In 1924, a rabbinical conference was held in the city of Grodno, then located in Poland. The sages had gathered to discus matters pertaining to Russian and Polish Jewry and to establish a program of action for the Va'ad HaYeshivot, the council of yeshivot. These were difficult times.


In Poland, Jews were suffering harsh anti-Semitism. In Russia, Jewish communities were struggling under the weight of Communist oppression. Many young Jews,

Should they even attempt to reach those who were influenced by decades of the Haskalah?

 influenced by modern trends and social movements, were drifting away from their traditions and people.


Attending the meeting was the venerated Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, otherwise known as the Chafetz Chaim.


The issue was soon raised of how the rabbis should respond to the growing turmoil in the Jewish community. Should they even attempt to reach those who were influenced by decades of the Haskalah (the Enlightenment movement), which stressed that the Jews change to adapt to Russian society? If the "Enlighteners" were not interested in hearing their message of remaining loyal to the Torah, then perhaps it would be better if they did not attempt persuade at all. Some cited the dictum in the Talmud, "Just as it is an obligation to say something that one will listen to, so too it is an obligation not to say something that will not be heeded." (Yevamot 65B)


After a lengthy and heated debate, the Chafetz Chaim arose and all eyes turned to the honored leader.


The Chafetz Chaim began with a story. He retold an incident that occurred in the Ukrainian city of Kiev 50 years earlier. It was a freezing cold winter day. On the street he noticed a poor elderly woman attempting to sell dried pears in a basket she was holding.


She called out, "Dried pears, three kopecks a pound! Fellow Jews, please buy!"


The Chafetz Chaim observed as she stood and pedestrians passed. No one stopped. After some time, he approached the woman and asked her, "You are freezing for no purpose; it would be better for you to go home. At least you won't freeze."


The woman thanked the Chafetz Chaim for his advice and then replied, "I have been standing here for 40 years and calling people to come and buy, and it also always seems to me that they never buy anything. But when I return home at night, the basket is lighter and there is money in my pocket."


It may seem like no one was listening to the woman's calls, especially on that freezing cold day, but her message was heard. The Chafetz Chaim was telling the assembly that there will be a response to their appeals. He advised the rabbis to speak out and urged the people to remain faithful to the Torah. He assured them that their efforts would not be futile: "With HaShem's help, your words will inspire and kindle hearts. Some day, when you make an accounting, you too (as the saleswoman) will no doubt find that you made a profit."

The message has a way of reaching its audience.



The Chafetz Chaim's words had an impact upon the conference participants, who returned to their communities and heeded his call. Their actions impacted their generation and future ones as well.


In our own times, it might seem futile to repeat the messages of Passover at the Seder to those who are disinterested year after year, or to those who simply wait for the meal. Yet, the Torah mandates that the events be retold in glorious and magnificent detail every Passover, that doing so is not in vain.


Today, Passover offers a special opportunity to impact the future, by spreading the message of the exodus and of its immense importance to each and every Jew. Even if it might seem that participants are not listening, one does not despair, for the message has a way of reaching its audience.


Sections of the above article were adapted from the Chafetz Chaim biography, Chafetz Chaim: His Life and Works, by Moshe Yoshor.