A Journey Back to His Roots
An irreligious Jew who lived in France was preparing for a trip to Pakistan with a number of friends. This is a country categorically unfriendly toward the Jews, to say the least. When I was informed of his plans, and being aware of the real dangers to his life such a trip would entail, I asked him to come to see me.
“I heard you are planning a trip to Pakistan,” I began. “Please cancel it. It is no place for a Jew.”
The man was surprised at my words and asked, “How does the Rav know about my planned trip? And why does the Rav see fit to discourage me from going?”
“I somehow heard about your plans. I don’t know why, but I felt it imperative to warn you not to go. B’ezrat Hashem, you will become enlightened and do complete teshuvah.” The man ended up obeying me and cancelled his trip to Pakistan.
A few days later, he got word that all of his friends who had gone were killed in a fatal car accident. He tangibly saw how obeying a Torah authority saved him from certain death.
Baruch Hashem, his wondrous deliverance brought him back in complete teshuvah.
