A Happy Ending

A certain young man was eons away from a life of Torah and mitzvot. Although his brother lived in Lyon, my hometown, this boy had never heard of me. That is, until his life took a 180-degree turn. This is how it happened:

The young man was involved in a tragic car accident and was in critical condition. In spite of numerous operations and various procedures, he remained unconscious. His medical condition was so severe that his doctors despaired of his ever recovering. His brother, who lives in Lyon, contacted our yeshiva there. He urgently asked the secretary, R’ Shimon Halimi, z”l, to connect him with me. At the time, I was with my family in Nice. My devoted secretary told the man that it was impossible to reach me. But he would not give up. He asked the secretary to grant him a personal favor. His brother was lying in a hospital in Marseille, between two worlds. The secretary took down his brother’s name. He then phoned me and asked that I pray for him in the merit of my holy ancestors, that he be completely cured.

The very next day, the young man opened his eyes and completely regained consciousness. His first words were, “Where is Rabbi David Pinto?”

At this sight, his family members themselves almost went into a state of shock. Besides for his return to life, they were taken aback at his question. He had never met me or known about me. But they hurried to reply, “Rabbi David Pinto is not here just now. He is in Nice.”

The boy accepted this answer. Then he asked them to provide him with tzitzit and tefillin, items which he had never touched. His dazed family rushed to fulfill his order. Then they asked what this was all about. The boy turned to everyone gathered and explained:

“When I was in a coma, I felt myself being lifted heavenward. There I was greeted by the souls of my departed ancestors. They had come to accompany me on my Final Journey, for I was about to leave the lower world. I was deathly afraid and refused to join them. Suddenly, I heard the words, ‘Leave him be and allow him to return to the living. Harav David Pinto is praying on his behalf in the merit of his holy ancestors.’ Before allowing me to return, I was given an ultimatum. I must undertake to wear tzitzit and tefillin every single day. Then my neshamah returned to my body, and I opened my eyes.” This was the boy’s hair-raising story.

Baruch Hashem, the boy made steady improvement, both physically and spiritually. He merited reinforcing his knowledge of Judaism and acceptance of Hashem. To this day, he is scrupulous about wearing tzitzit and tefillin every day. He has merited marrying and is building a true Jewish home, sanctifying Hashem’s Name in the world.