The Chofetz Chaim's Promise of Gan Eden
On Purim a tipsy bachur in Radin asks the Chofetz Chaim for a share in his Gan Eden, and is offered it on one condition: never speak or hear lashon hara.
Rav Sholom Schwadron, zt’l, related: One Purim a tipsy bachur in Radin approached the Chofetz Chaim and requested a guarantee that he be in Gan Eden together with the great gadol. The Chofetz Chaim demurred and replied, “How do I know if I’ll have Gan Eden?” Still the adamant bachur refused to give in. It was time for the Purim seudah and the Chofetz Chaim needed to depart. Finally the Chofetz Chaim said, “I don’t know if I’ll have Gan Eden or not, but on account of one zechus I think I will merit Gan Eden. From the day I reached understanding, I never uttered or listened to a word of lashon ha’ra. If you assure me that from today on you will neither speak nor listen to lashon ha’ra, I assure you that you can be with me in Gan Eden.” The boy sobered up rather quickly but could not agree. He felt that he could not live up to such a commitment.
Rav Schwadron explained that the Chofetz Chaim felt that if the bachur had made the commitment, he would have merited Divine assistance enabling him to fulfill it. Apparently, Rav Schwadron was familiar with the bachur and said that he still merited to become a great Torah scholar. But he could have merited being even greater, if only he had agreed.