Whoever attempts to describe the living conditions of the exiles of Yeshivas Mir in Shanghai will be unable to fathom how a yeshiva could have operated there at all. How could they have lived in such a steaming climate, studied, davened, ate and even slept?
But the Mashgiach, HaRav Yechezkel Levenstein, would stand on the bimah and demand:
"One must arrive with something, even something small, but something which enhances the esteem of Hashem, something that will provide us with the opportunity to come and seek Heavenly honor, something enabling us to ask on Rosh Hashana `And so, grant the honor of Hashem to Your people."
What does this mean or entail? Hashem needs honor? From us?
"Kodosh Kodosh! His honor fills the world (Yeshaya 6:3). The explanation of these words is that the esteem of Hashem is revealed precisely where there lies a difficulty, in an earthly, lowly place, amidst rain and the vicissitudes of nature, under circumstances which negate spirituality, an environment of battling with one's inclinations. Here is where a person must rule over his yetzer and overcome it. Precisely in such conditions will the honor of Heaven be revealed."
In such circumstances rampant with hardship and coping one must fight. And he wins. "Kodosh, Kodosh, Kodosh!" One overcomes his evil tendencies and thus does the honor of Hashem "fill the entire earth." It is revealed at large, precisely because the adversities of nature were against him and dangers lurked. Notwithstanding, he emerged whole and victorious. This, precisely, is the tribute to Hashem.
