The Long Arm of Faith
When I was on a visit to Montreal, a man came to see me with his arm in a cast. He related that he had experienced a serious accident and his arm had been irreversibly injured. The doctors informed him that he had to have it amputated.
“Rebbi,” he cried to me, “how will I be able to live with only one arm?” I was deeply pained by his plight and asked how I could help.
“Honored Rav,” he replied, determinedly, “bless me that I merit complete healing. You are the grandson of the tzaddik, Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zy”a, about whom tremendous things are said. I have full faith that Hashem can do anything. In the merit of your blessing, as well as the merit of your forefathers, I will, B’ezrat Hashem, experience the miracle of my arm being saved.”
Upon hearing the man’s words of firm faith, I blessed him from the depths of my heart. I told him he should see Hashem’s salvation in the rescue of his arm. I added that I hoped to see him on my next visit with two healthy arms.
The next year found me in Montreal once again. I needed a pen and asked those near me if anyone had one. A man whipped a pen out of his pocket and offered it to me. When I stuck out my hand to take it, I noticed a big scar covering his hand. I asked the man what it was from. He told me that he was the one who had asked me to bless him that his arm return to normal.
He related that in a most miraculous manner, his arm had healed. There was no need for an amputation. He now offered me his pen as a memento of this wonderful miracle.
