An Elevating Journey
Every year, during the month of Elul, the days of mercy and forgiveness, we conduct a trip for prayer and inspiration at the gravesites of the tzaddikim buried in Europe. People of all stripes and from all corners of the globe attend.
One year, a large group of wealthy individuals from chutz la’aretz joined us. Included was one of the richest men in the world.
- On a trip to the graves of tzaddikim in the Ukraine
The trip was fraught with difficult physical conditions. As the buses wended their way through various towns, we were jostled to and fro. Lacking modern conveniences and regular hours of sleep, we were a bedraggled lot. After all this, we made the arduous journey to Morocco, in order to celebrate the hilula of my grandfather, Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zy”a.
You can imagine my surprise when, after all of the tiring trips we took, my companions requested to join me for another two days of inspiration in the Holy Land.
I turned to them, and, addressing the wealthy Jew, who was the owner of approximately ten banks, asked, “Don’t you have various businesses to tend to? How can you just leave everything behind?”
The man replied, “My businesses are worth nothing in comparison to the special spiritual experience which I encountered on this trip. It will reach its climax as we reach holy shores.”
We arrived in Eretz Yisrael at daybreak. I was completely exhausted and went to catch some sleep. But the others were fired up with enthusiasm. They exhibited no signs of tiredness at all, in spite of the adventures of the previous week. Excitedly, they went directly to the Kotel, to pray Vatikin prayers there.
These precious Jews taught me the meaning of love for Eretz Yisrael. Despite physical fatigue, they would not relinquish a trip to the Holy Land. And once there, they could not be bothered to spend time on physical pursuits. They had come to soak up the kedushah in the air, and therefore, immediately made their way to the Kotel, the place where the Shechinah will never leave.
