Mr. Smadja is a man of faith who lives in the United States. When his father passed away, he wished to say Kaddish for his soul. But the words of Kaddish were unfamiliar to him, so he came to my brother, Rabbi Yaakov Pinto, shlita, asking that he teach him this prayer. After they finished, the man said, “Honored Rav, what more can I do for the elevation of my father’s soul?”
But Rabbi Yaakov merely told him, “In all matters concerning elevation of the soul, speak to my brother, Rabbi David Pinto, shlita.” Mr. Smadja did as he was instructed.
When I heard his interesting request, I was in a dilemma. What should I advise him in order to bring elevation to the soul of his departed father? I finally told him, “Travel to Yerushalayim. Go to the Kotel and pour out your heart to your Creator that He elevate your father’s soul and bring it to Gan Eden. B’ezrat Hashem, your prayer, the prayer of a son for his father, will be most effective.”
The man did as I instructed. As he stood by the Kotel, praying wholeheartedly, a dove suddenly fell into his hands. Everyone around him heard the bird squawk “Amen!” and fall dead to the ground.
Mr. Smadja was stunned. I told him it was certainly a signal sent from Heaven that his prayers were accepted, and his father’s soul had received its tikkun and merited entering Gan Eden.
