Getting the Message
Father, a”h, passed away on the 5th of Elul, 1985. I was in Morocco at the time, for the celebration of the Bar Mitzvah of the son of R’ Mordechai Knafo, my host there.
During the evening of the Bar Mitzvah celebrations, I was overcome by a feeling of unease and foreboding concerning my father, zt”l. I immediately left the hall and returned to my lodgings. For some unknown reason, I decided to sleep on the floor that night.
- HaGaon Rabbi Chaim Pinchas Sheinberg, zt”l, tearfully eulogizing the Tzaddik, Rabbi Moshe Aharon Pinto, zy”a, at the gathering commemorating his shloshim
In the early hours of the morning, I heard knocking on the door. I was surprised to see R’ Knafo standing there and asked him, “What are you doing here so early? Do you have news about my father?”
He did not want to answer me. I told him, “You should know that I already felt something was wrong last night.”
I brought him into the house and showed him where I had slept during the night. Then he told me the bitter news of my father’s passing. I immediately said, “Baruch Dayan Emet – Blessed is the True Judge.”
I immediately rushed to the airport in order to participate in the funeral, which was to take place in Eretz Yisrael. I wanted to catch a flight to France, and from there, to Israel, even though I did not possess a ticket to Israel. Moreover, diplomatic relations between Israel and Morocco were strained at that time, and I possessed only a Moroccan passport, which did not have an entry visa for Eretz Yisrael.
Nevertheless, I placed my trust in Hashem Yitbarach and relied that, in His great kindness, He would provide a solution for me. An Arab, who was a righteous gentile, helped me board a plane that was traveling to France. When the plane landed in France, I was pleasantly surprised to note that there was an El-Al plane just about to take off for Eretz Yisrael parked nearby. I debarked from the first plane and went straight to the plane traveling to Israel. I was immediately surrounded by security personnel, who demanded to see my ticket and travel documents. A great hubbub ensued.
I wanted to explain the reason for my trip and everything that had happened during the last few hours, but I broke down in tears and could not utter a word.
When the pilot heard the ruckus, he came out of the cabin and asked me, “What is your name?” I answered him, and he asked, “What is the name of your father?”
“Rabbi Moshe Aharon Pinto, zt”l.”
“When did he pass away?”
“Last night.”
On the spot, the pilot gave me authorization to fly, and even arranged a seat for me… I was astounded at this turn of events. The reason why the pilot was so helpful was soon revealed. He turned to me and said, “You should know that I am a Jew, but I did not grow up in a house that kept tradition. However, today, it has clearly been revealed to me that there is a G-d Who runs the world.
“I have not listened to the radio for many years, because I don’t like hearing the many tragedies that are reported. I find it difficult to fly a plane after hearing bad news, and prefer to work in a state of happiness. For some unknown reason, when I woke up at four o’clock this morning in order to get ready for work, I decided to turn on the radio to hear the news. The first thing I heard was a report of the passing of your father, and the information that the funeral would take place today in Ashdod at four o’clock in the afternoon.
“I angrily switched off the radio, feeling justified in my complaint that it always broadcasts bad news. Yet, a few minutes later, I again felt an urge to turn it on again. It was as if an unseen hand was moving my own. I again heard the news about the passing of your father. This happened several times in succession. I could not understand what was prompting me to keep listening to the news time after time.
“Now the son of the tzaddik is standing before my very own eyes, about to board my plane. I now understand why I had to listen to the news about the passing of your father the tzaddik. It was a sign from Heaven, sent to me in order that I would be able to smooth out any difficulties you might encounter and help you fly on my plane.”
The pilot then added a personal request, “Please mention my name at the grave of your father the tzaddik for salvation and blessing.”
Of course, I fulfilled his request. I have no doubt that I experienced this miraculous salvation in the merit of my father, zt’l, who ensured that I was able to take part in his funeral and give him the final honor due such a holy and elevated personage. Even though I arrived in Eretz Yisrael after the funeral had already taken place, I was able to sit shivah with my brothers and sisters there.
This was all in order to pave the way for me to Eretz Yisrael, by the quickest means possible.
