Blessed in Disguise
Blessed in Disguise I once attended a function on behalf of a Torah institution in France. The mayor of the city, an atheistic gentile, was also in attendance. Throughout the evening, many people approached me in order to receive my blessing for success and siyata di’Shemaya, in the merit of my esteemed ancestors. I was […]
I Smell a Rat
I Smell a Rat During the time of tefillah one day, I could not evoke any enthusiasm in my prayer. Try as I might, I could not manage to direct my thoughts to my Heavenly Father and feel as though I was standing before the Mighty King Who can grant me all of my heart’s […]
Kosher Money – Cornerstone of Endurance
Kosher Money – Cornerstone of Endurance A Rosh Yeshiva once approached me and began singing the praises of his worthy institution. He told me about the wonderful staff and the remarkable young men who glorify this noteworthy sanctuary by immersing in the Torah’s teachings, day and night. But he added that the yeshiva suffered tremendously […]
Sanctity
“Speak to the entire nation of Bnei Yisrael and tell them: You shall be holy, for holy am I, Hashem, your G-d” (Vayikra 19:2) Rashi expounds: This teaches us that this portion of the Torah was said at a gathering of the entire assembly of Israel, because the majority of the essential principles of the […]
Drowning in Faith
Drowning in Faith A top specialist of the Lugassi family of Marseille used to be distant from Torah and mitzvah observance. He once traveled to Morocco. There he visited the ancient cemetery in Essaouira. He made his way among thousands of tombstones, in the hope of finding the grave of his grandfather, Rabbi Meir Lugassi, […]
Adopting a Policy of Prayer
Adopting a Policy of Prayer A woman from France informed me that she was expecting a baby. But since she did not want a child, she was contemplating aborting. I was shaken at her words and told her that aborting with no medical justification is a terrible sin, considered murder. I continued to encourage her […]
Delivering the Goods
Delivering the Goods When I ascended to pray at the gravesites of the tzaddikim in Marrakesh, Morocco, I prayed at the tomb of the tzaddik, Rabbi Shlomo Timsut, zy”a, as well. When I read the name of the tzaddik on the grave, I suddenly remembered my friend from Paris, who bears the same name. I […]
Bitten by the Bug of Repentance
Bitten by the Bug of Repentance During the month of Elul, on a trip to visit the graves of previous tzaddikim who are buried throughout Europe, we visited the ancient, neglected cemetery where the tzaddik, the Admor Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the Ba’al Hatanya, is buried. Thousands of mosquitoes were circling the tomb of […]
At the Grave of the Tzaddik
“Thus Rachel died, and was buried on the way to Efrat, which is Beit Lechem. Yaakov set up a monument over her grave; it is the monument of Rachel’s grave until today” (Bereishit 35:19-20) Why did Yaakov see fit to bury Rachel specifically in Efrat? He saw that in the future, the exiles would pass […]
Torah – Harbinger of Goodness
Torah – Harbinger of Goodness About seventeen years ago, Mr. Ron came to see me. This man had been completely irreligious. He merited recognizing his Creator and returning to Him in teshuvah, wearing tefillin and praying. Today, he is a generous benefactor of Torah causes and seeks to do acts of kindness. He sets aside […]
Devoted to the End
Devoted to the End A man once came over to me and joyfully proclaimed, “Rabbi, in another few days, I will be making a siyum!” According to this man’s looks, he did not fit the mold of the typical Beit Hamidrash type. I assumed he was referring to a siyum of Mishnayot, or some short […]
Arousing One’s Appetite
Arousing One’s Appetite I have a disciple who was a seasoned businessman in France. Every hour of his day was devoted to his business. When I asked him to dedicate just one hour a day to Torah study, he claimed that his business did not allow even this small window of time for Torah. But […]
