A Crashing Message
One of my disciples, Anthony Mesalati, related that he once returned home extremely tired. The next day, he was scheduled to fly to Switzerland in order to recoup monies which had been stolen from him. But his father did not allow him much time for rest. It was the day of the hilula of the tzaddik, Rabbi Moshe Aharon Pinto, zy”a. His father asked that he participate in the celebration before taking off for Switzerland. The merit accrued by this deed would surely provide him protection on the way.
Anthony acceded to his father’s request and awoke early to participate in the hilula. Afterward, he traveled to Switzerland, as planned. Hashem was at his side, and all his money was returned.
- The hilula celebration of the Tzaddik, Rabbi Moshe Aharon Pinto, zy”a, in Orot Chaim VeMoshe, Ashdod
The driver who brought him to the airport for his return trip turned out to be a virulent anti Semite. The man did not stop condemning tzaddikim the entire way to the airport. My disciple made every attempt to stem the flow of deprecations. He was genuinely afraid that such speech would cause a road accident. Whoever speaks disparagingly of tzaddikim is punished by Hashem. But the driver was driven to spew forth his denunciations.
Suddenly, in the middle of the highway, the car stopped dead in its tracks. A mammoth truck, speeding its way along the highway could not make the sudden stop and crashed into the small car, smashing it to smithereens. In a most miraculous act of Divine Providence, my disciple discerned the oncoming vehicle and managed to extricate himself as well as the driver before tragedy hit. Their lives were saved by an open miracle.
The medics who arrived at the site were dumbfounded by what met them. Instead of lugging away dead bodies, they just had to clear away the metal which had once been a car.
This incident was a message to one and all that Hashem avenges the honor of the tzaddikim. There is no doubt that the anti Semitic driver brought this catastrophe upon himself by his venomous words. It was only the merit of my disciple, who made the effort, in spite of his weariness, to participate in the hilula of the tzaddik that saved both their lives.
