One year, on the night of the yahrzeit of the holy Ari (Av 5), Rav Shimon Rubin zt”l, a close associate of Rav Shlomo, sought his blessing to travel to Tzefas to daven at the Ari’s gravesite. Rav Shlomo did not immediately grant his blessing, stating that he needed yishuv (reflection) to consider the matter.
As was his custom, Rav Shlomo immersed himself in the mikveh to purify himself before providing an answer. Upon emerging, he told Rav Shimon, “It is indeed appropriate to go and daven at the holy Ari’s gravesite on his yahrzeit. I also wish to join you on this holy journey.”
The following morning, after Shacharis, they embarked on the long and challenging trip to Tzefas. The roads in those days were poorly developed, and the journey required many hours. They finally arrived at the gravesite just twenty minutes before sunset.
Upon arrival, Rav Shlomo immediately threw himself in longing and yearning on the kever. He rested his holy head on the gravestone for only a minute or two before standing up and declaring, “We need to pray Minchah!”
Despite the physical toll of the journey and the steep ascent through the ancient cemetery, Rav Shlomo insisted on finding a shul to daven Minchah with a minyan.
After ascending the mountain and finishing Minchah with a minyan, Rav Shimon expected they would return to the kever as they had only been there for a few minutes. But when he asked, Rav Shlomo appeared surprised by the question and said, “But we‘ve already been there!” And they immediately returned to Yerushalayim.
Thus, they traveled for hours to spend no more than two minutes at the kever.
Who can penetrate the profound kavanos of such saintly tzaddikim?
