In Good Faith
In Good Faith A completely irreligious Jew once approached me and related his problem. Afterward, he asked for my blessing. “Resolve to begin wearing tefillin, to observe Shabbat and taharat hamishpachah, and I promise you deliverance,” was my answer. The man, who found this difficult to accept, tried to wheedle his way out. “For such […]
A Strapping Nation Survives
A Strapping Nation Survives Traveling by plane one time, I had a stopover in Frankfurt. From there, I needed to take a connecting flight to Eretz Yisrael. But when we reached Germany, instead of landing, the plane circled the airport for about forty minutes, as the terminal was crowded with other planes which had just […]
Nothing to Be Ashamed Of
Nothing to Be Ashamed Of I met a Jew who walked around bare-headed. I turned to him and asked, “Are you Jewish?” He was affronted by my question and replied, “Certainly I am Jewish. I am a full-fledged believing Jew. Why does the Rav ask such a question?” In response, I asked him to accompany […]
The Flame Flickers but Does Not Die
The Flame Flickers but Does Not Die A couple from Paris came to see me. Upon entering my room, the man averred, “Honored Rav, I am a secular Jew. I have nothing to do with religion.” I invited the two to take seats and asked what brought them to me. The man stated that it […]
Am Yisrael
“For you are a holy people to Hashem, your G-d; Hashem, your G-d, has chosen you to be for Him a treasured nation from all the peoples that are on the face of the earth” (Devarim 7:6) Rabbi Shimon says, “Bnei Yisrael are the sons of kings” (Shabbat 111a). Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said, “Come […]
An Eye Catching Cup
An Eye Catching Cup Vast sums of funding are demanded to support the numerous Torah institutions of the esteemed Pinto family. Much money is required for building, maintenance, cleaning, renovating, paying electric bills, etc,. as well as providing the monthly kollel stipends. For many of these avrechim, the checks they receive are their only source […]
Struck Speechless
Struck Speechless When I was receiving people at the Zer home in Bnei Brak, a couple came in with their four-year-old son. One day, without warning, this boy had completely stopped talking. In spite of their visits to the top specialists, the boy remained mute. “Did you perhaps purchase a new apartment recently?” I asked […]
Processing the Procession
Processing the Procession I once had the privilege of meeting the Chief Rabbi of Toulouse, Rabbi Amram Castiel, shlita, a former disciple of my father, zy”a. Rabbi Amram told me a fascinating story, which he had heard from his father. Many years ago, when my grandfather, the tzaddik, Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zy”a, lived in Essaouira, […]
The Evil Eye
“A son of grace is Yosef, a son of grace to the eye; girls stepped up to gaze” (Bereishit 49:22) Rashi interprets the words to gaze as referring to the fact that the evil eye would not affect his offspring. Also, when Yaakov blessed Efrayim and Menashe, he blessed them that they should be like […]
For the Asking
For the Asking A wealthy New Yorker, who is an old acquaintance of mine, sadly informed me that his son was ill with a terrible sickness. He suffered greatly from this illness, which had no known cure. The distraught father turned to me in desperation. “Honored Rav,” I will give you whatever amount you ask […]
A Charitable Suggestion
A Charitable Suggestion A man from Argentina signed on a large business transaction, but he ended up losing large sums of money. He came to me with an interesting proposition. “Honored Rav, if you pray for me to be extricated from the mess I am in, then, when I recoup my losses, I promise one […]
Demise through the Dollar
Demise through the Dollar A man from New York breathed his last as he was sitting in front of his personal computer. An intensive investigation into the cause of his death revealed that he observed the stock market crash. He realized that in one instant, all of his money was gone. His heart could […]
