הוא חי
What does he want to live for?
A person should go down deep into his feelings about the future.
Do you want to be here to enjoy yourself? Is that the goal of your life? Or is the goal in life to be a little spark of bringing respect to Hashem, using all of your abilities for the Jewish people?
As much as you build yourself, you realize that your talents and abilities are not just for yourself. Your talents and abilities are for the Jewish people at large.
I heard Rav Wolbe say, many times, that a boy who is 18 years old and learning in yeshiva has to know that he is learning for the Jewish people. Eventually, he will give back to the Jewish people.
And he has to know that when he is 18. He can’t wake up when he’s 30 and say, “Hey, it’s time for me to give back.”
This has to be a person’s thoughts all of the time, but especially during the high holiday season.
Rav Wolbe says, “How much does a person have to lift himself up on Rosh Hashanah, to put aside his personal thoughts, and connect himself to the Jewish people at large.”
That is what we want our visa for. To spend more time in this world, to be able to help others.