To Life!
When he was elderly, the father of a disciple of mine was beset by terrible pains throughout his body. His devoted son immediately called the doctor. After extensive testing, his father was diagnosed with cancer. He needed to undergo immediate surgery.
I took a cup of water and instructed the stricken father to drink from it. This would provide a tangible object upon which my blessing could take effect. The old man awkwardly informed me that he was ordered to fast as part of pre-op preparations, and therefore, he could not drink the proffered cup of water.
I saw such firm faith on the faces of father and son that I felt in my heart a strong sense of imminent salvation from the complex surgery. I was sure that my prayers for this man, in the merit of my forefathers, would effect deliverance. I asked him to drink the water in spite of the doctors’ instructions. I even added, “You are completely healthy. Don’t worry about drinking the water.”
The next day, before the planned surgery, the doctors wanted to run a series of tests in order to ascertain the exact size and location of the growth. By an open miracle, the results proved that the man was completely healthy.
The professor was very excited by the results. He was sure that they belonged to another patient, so he asked for a repeat. But the results were exactly the same as before.
I know that it was not my weak powers that effected this miracle. It was the merit of my ancestors, tzaddikim of stature, who prayed before the Creator for this elderly Jew and asked for mercy on his behalf.
