The Vilna Gaon's Esrog and His Olam Haba
To get an esrog in a year of shortage, messengers promised the Vilna Gaon's reward to the seller, and the Gaon rejoiced at a mitzvah done purely out of love.
One year, there was a severe shortage of esrogim in Eastern Europe. A search committee was dispatched to scour Europe on a quest for an esrog for the Vilna Gaon. Finally, in one town, they met with success. A man had an exquisite esrog and was willing to part with it for a price: “I will sell it to you on one condition,” the man said. “The reward in Olam Habah that the Vilna Gaon earns in performing this mitzvah must go to me.”
They returned to Vilna just in time for Sukkos and marched straight to the home of the Vilna Gaon. The Gaon was ecstatic to see the esrog, but they were trembling. They nervously said, “Forgive us, Rebbe; in order to acquire this esrog, we were forced to agree on your behalf that you would give this man all of the Olam Habah that you earn doing this mitzvah.”
The Vilna Gaon joyously responded, “That’s perfectly acceptable! All my life I never had a chance to fulfill a mitzvah and receive no reward, and now I have such a chance. I now have the opportunity to perform the mitzvah of esrog purely out of love.”