We spoke on Friday about Lev Chana, an organization which gives out clothing cards to families in need.
This past weekend, my father-in-law, Rabbi Nosson Scherman shlita, held a drive in the Yad Yosef Torah Center for Lev Chana, where he told the following story, which he heard directly from the protagonist:
It was in the 1920s, when a young man named Reb Avraham Traub, whose father was a Rosh Yeshiva in Radin (the Chafetz Chaim’s Yeshiva) developed Typhus. It was a very dangerous disease in those days, before antibiotics. He did not have very good doctors, and he developed a dangerously high fever. The only doctor available in the town told the family that he had no hope, and that it was just a matter of time.
His Chaveirim from yeshiva stayed at his bedside saying Tehilim, and his mother told them to run to Chafetz Chaim and tell him what was happening. So they ran and told the Chafetz Chaim that Avraham was deathly ill, and that the doctor said there was no hope. The Chafetz Chaim went into the next room and closed the door. The boys wanted to hear what he would say, how he would pray, what tehilim he would say… so they listened, and what he said was,
“Hashem, if his grandfather did so much for You, how can You take away his grandson at such a young age? “
That was it.
(Abraham’s grandfather had been a successful businessman and was also a Talmid Chacham. Whenever he heard that there was a Yeshiva in financial trouble, he would close his business and go around raising money for that yeshiva. Once he raised enough money, he would bring it to the Yeshiva and then go back and open his business again. He did a lot for the cause of Torah. )
The boys ran back to the house and Baruch Hashem, the fever had broken right at the time of the Chafetz Chaim’s short tefila.
Avraham recovered, survived the war, and became a Rosh Yeshiva in the Stoliner Yeshiva of Boro Park, where I was the Menahel, at the time when he told me the story.
You can see the Ahavat Yisrael clearly. His grandfather did so much for Torah, and because of that, the Chafetz Chaim said, “Ribbono Shel Olam, You have to help his grandson. The man did so much for You!”
In other words, when you do something to help other Jews, You are doing it for Hashem. And therefore, the Chafetz Chaim said, Hashem, You must help him.
To repeat the famous Midrash, Hashem says, if you take care of Mine, I will take care of yours. If you take care My children before a holiday, I will take care of your children.
I like to say that I am selling happiness insurance. You spend a lot of money on Yom Tov, but who says that you’re going to be happy?
When you spend money on making other people happy, you’re buying happiness insurance.
Anyone who wishes to participate in this special mitzvah can click on this link
https://www.rayze.it/levchana/
Or write a check made out to Lev Chana and mail it to
Lev Chana
c/o Rabbi David Sutton,
1059 E. 10th St., Brooklyn, NY, 11230.
One can also reply to this email, or email me directly at rabbisutton@gmail.com, and a bill will be sent.
You can also send a quickpay to: Rabbisutton@gmail.com
Tizke Lemitzvot,
and May Hashem bless everyone with happiness.
Thank you and have a wonderful day.