Welcome to the Daily Chizuk (encouragement). The Gemara tells us, which means that when a tzadik (righteous person) says something, Hashem answers him right away. The more a person purifies himself, the more powerful his words become. This is why we go to tzadikim for Berachot (blessings): because they are so kadosh (holy), their blessings mean so much.
Rabbi Falk told the story of what took place over 30 years ago. There was a boy in Gateshead who became ill and was paralyzed from the waist down. He was diagnosed with a tumor in the brain, and the growth was on the part that controls the lower part of the body. Rabbi Falk told the boy’s father that he was leaving for Israel and that, if he wanted, he could try to get a Berachot from his tzadik. The father said, “That would be great. Please go to the Steipler and ask him three things. Number one, please ask him to pray for my son. Number two, I want to know if they should change his name and what name they should give him. And number three, should they publicize it or not?”
Rabbi Falk waited a long time and finally got in to see the Steipler. He handed him the paper with these questions. The Steipler looked at the boy’s name and said, “Oh, Hashem should have rachmanut (compassion) and heal this boy.” Then he said, “Add the name Chaim, and don’t publicize it just yet.” Rabbi Falk sent back a letter telling the father what had happened. Two weeks later, he arrived back in Gateshead. When the father saw him from across the room, he ran over with a big smile, saying, “Thank you so much. Thank you. Tell me, when did you go in to see the Steipler?” The father thought about it. He said, “I think I went last Sunday at about two o’clock.” The father said, “Unbelievable. That’s exactly when my son was healed.” They tried to operate, but it wasn’t possible because the tumor was too embedded into the brain, and the doctor said it was a lost case. But on Sunday at about 2.30, they looked at it again, and it totally evaporated. One line from the Rabbi, and Hashem brought a yeshuah (salvation). And Baruch Hashem (Blessed is Hashem), this boy is now a grandfather.
There’s a well-known story about when Rav Aharon Kotler went with Mr. Irving Bunim to see the head of the Italian Mafia to try to save the Rabbis of Italy who were taken by the Germans. They got a meeting with the Godfather, whose name was Joe Bonanno, and asked if he would help them. Mr. Bonanno asked Irving Bunim about the Rabbi: “Who is this old gentleman sitting next to you?” Mr. Bunim responded, “This is the Godfather of the entire Jewish nation.” The Mafia chief was very impressed and said, “I want a blessing from the Rabbi.” Rav Aharon told him, “You will merit a long life and die in your bed.” Mr. Bonanno was very pleased and said, “The Rabbis will be freed in less than two weeks.”
Twenty-five years later, a black stretch limousine pulled up in front of the Lakewood Yeshiva. Two well-dressed men with their hair slicked back and wearing sunglasses came out of the car and asked to see the dean. They were taken to the Rosh Yeshiva, who at that time was Rav Aharon’s son, and introduced themselves as the children of Mr. Joe Bonanno. They said, “Recently, our father retired and we took over. Our father is still healthy and well, although he is very old. Even though most of his contemporaries have been shot, he attributes his long life to the blessing he got from the dean of this school many years ago. So now we would also like a blessing.”
Unbelievable. This is the power of the words of a tzadik. Everyone can become a tzadik in their own way. The closer we get to Hashem, the more powerful our tefillah (prayer) will become. Have a great day.