Singing His Praises
I was once asked to arrange a dinner on behalf of a charity organization. I reserved a large, majestic hall which could fit the numerous guests. Attention was paid to each detail of the event, so that the maximum benefit would be gained. With a lavish meal and a splendid ambiance, the potential donors would be encouraged to open their pockets widely for the worthy cause at hand.
A well-known singer and choir were reserved for the pleasure of the attendees. I put forth a prayer that the event should go smoothly and productively, with no hitches. But on the afternoon of the event, I received a call from the singer, who related that he had a bad back and could not appear in such a manner. For a moment, I was too stunned to speak. I tried gathering my wits about me and coming up with a viable solution.
But the man had something to add. “Honored Rav, bless me that I feel better quickly, so that I can come, as planned.” I warmly blessed him in the merit of my forefathers that he should return to his former state. I prayed for him, and I even called up my son, Rabbi Refael, shlita, asking him to light candles in memory of the tzaddikim, for this man’s recovery.
My son, Refael, has the same name as the angel, Refael, who is appointed for recovery. I have seen examples of my son’s extraordinary power to help those in need of healing.
Here is one instance: The Chief Rabbi of France, Rabbi Yosef Sitruk, shlita, was once in a deep coma. I came to visit him and placed the special walking stick of the tzaddik, Rabbi Chaim Pinto, on his eyes. Rabbi Sitruk immediately awoke and began moving his limbs. But one leg remained immobile.
Weeks passed. I visited Rabbi Sitruk once again. But this time, I was accompanied by my son, Rabbi Refael. I asked my son to place the cane on the ill leg. I hoped that the merit of the tzaddikim, upon whose names my son is called, coupled with the power of the angel Refael, would come to my son’s aid, and, B’ezrat Hashem, he would be able to bring remedy to Rabbi Sitruk.
- Right to left: HaGaon Rabbi Yosef Sitruk, Rabbi of France; Moreinu, shlita; HaGaon Rabbi Chaim Yitzchak Chaikin, zt”l
My son did as I asked. B’chasdei Shamayim, Rabbi Sitruk’s leg was completely healed.
For this reason, I now asked my son Refael to light candles on behalf of this singer. Then I went about my business in making last minute arrangements for the grand event.
Suddenly, my entire body became paralyzed. I could not move at all. This took all of three minutes, after which my muscles relaxed, and I returned to normal. A short while later, the singer phoned me up and happily reported that his back had straightened out. His muscles had returned to normal, and he could appear as planned.
I was delighted to hear his report and related what had happened to me a few minutes earlier. The man listened, enraptured. When I finished speaking, he excitedly said that just when I was experiencing a heavy feeling throughout my body, his back began returning to normal.
Hashem was showing us that He is the force behind everything. Without Heavenly assistance, we simply cannot do a thing. Chazal teach us (Chulin 7:2), “One does not stub his finger in this world unless it was decreed on High, as the pasuk states (Tehillim 37:23), ‘A man’s footsteps are prepared by Hashem, and He shall favor his way.’”
