Rav Ben Zion served Hashem with a joy and enthusiasm that was infectious, and that penetrated his halachic rulings and his advice to others.
He once explained the Halocha that states that it is forbidden to ask a non-Jew to put out a fire on Shabbos, even if all of one’s possessions are likely to be burned. A student was so enthused by the discussion that he actually envisioned himself in such a situation.
“Kevod HaRav,” he called out. “I don’t understand. Am I supposed to sit back and watch while everything I own goes up in smoke?”
“That’s not what I said,” Rav Ben Tzion replied. “I meant that one should dance, sing and rejoice at having merited to fulfill the pasuk, ‘You should love Hashem your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might (me’odecha)’. According to our sages, me’odecha means one’s possessions.”
A newcomer to Torah once feared that the mitzvos would be too burdensome for him. Rav Ben Tzion encouraged him, saying, “There’s no reason to feel pressured. Every morning, volunteer to serve Hashem. Don’t obligate yourself, but volunteer. Volunteer to put on tefillin. It’s not so hard. Here, let me show you how. Volunteer to pray, adding on more and more tefillos each day. It’s a privilege to serve as a volunteer in Hashem’s corps.”
