Double or Nothing | Avi Schnall

A very wealthy individual once came to R’ Aharon Leib Shteinman with a check in his pocket of $500,000, ready to donate to one of R’ Aharon Leib's Yeshivos. However, there was a condition. The deal was he would give a half a million dollars if R’ Aharon Leib could guarantee him that in the Olam HaEmes, he will have a spot, a seat, next to R’ Aharon Leib. R’ Aharon Leib reacted a little bit surprising. He called the administrator of the Yeshiva and asked how much are they in debt, how much is needed to support and fund the Yeshiva? The administrator said: If we get $1 million, we'll be good. R’ Aharon Leib told this wealthy, generous donor, To guarantee a spot in Olam HaEmes, you gotta give me $1 million. $1 million, it's yours. The wealthy man was not ready to give the full sum R’ Aharon Leib was asking for, and he walked out, with the check still in his pocket. One of the Talmidim asked R’ Aharon Leib, What's the Pshat? He was ready to give a half a million dollars. R’ Aharon Leib answered him, To guarantee a spot in Olam Haba, to guarantee Gan Eden, it's gotta come with Mesirus Nefesh. If he came with a check in his pocket of a half a million dollars, that means it wasn't hard for him to give it. He was ready to do it. $1 million, that's Mesirus Nefesh. The Talmid asked R’ Aharon Leib, So what would the Rosh Yeshiva have done if he would have agreed, if he would have given $1 million? R’ Aharon Leib smiled, and he said: If he would have given $1 million, I would have paid him to guarantee that I have a spot next to him. True greatness, accomplishments, growth, has to come with a level of Mesirus Nefesh. In our world today, we are met with opportunities that seem to be so challenging. It's hard. We live in a world that wherever we turn, there are Nisyonos, there are tests, there are hurdles. But if you look at it, they're not just tests. They’re opportunities for us to become great. They're opportunities for us to gain and acquire Olam Haba. They’re opportunities for us to become big people. The challenges are our opportunities. Let's grab them.