Rabbi Yechiel Perr, (1935-2024) the longtime Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Derech Ayson of Far Rockaway, once heard that a man living in Far Rockaway had lived in the city of Dvinsk before WWII. Wanting to preserve whatever memories still remained from that world, Rabbi Perr sent a group of bochurim to meet him and absorb whatever they could.
The young men arranged a visit and sat around the fellow's dining room table hearing firsthand accounts of life in Dvinsk before the war. Although he was not religiously observant, the impressions of that great Torah world were still deeply rooted.
During the conversation, he shared an incident involving one of his Jewish neighbors.
This woman had once visited a non-Jewish neighbor in Dvinsk and was startled to see a large framed portrait hanging prominently on the wall. It was a picture of Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk, the famed Ohr Sameach (1843–1926).
Surprised, she asked, "Why do you have a picture of Reb Meir Simcha hanging in your home?"
The woman explained that she had once become entangled in a terrible legal case. False testimony, forged documents, and corrupt accusations had all been brought against her. No matter how much she appealed or defended herself, the case continued moving against her. Desperate, she even turned to the local galach (priest) for a blessing, but nothing changed.
Finally, someone advised her to seek a brachah from Reb Meir Simcha. She went to him and received his warm blessing. Then, miraculously, the very next morning the entire case turned around. The accusations collapsed, the charges were dismissed, and she was granted the pension that had been previously denied to her.
Out of overwhelming gratitude and admiration, she hung a large framed picture of Reb Meir Simcha on her otherwise bare wall, a constant reminder of the salvation she had experienced.
The bochurim, hearing this story from the emotionally animated survivor, became excited. Surely, they thought, this must have stirred something within him. Perhaps this recognition of greatness would awaken him to return to a life of Torah and mitzvos.
"What a mofes!” they exclaimed.
The man immediately waved them off in his thick Litvish accent. "Meifis-shmeifis!" he said. This is no mofes. “Dus is keiach haTeireh!" This is the power of Torah!
Despite how far he himself had drifted, deep inside him there remained an unshakable truth, etched into his very being: that the power of Torah is real, immeasurable, and capable of changing the world itself.
The bochurim walked away deeply moved. They realized that even a Jew who had wandered far could still carry within him an absolute awareness of the infinite strength of Torah, that through koach haTorah, impossible barriers can crumble, harsh decrees can be overturned, and salvations can emerge from places no one could have imagined.
Reprinted from the Shavuos 5786 email of Zichru Toras Moshe.