Doggedly Performing a Brit
Doggedly Performing a Brit I had the zechut to be sandek at a brit in the Ukraine, for a young man of eighteen years. I was excited at hearing that his name is Yisrael Zalman David, like my name. Additionally, the initials of his three names, ~י*שראל ~ז*למן ~ד*וד are numerically equivalent to the Name, […]
Removing Layers of Refusal
Removing Layers of Refusal A mother gave birth to a baby boy, but refused to have him circumcised, claiming that circumcision is an act of cruelty. Her husband tried to convince her of the significance of this wonderful mitzvah, but his words fell on deaf ears. The mother stubbornly stood her ground, and the baby […]
Saved from Being Sandek
Saved from Being Sandek When I stayed in Morocco at the home of R’ Mordechai Knafo, I was asked to be sandek at a brit milah. I especially cherish this mitzvah and do my utmost to perform it, even at great personal inconvenience. But, for some unknown reason, I declined the invitation this time. […]
Circumspection Concerning Circumcision
Circumspection Concerning Circumcision I was asked to be sandek at a brit milah in Buenos Aires. For this purpose, I traveled with my escorts from Eretz Yisrael to New York, and from there, to Argentina. As we boarded the plane in New York, the weather was cold and stormy. The streets were flooded with rains, […]
Brit Milah
“This is My covenant which you shall keep between Me and you and your offspring after you: For every male among you to be circumcised. You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and that shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you. At the age of eight days every male among […]
True Gains
True Gains I once knew a successful businessman who used to turn over millions of dollars. One day, his fortune took a turn for the worse, and he lost every last penny. He was reduced to poverty overnight. In his deep distress, he came to see me. For many long moments, he cried bitterly over […]
The Spider Injected Faith
The Spider Injected Faith A religious Jew came to me with his son who had gone off the path of Torah and mitzvot. He was so far from anything Jewish that he was contemplating intermarriage. This son had been educated in his youth in the way of Torah and had even learned in a prestigious […]
Changing Colors
Changing Colors I knew a man who married a gentile Ethiopian woman. They had one daughter together. When I met this man, I explained to him the singularity of Am Yisrael, a nation separate from all of the nations of the world. I warned him, in no uncertain terms, of the severity of intermarriage. The […]
Handed a Second Chance
Handed a Second Chance R’ Rachamim Elbaz is a prominent member of our community who supports the yeshiva in Lyon at all times. One Pesach, I was visiting his home. R’ Elbaz treated me like a king and told me his story: My brother, Gavriel, merited a relationship with the Rav two years before I […]
A Fatal Lesson
A Fatal Lesson A family I know in Lyon used to be distant from all things holy. The man of the house would ridicule religion, taunt Torah, and never make an appearance in the Beit Hakeneset. His wife was distressed at his attitude and often asked me to intercede and attempt to bring him back […]
Tuned in to Teshuvah
Tuned in to Teshuvah A Torah-observant Jew approached me, and, with great enthusiasm cried out, “Rabbi David! You are my mentor! I always dreamed of meeting you, face-to-face. Baruch Hashem, I have now merited this honor!” Since I didn’t recognize the man, I asked him his name. But that, too, did not ring a bell. […]
Tuned in to Teshuvah
Tuned in to Teshuvah A Torah-observant Jew approached me, and, with great enthusiasm cried out, “Rabbi David! You are my mentor! I always dreamed of meeting you, face-to-face. Baruch Hashem, I have now merited this honor!” Since I didn’t recognize the man, I asked him his name. But that, too, did not ring a bell. […]
