“On the return from a convention in which many Torah sages participated, the train made stops in several towns, whose Jewish communities came out to greet the gedolim. The Chafetz Chaim, however, in his profound humility, never went on the train platform to meet the people. Rav Meir Shapiro of Lublin, although he was a young man, boldly approached the elderly sage. ‘Why aren’t you going out to meet the people?’ he asked. The Chafetz Chaim answered, ‘Why should I go out? What is it that they want to see? I don’t have horns on my head. It is because they have this idea about me that I am a tzaddik (righteous), and if I go out to them, I am making a statement about myself that I am someone special.’ Rav Meir Shapiro asked, ‘And what is wrong with making such a statement?’ The Chafetz Chaim said, ‘What do you mean ‘what is wrong?’ It is ga’avah(arrogance).’ Rav Meir Shapiro said, ‘And if it is ga’avah, so what?’ The Chafetz Chaim said, ‘Ga’avahis a terrible aveirah (sin).’ Rav Meir Shapiro said, ‘And what happens if one does an aveirah?’
“The Chafetz Chaim said, ‘Why, for an aveirah one will be punished in Gehenom (hell).’ Rav Meir Shapiro said, ‘Throngs of Jews will have pleasure from seeing you. Aren’t you willing to accept some punishment in order to give Jews pleasure?’
“From then on, every time the train pulled into a station, the Chafetz Chaim was the first one on the platform to meet the people.”
Can you see why?