His Word is Gold - Monthly Gedolim Story
The following story is the one I have chosen with G-ds kindness to be the Monthly Gadol Story for the month of Iyar. Originally featured in the latest Rabbi Yechiel Spero book titled "Now That's A Story!" it depicts so profoundly the sensitivity and love, alongside the long lasting effects of a blessing or kind deed, done by a gadol.
I hope you will enjoy reading the story, as much as I first enjoyed it when I read it from the new book, within which, if I may add, there is an absolute trove of brilliant stories about many, many Gedolim.
It is definitely a book many of you may enjoy, as I hope this story will be.
Have an amazing week,
Your Friend,
Yitzy Schweitzer
What a dreadful and sorrowful blow for Klal Yisroel, even more so so to Sephardic Jewry, but perhaps most of all, for the hundreds upon hundreds of individuals who counted on him for a monthly stipend, one of those people of course being this almanah.
One month and then another passed away into time.
With each passing month her situation was becoming more and more dire and unfortunate, as once again, her financial security was fading quickly.
However, she knew that tzadikim even after their passing are considered alive (See Brachos 18a). So, finally after five months, five months after the great Chacham's passing she traveled to his grave in Yerushalayim to daven.
I hope you will enjoy reading the story, as much as I first enjoyed it when I read it from the new book, within which, if I may add, there is an absolute trove of brilliant stories about many, many Gedolim.
It is definitely a book many of you may enjoy, as I hope this story will be.
Have an amazing week,
Your Friend,
Yitzy Schweitzer
His Word is Gold - Monthly Gedolim Story
Than came the day, that the righteous and holy Goan the holy Chacham Ovadiah Yosef, left this world.A fine young father and husband from Elad tragically passed away, leaving behind his wife, now a widow with ten yesomim. Although she did her best to hold the family together, it did not take very long for them to start struggling with their finances.
Even in a situation as dire as this one, some people still have where to turn, whether it'd be a friend, family member, or a tzedakah organisation. For whatever reason, however this young almanah had nobody. No one was there to help her and due to that it became difficult for her to afford the most basic necessities, not just for herself but her family as well.
Late one night, with her rent due the following day, she made her mind up and went to see the legendary Chacham Ovadiah Yosef zt'l. Though she did not want to go to his apartment at the dark and late hour, she decided to go ayway, as her situation was getting more unbearable by the minute.
As she knocked she hoped the Chacham was still seeing visitors,but when his gabbai opened the door and asked her what she needed she realised she was the only one who had arrived at such a late hour.
Even in a situation as dire as this one, some people still have where to turn, whether it'd be a friend, family member, or a tzedakah organisation. For whatever reason, however this young almanah had nobody. No one was there to help her and due to that it became difficult for her to afford the most basic necessities, not just for herself but her family as well.
Late one night, with her rent due the following day, she made her mind up and went to see the legendary Chacham Ovadiah Yosef zt'l. Though she did not want to go to his apartment at the dark and late hour, she decided to go ayway, as her situation was getting more unbearable by the minute.
As she knocked she hoped the Chacham was still seeing visitors,but when his gabbai opened the door and asked her what she needed she realised she was the only one who had arrived at such a late hour.
"I am an almanah and I have come to ask the Chacham for his help" she explained. But in a kind, yet firm voice, the gabbai said that Chacham Ovadiah's Kabalat K'hal hours were over for the day and that she should come back the next day.
But the woman refused to take no for an answer. At least not from the gabbai. "Please" she requested, "go into Chacham Ovadiah and tell him the specifics that an almanah came to speak with him and ask for assistance. If he himself says that I should come back tomorrow,I promise to do as he says". The gabbai agreed.
When Chacham Ovadiah was informed he quickly instructed his gabbai to let the young woman in and a moment later she entered into his room. Up to that point she had tried to put on a brave face and remain strong. But, at that moment in the presence of the holy Chacham she fell apart as she explained to him how her husband had died and that her poor young children were suffering because of it, alongside the financial struggles.
The Chacham, with a cracked emotional voice gave a heartfelt bracha for her and her children, but the woman was not satisfied. In her desperation, a touch of impudence was present in her plea as she protested "I did not just come here for berachot, I came here for help. Will the Rav connect me to the appropriate chesed organisations?"
The Chacham assured her that he would help her, but he had his own plan "I want you to come here every month and I, personally, will hand you an envelope. However, no one else is to know of our arrangement."
It was to be. She would come to his apartment every month and true to his word the great Chacham would hand her the envelope with enough money to cover all of her expenses.
This continued for seven years. Seven years. Every sing month, this occured.
When Chacham Ovadiah was informed he quickly instructed his gabbai to let the young woman in and a moment later she entered into his room. Up to that point she had tried to put on a brave face and remain strong. But, at that moment in the presence of the holy Chacham she fell apart as she explained to him how her husband had died and that her poor young children were suffering because of it, alongside the financial struggles.
The Chacham, with a cracked emotional voice gave a heartfelt bracha for her and her children, but the woman was not satisfied. In her desperation, a touch of impudence was present in her plea as she protested "I did not just come here for berachot, I came here for help. Will the Rav connect me to the appropriate chesed organisations?"
The Chacham assured her that he would help her, but he had his own plan "I want you to come here every month and I, personally, will hand you an envelope. However, no one else is to know of our arrangement."
It was to be. She would come to his apartment every month and true to his word the great Chacham would hand her the envelope with enough money to cover all of her expenses.
This continued for seven years. Seven years. Every sing month, this occured.
What a dreadful and sorrowful blow for Klal Yisroel, even more so so to Sephardic Jewry, but perhaps most of all, for the hundreds upon hundreds of individuals who counted on him for a monthly stipend, one of those people of course being this almanah.
One month and then another passed away into time.
With each passing month her situation was becoming more and more dire and unfortunate, as once again, her financial security was fading quickly.
However, she knew that tzadikim even after their passing are considered alive (See Brachos 18a). So, finally after five months, five months after the great Chacham's passing she traveled to his grave in Yerushalayim to daven.
As soon as she arrived, she began to sob. The last time she cried so hard was when she first stood before the Chacham all those years ago. Now, too, she felt the same loneliness, the same desperation and pain. She took out her Sefer Tehilim and began to recite those holy, timeless words of David HaMelech, doing so, while her pages became soaked with her tears. After three hours, she completed the Sefer Tehilim and traveled back home to Elad.
By the time she arrived home, she was completely exhausted and collapsed on the couch. Within minutes she fell into a very heavy sleep in which she had a vivid dream, as she saw Chacham Ovadiah speaking to her saying in his kind and sensitive tone, "Biti, my daughter, why are you crying? Al tidagi, don't worry. Just as helped you during my lifetime, I will make sure you are taken care of now.
By the time she arrived home, she was completely exhausted and collapsed on the couch. Within minutes she fell into a very heavy sleep in which she had a vivid dream, as she saw Chacham Ovadiah speaking to her saying in his kind and sensitive tone, "Biti, my daughter, why are you crying? Al tidagi, don't worry. Just as helped you during my lifetime, I will make sure you are taken care of now.
"Listen closely. This Thursday at 1.00 p.m. there will be a brit milah at the Beit Yisrael hall in Yerushalayim. Go over to a man named Shalom Saadon. Tell him that I sent you to him and that he should help you."
Suddenly she woke up. What a strange dream, she thought. On one hand, it had seemed so vivid, whilst on the other hand, of course she had been dreaming about the Chacham. After all, she had just spent hours at his grave so it made sense that he was on her mind.
But when the dream repeated itself the next night, she understood that there must be something to it, especially since it was so vivid and clear again. She would not dismiss it. What did she have to lose? She would go to the brit and hopefully something beneficial would come of it.
That Thursday, she traveled to Yerushalayim and made her way to the hall, where it was clear that a brit was taking place, as she saw family and friends of the couple making the simcha, plus the well-known talmid chacham and mohel, Rav Reuven Elbaz.
Suddenly she woke up. What a strange dream, she thought. On one hand, it had seemed so vivid, whilst on the other hand, of course she had been dreaming about the Chacham. After all, she had just spent hours at his grave so it made sense that he was on her mind.
But when the dream repeated itself the next night, she understood that there must be something to it, especially since it was so vivid and clear again. She would not dismiss it. What did she have to lose? She would go to the brit and hopefully something beneficial would come of it.
That Thursday, she traveled to Yerushalayim and made her way to the hall, where it was clear that a brit was taking place, as she saw family and friends of the couple making the simcha, plus the well-known talmid chacham and mohel, Rav Reuven Elbaz.
But where would she find Mr. Shalom Saadon?
She walked into the ladies section and asked the first woman she met, if such an individual was known to her. Within seconds, she saw him as the woman pointed him out.
Immediately following the brit, she asked someone to tell Mr. Saadon to step into the hallway because someone wanted to speak with him.
A minute later she was standing with Mr. Saadon in the hallway and introduced herself. "I am a widow with ten yesomim. You may think I am crazy but Chacham Ovadiah appeared to me in a dream and told me that I should come to this brit and I will find you here."
She waited to see his reaction but instead she saw as he began to shake. Then she heard a thud.
He had fainted.
The woman ran to get some help and Rav Reuven Elbaz was among those who came to help revive the man. When he came to, the man asked Rav Elbaz to request of the woman to repeat what she had just told him.
She walked into the ladies section and asked the first woman she met, if such an individual was known to her. Within seconds, she saw him as the woman pointed him out.
Immediately following the brit, she asked someone to tell Mr. Saadon to step into the hallway because someone wanted to speak with him.
A minute later she was standing with Mr. Saadon in the hallway and introduced herself. "I am a widow with ten yesomim. You may think I am crazy but Chacham Ovadiah appeared to me in a dream and told me that I should come to this brit and I will find you here."
She waited to see his reaction but instead she saw as he began to shake. Then she heard a thud.
He had fainted.
The woman ran to get some help and Rav Reuven Elbaz was among those who came to help revive the man. When he came to, the man asked Rav Elbaz to request of the woman to repeat what she had just told him.
She told Rav Elbaz the whole story. From the day she lost her husband, to her failed attempts at tying to make things work for her children, how she had gone to the Chacham every month for seven years to receive her envelope, which she would later learn came from his own funds and how after he died, she had felt lost, before she went to his kever and cried her heart out.
She ended off with her dream, which had brought her to this moment.
She ended off with her dream, which had brought her to this moment.
Now, it was Shalom Saadon's turn. With great excitement he exclaimed "I have nothing to do with this brit. The baby is not from my family. His parents are not my close friends. I only came here because Chacham Ovadiah came to me in a dream and told me to meet this almanah here."
Everyone there was stunned.
When the other guest had scattered, Mr. Saadon asked the woman privately "How much did the Chacham give you every month.?" She responded "4,000 shekel". He nodded. "Then here is what I am going to do" he offered "Every month, I will give you 8,00 shekel. 4,000 will really be coming from Chacham Ovadiah. But because I know that is not enough I will give you another 4.00 shekel from me".
Mr. Saadon has been true to his word, as well.
There is much to learn from this story.
Everyone there was stunned.
When the other guest had scattered, Mr. Saadon asked the woman privately "How much did the Chacham give you every month.?" She responded "4,000 shekel". He nodded. "Then here is what I am going to do" he offered "Every month, I will give you 8,00 shekel. 4,000 will really be coming from Chacham Ovadiah. But because I know that is not enough I will give you another 4.00 shekel from me".
Mr. Saadon has been true to his word, as well.
There is much to learn from this story.
Tears matter. They never go unanswered.
But there is another lesson.
A gadol's heart is big enough for all of Klal Yisroel. His word, too, is gold. Because when a gadol promises to help you, he most certainly will.
Not only from This World, but even more so from the Next.
But there is another lesson.
A gadol's heart is big enough for all of Klal Yisroel. His word, too, is gold. Because when a gadol promises to help you, he most certainly will.
Not only from This World, but even more so from the Next.
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