Torah – The Ultimate Life Support
Torah – The Ultimate Life Support One year, after Shavuot, it was arranged for me to visit Argentina, in order to strengthen the community with mussar and raise much-needed funds for our institutions. Mr. César from Argentina was most helpful in arranging my trip. He was scheduled to accompany me throughout my stay in his […]
Identifying with Torah
Identifying with Torah A yeshiva student was in critical condition after a serious car accident in Bnei Brak. Hatzalah members arrived on the scene, but since he was unconscious, they could not identify him. Upon arrival at the hospital, it was decided that he must undergo immediate surgery, but the doctors could not contact his […]
The Haven of Torah
The Haven of Torah A talmid chacham confessed to me, while weeping copiously, that he nearly fell into sinning with a gentile woman who works in his office. At the last moment, he caught himself and fled the office as fast as his feet could carry him. “How in the world did I fall so […]
Torah – The Key to Life
Torah – The Key to Life Our yeshiva in Lyon once conducted a seudah shlishit for a large group. I found myself standing beside a Jew whom I had succeeded in bringing back in teshuvah, during a visit to a far-off French island. Out of my extreme love and concern toward this man, I turned […]
Moving toward Torah
Moving toward Torah Many years ago, I visited a community abroad which lacked a Sefer Torah. I did my utmost to raise the funds necessary to purchase one. When this was accomplished, the joy of the community knew no bounds. This place was infamous for its lack of tzeniut and its rampant promiscuity. I advised […]
Growth in Torah
Growth in Torah Mr. Avitan once entered our yeshiva in Lyon with a most pained expression on his face. He promised to arrange a seudah in the merit of the tzaddik, Rabbi Chaim Pinto, zy”a. When I asked him to explain, he told me the following frightening story. His baby was suffering from a brain […]
Torah Supports Its Adherents
Torah Supports Its Adherents I was once asked to admit two additional avrechim to a kollel under my auspices. This would demand providing their monthly stipends, as well. After agreeing, I suddenly remembered that I had pledged a considerably large donation to a kollel in Netanya. I found myself in a predicament. How could I […]
A Host of Profits
A Host of Profits When I lived in Eretz Yisrael, I had occasion to visit Paris for the purpose of bringing merit to the public. I was warmly welcomed by my host, who concerned himself with every detail of my comfort during my stay. The evening before I was scheduled to fly home, I noticed […]
Taking the Plunge
Taking the Plunge When I was a young boy, I was quite rambunctious. One Friday evening, in a spirit of adventure, I fell into the chimney of the Beit Hakeneset of the tzaddik, Rabbi David Chazan, zy”a, the noted chavruta of the tzaddik, Rabbi Chaim Pinto Hagadol, zy”a. I held on, for dear life, to […]
The Merit of Torah
“You shall inscribe on the [stones] all the words of this Torah, when you cross over in order to enter the Land that Hashem, your G-d, gives you, a Land flowing with milk and honey” (Devarim 27:3) Rabbeinu Bachya expounds on the words “So that you may enter the Land.” He says, “You are entering […]
A Healthy Dose of Zikuy Harabim
A Healthy Dose of Zikuy Harabim I once visited my family doctor, Dr. Bismuth, for routine tests which I do every so often. Then I returned to my regular busy schedule of receiving people, delivering mussar lectures to the yeshiva students, and various other activities connected with the public needs. I summarily forgot about the […]
Bringing Light to a Fellow Jew
Bringing Light to a Fellow Jew One night of Chanukah, after candle-lighting, I burst forth in song and praise of Hashem for all of the miracles which He has done for our nation, in those days, at this time. A man sat beside me, sullen and depressed. He made a face at my singing and […]
