Roaring with Enthusiasm
Roaring with Enthusiasm Before the outbreak of WWII, my grandfather, Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zy”a, forbade my father from leaving his house. Father, to whom his father’s word was absolute, remained in his home for the duration of forty years. His eyes did not see the sun the entire time. After such a long time of […]
Struck by the Spectacle
Struck by the Spectacle When I was once visiting Toronto, I spoke in the kollel of our institutions Yismach Moshe, which is under the auspices of Rav Prospert Lugassi, shlita. After the speech, I was offered a trip to the renowned site of Niagara Falls. These waterfalls are extremely beautiful and fall from tremendous heights. […]
Wonders of Creation
“How numerous are Your works, Hashem; You have made them all with wisdom; the earth is full of Your possessions” (Tehillim 104:24) The Malbim expounds: Although Hashem’s world is full of various creatures, they are all made with wisdom. Hashem prepared the means for each species to endure and never become extinct. He created a […]
Resolute in Her Decision
Resolute in Her Decision A woman once called me up to say that her newborn was having trouble breathing and was in critical condition. She requested my blessing for his complete recovery. In order for my blessing to take effect, I asked the woman to undertake the mitzvah of tzeniut, like all good Jewish daughters. […]
Rock-hard Faith
Rock-hard Faith A Jew I knew lost his daughter, who died at the tender age of twenty-four. He accepted the Heavenly decree with love and had no gripes against G-d. He said instead, “This daughter was a deposit of Hashem. He now came to reclaim his deposit. Hashem has given and Hashem has taken, May […]
The Decision to Disregard Directives
The Decision to Disregard Directives A disciple of mine informed me that he wished to visit his family who lived far away. Knowing the neighborhood where his family lived, I warned him numerous times to keep away from questionable places where he might be drawn into sin. “Does the Rav suspect me of transgressing?” he […]
Suffering in Silence
Suffering in Silence When a person is plagued by hardships, he must accept them with love, for they atone for his sins. Accepting the relatively easier hardships obviates the need for difficult ones, rachmana litzlan. A well-to-do man from Mexico came to inform me that he had broken his hand. “Why did this happen to […]
A Point with a Punch
A Point with a Punch On a visit to England, I was once walking through a public park. Two men were boxing each other, to the delight of the onlookers. I will never forget the sight of one of the fighters. He was knocked down, but he immediately picked himself up and continued the fight. […]
Determined Not to Destroy
Determined Not to Destroy When I was living in Eretz Yisrael, I was approached by a girl from France who had been living with relatives in Eretz Yisrael. She had made strides in her level of religious observance and Fear of Heaven. The girl was terribly homesick for her irreligious family and asked whether she […]
A Challenging Calling
A Challenging Calling A few days before the end of the secular year, a Jew informed me that he was invited to a holiday celebration. “Do you intend to go?” I asked. “Of course not,” he replied. “And it is in the merit of the Rav.” “In my merit?” I was perplexed. “How is that?” […]
The Cup of Victory
The Cup of Victory I was once visiting Argentina when the World Soccer Series was taking place. Many countries were vying for the Gold Cup. The tournament reached its peak as I arrived at the shores of South America. The tension was palpable in the air, as the entire world was riveted to their television […]
Challenges
“And it happened after these things that G-d tested Avraham and said to him: Avraham, and he replied: Here I am” (Bereishit 22:1) “Hashem, your G-d, is testing you to know whether you love Hashem, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your soul” (Devarim 13:4) “Hashem tests the righteous, but He hates […]
