We like to hear stories of Ahavat Yisrael that inspire us, especially when they occur with regular every day people.
The Skolener Rebbe was a great Sadik, whole we call a Poel Yeshuot, who brought about wonders, who lived in Boro Park. People would wait, late at night, in lines outside of his house to get blessings from him. I myself was zoche to go a few times.
There was once a man on line who didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the people in this Hasidic area of Boro Park. He was in jeans and a polo shirt. After some curious looks by the others in line, he finally got in to see the Rebbe and asked for a beracha for Refuah for “Shimon ben Leah.”
The gabbai/ rabbis aid wondered about the name- it was his son’s name. He thought maybe it was a coincidence, but on the man’s way out, the gabbai decided to ask him whom the beracha was for.
He explained that he was a counselor in Camp Simcha, a camp for children with a dreaded disease, which is a tremendous example of Ahavat Yisrael run by Rabbi Scholar and Chai Lifeline. It’s an unbelievable Hesed machine.
Shimon ben Leah was this man’s camper. He wanted to give him a gift for his birthday, but he couldn’t think of what to get him, a religious, Hasidic boy, that would make him happy. Then he thought of getting the boy a beracha from the Rebbe. So he waited on line to bring the boy a beracha.
The gabbai burst out crying. He told the man that Shimon ben Leah was his son!
This was a fellow that the people were looking at, wondering if he belongs or if he doesn’t. But there is no belonging. It’s just just two Jews loving each other, even if they don’t know who they are. Just trying to spread Achdut. It’s a beautiful story that shows that you never know what’s what, or who’s helping who.
Have a wonderful day.