ויתהלך חנוך את האלקים ואיננו כי לקח אתו אלקים (בראשית ה:כד)

The holy Rebbe Aharon HaGadol of Karlin zt”l, who passed away at just 36 years old, is said to have inspired 8,000 individuals to become baalei teshuva during his brief lifetime.

At his passing, his great student, the holy Rebbe Shlomo of Karlin zt”l, gave a eulogy in which he connected his Rebbe’s early death to the above verse — and to Rashi’s commentary on it.

Rashi explains:”צדיק היה וקל בדעתו לשוב ולהרשיע, לפיכך מיהר הקב”ה וסילקו והמיתו קודם זמנו”
“He (Chanoch) was a tzaddik, but easily influenced to return to wickedness. Therefore, Hashem hastened to remove him from the world before his time.”

Reb Shlomo offered a more profound understanding: If Chanoch was a tzaddik, why would he be at risk of becoming a rasha? And if he was so righteous, why did he deserve to be taken early? The answer, he explained, lies in reading Rashi slightly differently — with a profound insight into the nature of bechirah (free will):

Chanoch was such a great tzaddik that whenever he encountered a rasha, he would inspire him to do teshuva. His influence was so powerful that he effectively removed the rasha’s free will — the sinner no longer wanted to sin!

This, Reb Shlomo said, is the deeper meaning of Rashi’s words:

“צדיק היה” – He was truly righteous.
“וקל בדעתו לשוב ולהרשיע” – It was easy in his presence for the wicked to do teshuva and not remain wicked.

Because Chanoch had the ability to transform anyone — thus potentially removing humanity’s free choice — Hashem took him early:

“לפיכך מיהר הקב”ה וסילקו” – Hashem hastened to remove him from this world.

And then, Reb Shlomo of Karlin added: “The same was true of my Rebbe, the holy Reb Aharon HaGadol. He passed away at only 36 years old. Satan came before the Heavenly Court and argued: ‘He has already brought 8,000 Jews back in teshuva! If he continues, he’ll bring the entire world to teshuva — and then people’s free will will be taken away!’

Therefore, like Chanoch, he had to be taken from this world early.”