The gaon Rabbi Eizel Charif, one of the greatest figures of his generation, came to Volozhin to find a groom for his daughter.
Unable to examine all the yeshiva students, he publicly posed an extremely difficult question and announced that whoever found the answer would become his son-in-law.
Day and night, the young men worked to find a solution to the question—who would not want to become the rabbi's son-in-law… Long lines formed at the door to the visitor's room, and the most outstanding students offered him their answers, but none earned his approval.
After several days, Rabbi Eizel set off for home empty-handed.
When his carriage was some distance out of town, the coachman heard shouts from behind: “Stop! Stop!” One of the yeshiva students, Rabbi Yosef Shlofer, was using his last reserves of strength to catch up with the carriage.
“Rabbi!” he said, struggling to catch his breath. “The answer!”
“Have you found the answer to my question?” Rabbi Eizel asked.
“No, but I very much want to know it!”
The rabbi smiled.
“You are the right match! Only a pure love of Torah could have made you chase after me. You were concerned neither with the examination nor with the honors—only with your thirst for Torah. I have chosen you—you will be my son-in-law!”
Translation: Rabbi M. Gaft