Hashem Wants the Heart
An unaffiliated young man from Los Angeles once came to me, asking for proof that what I speak is the truth.
I was quite taken aback at his unusual request. “Why do you need proof?” I responded. “The Torah is the undeniable truth, given to us by the King of the universe. All of my words are words of Torah.” But the young man before me stood his ground. He wanted a sign that I spoke the truth.
So I said, “Hashem wants the heart. He desires that a person should believe in Him fully and serve Him with a warm and generous heart.”
The young man gave a shy smile, averring, “I have a good heart.”
I replied, “Let us wait and see just how good your heart really is.”
He was startled by my words. “What does the Rav mean?” he queried.
I merely replied, “I hope that Hashem will enlighten you as to the true meaning of the words, ‘Hashem wants the heart.’”
Only a few hours later, this young man was struck with a heart attack.
After he recovered, he came to see me. “Did the Rav put a curse on me?” he demanded.
“Chas v’shalom!” I proclaimed. “But you asked for a sign from Heaven. Hashem gave you the sign that He wants your heart by making it stop beating. I truly hope that you don’t need any further signs to realize that Hashem is true, and His Torah is true!”
Baruch Hashem, this young man merited returning in complete teshuvah. Today, he lives in Ra’anana, Israel. He observes Torah in all its minute details, wholeheartedly.
Hashem wants us to be completely dedicated to Him, serving Him wholeheartedly.
- With Maran HaGaon Rabbi Yehudah Lefkowitz, zt”l
