Taking to Heart the Tzaddik’s Blessing
My dear disciple, Mr. Gabi Elbaz, was once approached by a man from Marseille who asked if he learned in the yeshiva of Rav Pinto. When my disciple replied in the affirmative, the man asked if he could share a story with him. This was his story:
A number of years ago, I learned that Rav Pinto was in town, receiving people. As is traditional Jewish custom, I went over to receive a blessing from him. I waited in line for my turn. When I finally entered his room, the Rav lifted his hands and blessed me with health and Heavenly protection.
At the time, I was taken aback at his blessing. Health? Protection? I was a strapping young man, the picture of health, and living quite securely, thank you. But that very evening, everything became clear. As I was eating supper, I suddenly suffered a heart attack. In those moments, the Rav’s blessing suddenly came back to me with crystal clarity. I reassured myself that B’ezrat Hashem, I would return to full health in the merit of the blessing I had received just that morning from the Rav.
This man’s faith in the blessings of the tzaddikim, even when they are obscure, was what protected him from the effects of his heart attack.
