Adapted from: Moments of Greatness by Rabbi Yitzchok Hisiger

Rav Michoel Wolpin, a Seattle native, once entered the study of Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, rosh yeshivah of Yeshivah of Philadelphia, and was surprised that Rav Shmuel stood up for him and said, “I must thank you for saving my life!”

Rav Wolpin was taken aback, as he did not recall saving Rav Shmuel’s life. Rav Shmuel explained as follows.

In 1937, Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, Rav Shmuel’s father, left his family in Lithuania and traveled to America, seeking a position as a rav. Through a series of events, he secured a job as an interim rav in Seattle, and during that time, he met the Wolpin brothers, who attended the local Jewish day school. Rav Yaakov spent some time speaking to them before he proceeded to test the boys on what they were learning in class. Young Michoel knew the portion of Maseches Bava Kamma that he was learning fluently, astonishing the new rav with his clear understanding of the Gemara. Rav Yaakov was very impressed.

After a short time, Rav Yaakov secured a steady job in Toronto, and moved there, while trying to bring his family from Europe to Canada. One day, he received a letter from his brother-in-law, Rav Avrohom Grodzensky, who was taking care of his family in Lithuania while he was abroad. Rav Avrohom wrote that although he feels comfortable allowing the younger children and the girls to travel to America, he was hesitant to permit Rav Yaakov’s two older sons, Binyomin and Shmuel, to travel to America, as they were already studying in yeshivos in Europe. With a weak infrastructure of yeshivos in America, Rav Grodzensky was concerned about their spiritual well-being and their ability to learn Torah properly abroad.

Rav Yaakov, however, was not concerned. He explained, “If Michoel Wolpin, a young child in Seattle, can master Bava Kamma, then my children can also study Torah and master it here in America.”

With that, he insisted that his entire family, including his two older sons, travel to Canada.

Rav Shmuel explained to Rav Wolpin, “Now you know how you saved my life. So many who stayed behind in Europe perished. Your mastery of Bava Kamma gave my father the confidence to bring my brother and me to Canada just before the war broke out!”

In addition to the lesson of hakaras hatov demonstrated by Rav Shmuel – that one must appreciate something done for him, even if it was many years earlier and even if the benefactor is not aware of what he’s done – there is a remarkable message regarding the phenomenal power of an individual, even a child. Young Michoel Wolpin surely had no idea of the impact he would have through his mastery of Bava Kamma. Like any child, he probably did what he was told and devoted effort to mastering his studies. Yet, his diligence and knowledge ensured the safe passage of two brothers, both of whom would make a colossal impact on tens of thousands of Jews.