Small in Stature; Great in Goals
There were a few times in my life when I merited seeing the countenance of a holy tzaddik. The first was when I was a young man learning in Armentières in France. The gaon and tzaddik, Rabbi Avraham Yaffen, zt”l, son-in-law of the Alter of Novardok, came to pay us a visit. We were so excited at the prospect of seeing him. As he entered the Beit Hamidrash, he looked just like a Heavenly angel.
The second time was when I was approximately twenty years old. I went with my brothers to pay a shivah call at the home of the Baba Sali, zy”a. I watched as he went to wash his hands. When he noticed a man speaking with his wife, the Baba Sali was agitated and stated that one should minimize speaking to a woman.
The third time was when I was approximately forty years old. I went with the gaon, Rabbi Chaim Walkin, shlita, to the home of the giant of the generation, Maran Harav Shach, zt”l, in order to ask advice and bask in the grandeur of his pure visage.
Each time that I looked at the face of a tzaddik, I sensed a unique experience. I was overawed by their tremendous kedushah, while feeling small and inadequate in comparison.
It is virtuous for a person to feel insignificant. This feeling is a catalyst to help us emulate our nation’s great men and succeed in reaching greater heights in Avodat Hashem.
