Rav Moshe Feinstein, zatzal, writes in his sefer Igrot Moshe, the same way we have an obligation to give ten percent of our earnings to charity, so too a Torah scholar is obligated to dedicate ten percent of his learning to teaching and helping others. When someone takes away from his own learning to help other people, in the natural way of the world, presumably, he will not be able to accomplish as much as he could have had he used all that time for himself. However, when it comes to avodat Hashem, it does not matter what seems natural. Just like when a person gives away his money to tzedaka, Hashem blesses him with more, so too when a person takes away time from himself and gives it to others. Hashem gives that person extra siyata d’Shamaya in his own life and in his own learning.

Rav Moshe Feinstein was known to be available for anyone who needed, especially when it came to giving piskei halacha. He attended weddings almost every night, sometimes several times in one night. Yet, he was still able to master every facet of Torah and become the Gadol HaDor. His sensitivity towards other people’s needs only gave him more siyata d’Shamaya in his learning. On one occasion, Rav Moshe was meeting with Rav Aharon Kotler and Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky behind closed doors while distinguished rabbis were waiting outside to find out the outcome of the deliberations of these great Gedolim. There were many weighty she'elot that they were deliberating over. Suddenly, in the middle of the meeting, Rav Moshe apologized to his colleagues and stood up to leave. He said he had an important wedding he needed to attend and he dashed out to the car in which his student was waiting to take him there. When Rav Moshe arrived at the wedding, the excitement in the hall rose to a pitch. The posek hador had arrived. Everyone gathered to greet the Rabbi, including the chatan’s father. Rav Moshe shook his hand and explained that he came on behalf of the kallah’s side. “You merited a truly precious treasure,” Rav Moshe told the beaming chatan. “A wonderful kallah she is, make sure you value her.” Normally, Rav Moshe would wish the people at a wedding mazal tov and then leave, but this time he deviated from his usual custom. He remained there for a long time, giving berachot to all those who waited on the line to shake his hand. Afterwards he danced with the chatan and then praised the kallah with more accolades to him. Just before he left, the Rabbi asked for the kallah to come over to him. He wished her a mazal tov and added his heartfelt berachot.

When Rav Moshe and his student returned to the car, the student asked whose wedding was so important that the Rav felt it necessary to leave an emergency meeting with the other Rabbanim to attend. Rav Moshe smiled and went on to relate the story behind it. A few days earlier, a young girl had knocked on the Feinstein’s door, pale and hesitant. As soon as she entered the room, she broke out crying, asking if she could speak to Rav Moshe. When she was sitting before the Rabbi, she explained that she had grown up in a poor family from Yerushalayim and had gotten engaged to a boy from America. The wedding was going to be in New York and her family couldn’t afford to fly in. They managed just to purchase one ticket for her. “I’m all alone,” she cried. “I have no family here. The chatan’s side is going to wonder what’s wrong with me. They may even think that my family rejected me.” Then she made a bold request. “Maybe the Rav would attend my wedding? Then no one would care about the absence of my relatives.”

Rav Moshe’s eyes lit up. “Of course, I’ll be happy to come by,” he said.

The talmid was impressed by Rav Moshe’s kindness. Then he asked why the rabbi stayed and felt the need to personally bless the kallah.

The rabbi replied, “I knew after the wedding she would find out that I came. But during the wedding, she may have been troubled the whole time, wondering if I did come, so I decided to reassure her so that she would be happy during the entire wedding.”

Look at the sensitivity of the Gadol. Rav Moshe taught us to give some of our time away to helping others, especially when it comes to helping in Torah study. He himself exemplified this principle. We never lose by giving, we only gain more.

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