The Sefer Be’er HaChaim relates a story. Rav Yisroel Zicherman was once the Rav in the Mayanei HaYeshua hospital in Bnei Brak. One day, the great Tzadik, Rav Shmuel Wosner, came to visit. Many of the staff and families of the patients gathered respectfully to greet the great Rav when he came.
Rav Zicherman told him that just that day, an interesting question had come up. A fifty-year-old man who was in a difficult situation asked if he is allowed to say the Brachah of ‘She’asah Li Kol Tzarki,’ the Brachah where we thank Hashem for providing us with all of our needs. He said that since he is unable to move, do any Mitzvos, learn Torah, and do things that he very much wanted to do, he asked if he should say this Brachah?
Rav Wosner understood that the man who asked the question needed a visit, so he made his way up to the top floor, where this man was resting. When Rav Wosner entered, the patient made a few attempts to stand up to greet him, but he was not able to.
A Story that Occurred 80 Years Ago
Rav Wosner said to him, “Your conduct reminds me of a story with my great Rebbi, Rav Meir Shapiro, zt”l. I myself witnessed it. Eighty years ago, I was going with my Rebbi to visit a chronically ill patient, R”L. When we came into the room, the patient gave us an unusually illuminating smile that lit up the entire room. I assumed that he was overjoyed about being visited from my great Rebbi, but soon after he explained himself.”
He said, “The reason for my smile is that it’s the best way to respect my Rebbi, and I’ll explain what I mean. If my Rebbi would come to me when I was feeling well, I would prepare some nice food for him. However, Hashem has prevented me from doing that. Now that I am in this situation, the very best that I can do is to instead present you with a smile. Therefore, I am making sure to do it in the very best way possible. If I can do the best in my situation, then I am a complete success! That is what is expected of me, and I am going to do it the best I can, and I am so happy about that.”
“Your Purpose is Complete”
Rav Wosner continued, “It is the same regarding your question about making the Brachah of ‘She’asah Li Kol Tzarki.’ You should definitely make the Brachah. If you do the best you can do, then you are fulfilling your purpose in this world, and therefore, that is why you are required to make that Brachah. Other people have other reasons why they were sent here, but your purpose is complete, since you did your best.
“If you do what is expected of you in your situation, not only are you completing your duty on this world, you can be even greater than one who did more than you, because you did your best. It could be that others haven’t done everything that is expected of them, even if they may be doing more. It is all in the effort one puts into it!”
Reprinted from the Parshas Emor 5784 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tehilah.
