The Show Must Go On - Monthly Gedolim Stories
As we are now deep in the month of Av, after Tisha B'av, probably by the time you are reading this, close to, Tu B'av, or just after it as well, I want to share with you this months' Gadol Story.
First appearing in Rabbi Yechiel Spero's book "What A Story!" it is the first one in the book. It tells of how the actions of one caring and loving Rabanit impacted generations to come, creating a chain of chessed and blessings far greater than anyone would know.
The Rabanit in the story is the wife of the esteemed Tzaddik, Rav Yitzchak Vaknin - that being, Rabanit Massouda Vaknin a''h. This story takes place, as you will see mentioned in the story's opening, at the beginning of the couple's marriage.
Be prepared for your hearts to be warmed, your souls to be uplifted, as you learn about the Rabanit - who herself was deeply loved and admired - and how she turned a unhappy situation into a memory to last a lifetime - into a beacon of eternal light.
I hope you enjoy this beautiful story,
All the best, my friends,
Have a wonderful week,
Yitzy Schweitzer
The Rabanit in the story is the wife of the esteemed Tzaddik, Rav Yitzchak Vaknin - that being, Rabanit Massouda Vaknin a''h. This story takes place, as you will see mentioned in the story's opening, at the beginning of the couple's marriage.
Be prepared for your hearts to be warmed, your souls to be uplifted, as you learn about the Rabanit - who herself was deeply loved and admired - and how she turned a unhappy situation into a memory to last a lifetime - into a beacon of eternal light.
I hope you enjoy this beautiful story,
All the best, my friends,
Have a wonderful week,
Yitzy Schweitzer
The Show Must Go On - Monthly Gedolim Stories
During the earlier years of their marriage, Rav Yitzchak served as a menahel in a girls' school. The Rabanit lovingly stood by his side and assisted him every step of the way. One day, they received beautiful news, that being: one of their students, Mazal, was engaged to a wonderful boy, Chanan. The entire school was on a high and celebrated with each other. This was a special time, indeed.
For Jews of Sephardic descent, there is a celebration on the Shabbos after the wedding called Shabbat Chatan, which the Chatan provides for his Kallah. Chanan, an orphan, cane from a very poor, impoverished family and was unable to arrange the Shabbat Chatan. When the Rabanit heard about that, she was distraught. How could a newlywed couple not have a memorable Shabbat to celebrate their union? Immediately, she sent a message: the details, the planning, the meals, everything for the Shabbat Chatan would be taken care of by her. Despite the fact the she too did not have much money, she would not even think to allow such a minor detail to stop her from moving forward.
She got to work straight away, inviting all of Mazal and Chanan's families, securing a room to host the celebration, and arranging sleeping accommodations for the two large families. Then she began shopping and cooking, as no expense was spared. She would make sure this Shabbat was, as it should be, something special.
When Mazal heard what the Rabanit was doing for her and Chanan, she grew emotional at this outpouring of true dedication and love. Instead of minimalist Shabbat with a melancholy feel to it, the young couple would enjoy a Shabbat overflowing with joy and happiness. The unexpectedness of it all only added to the simcha.
Chanan and Mazal beamed the emtitr Shabbat. Mazal herself was so incredibly moved that she accepted upon herself that from then on, any time an orphaned Chatan was unable to afford their own Shabbat Chatan, she would cook it herself.
Decades passed. Chanan and Mazal built and raised a large, beautiful family of their own. Mazal kept up with the Rabanit, never forgetting her kindness. When the Rabanit passed away, Mazal, now an older woman, went to be menachem avel and related, "Over the years, I have had the Zechut to cooks tens, if not, hundreds, of meals for the Shabbat Chatan for poor and orphaned chatanim who had nowhere else to turn. Instead of non-celebratory first Shabbat, they experienced a Shabbat of beauty and simcha.
"Imagine," she continued, "the scene when the Rabanit went up to Shamayim. She must have been shown all the magnificent events she had orchestrated. In all likelihood, she looked bewildered. "I never arranged these. Only once, 67 years ago, did I make a Shabbat Chatan for a couple who didn't have any money."
"At that point, the truth must have been revealed, how that one Shabbat developed into dozens of Shabatot, saving so many young couples from embarrassment and sadness".
For Jews of Sephardic descent, there is a celebration on the Shabbos after the wedding called Shabbat Chatan, which the Chatan provides for his Kallah. Chanan, an orphan, cane from a very poor, impoverished family and was unable to arrange the Shabbat Chatan. When the Rabanit heard about that, she was distraught. How could a newlywed couple not have a memorable Shabbat to celebrate their union? Immediately, she sent a message: the details, the planning, the meals, everything for the Shabbat Chatan would be taken care of by her. Despite the fact the she too did not have much money, she would not even think to allow such a minor detail to stop her from moving forward.
She got to work straight away, inviting all of Mazal and Chanan's families, securing a room to host the celebration, and arranging sleeping accommodations for the two large families. Then she began shopping and cooking, as no expense was spared. She would make sure this Shabbat was, as it should be, something special.
When Mazal heard what the Rabanit was doing for her and Chanan, she grew emotional at this outpouring of true dedication and love. Instead of minimalist Shabbat with a melancholy feel to it, the young couple would enjoy a Shabbat overflowing with joy and happiness. The unexpectedness of it all only added to the simcha.
Chanan and Mazal beamed the emtitr Shabbat. Mazal herself was so incredibly moved that she accepted upon herself that from then on, any time an orphaned Chatan was unable to afford their own Shabbat Chatan, she would cook it herself.
Decades passed. Chanan and Mazal built and raised a large, beautiful family of their own. Mazal kept up with the Rabanit, never forgetting her kindness. When the Rabanit passed away, Mazal, now an older woman, went to be menachem avel and related, "Over the years, I have had the Zechut to cooks tens, if not, hundreds, of meals for the Shabbat Chatan for poor and orphaned chatanim who had nowhere else to turn. Instead of non-celebratory first Shabbat, they experienced a Shabbat of beauty and simcha.
"Imagine," she continued, "the scene when the Rabanit went up to Shamayim. She must have been shown all the magnificent events she had orchestrated. In all likelihood, she looked bewildered. "I never arranged these. Only once, 67 years ago, did I make a Shabbat Chatan for a couple who didn't have any money."
"At that point, the truth must have been revealed, how that one Shabbat developed into dozens of Shabatot, saving so many young couples from embarrassment and sadness".
A simple act of kindness, done one time, was enough to encourage Mazal to do the same kindness for others, creating a chain of goodness and blessings lasting until eternity
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