Percolating in Prayer
The Benaroch family of Paris is well known for their acts of chessed. The mother of this illustrious family once suffered a stroke and, as a result, was seriously paralyzed. The doctors did not give her much hope of recovering. They told her family, “Your mother will live, but she will be paralyzed for life.”
Her family would not take this prognosis sitting down. They stormed the heavens for salvation. They approached me and asked that I bless her with a complete recovery in the merit of my holy ancestors. I knew that Mrs. Benaroch was a tremendous ba’alat chessed who gave untold sums to tzedakah. Therefore, I did not satisfy myself with merely blessing her. I wished to visit her, as well.
I entered her room to find her lying in bed unmoving, connected to various tubes and machines. But I was not here to study machines. I had a mission to accomplish. It was to provide chizuk to the sick woman. I said, “For such a woman of valor as you, the Creator will surely bring a cure! B’ezrat Hashem, I will yet come to drink coffee in your house. You yourself will prepare the coffee and serve it.”
All of the people present responded with a resounding, “Amen!” The woman, with the force of her belief in Hashem, said, “Honored Rav, I have complete faith that Hashem will send His deliverance. As proof, I would like someone to go to my house right now, and put up the water to boil for the Rav’s coffee.”
Hashem’s kindness knows no bounds. The paralyzed Mrs. Benaroch stood up from her bed. I visited her at home and saw her walk like a regular person. Baruch Hashem, she merited a complete recovery and is able to move her limbs as before her stroke. In order to complete my blessing, she herself prepared for me a cup of coffee.
