Rabbi Elimelech Biderman brings an inspiring story that happened to Reb Avraham Aboulafia, a respected Rav in Arizona. Recently, he was traveling to Toronto to arrange a get—divorce. The passenger sitting next to him was a dark man. Rabbi Aboulafia greeted him and asked him his name. The man replied, "Shah!" Rabbi Aboulafia understood that he preferred not to engage in conversation, so he didn't ask any more questions.
Reb Aboulafia took out a sefer and began to learn the miforshim—commentary on the parashah of the week, parashat Chukat. He began reading up on the words “V’zot Chukat Ha’Torah,” but he could not help but notice that his neighbor was staring at the words of the sefer. Finally, the goy pointed to “Chukat Ha’Torah” and asked for the meaning of the words.
“This is a Jewish book, and these are Hebrew words." The goy was interested in the two words “Chukat Ha’Torah,” wanting to know their translation. The Rav told him what it meant and taught him how to pronounce the words. While they were speaking, the gentile rolled up his sleeve, revealing his tattooed arm. The tattoo was nothing other than the words, “Chukat Ha’Torah” written in Hebrew.
The Rav was shocked. Why did this gentile have Torah words on his arm!? He asked for an explanation. When I was young," the gentile replied, "my father had my arm tattooed with these words. He said it was a Chinese custom, an omen for the child's success. It is supposed to bring the child good luck for the rest of his life. He told me that wondrous secrets are hidden in these words."
The Rav told him his explanation didn't make sense and kept probing for a proper explanation. The gentile admitted, "For forty years, I've been trying to figure out what these words mean. In fact, until now, I didn't realize they were letters. I thought they were, just symbols or drawings. Only now did I discover that they are letters." The Rav realized that the gentile was speaking the truth; he had no idea why those words landed on his arm.
Then the goy said, "My father is still alive. He is seventy years old. You can call him and ask him about it." The Rav took down his father's phone number and, as soon as the plane landed, called the man. He began the conversation by giving the father regards from his son. "I sat beside him on the plane; I enjoyed speaking to him. But I am wondering about something. I saw on your son's arm two words from our holy Torah,’Chukat Ha’Torah.’ Can you please tell me why these words were tattooed on his arm?”
The father replied with the same story about the Chinese custom, and the Rabbi inquired again. After the father tried giving various other explanations, but the Rav succeeded in getting the secret out of the father. The father broke down in bitter tears as he began his tragic story. "When I was a bachur—young man, I studied in Ponevezh. I was very close with the great Rosh Yeshiva, the gaon Harav Elazar Menachem Man Shach (1899-2001) zt'I. I studied with diligence and after getting married, I learned in Kollel.
“As time passed, parnassah became very difficult. At that time, I was offered a nighttime job in an office. I would be able to earn a living at night while continuing to learn Torah all day in Kollel. My money problems were resolved. This went on for some time. But then, a non-Jewish, black woman was hired to clean the office at night, doing the same hours I worked there. I immediately went to Rav Shach and informed him of this new development. Rav Shach ruled, "You cannot work there anymore under these conditions it involves the prohibition of yichud—seclusion!"
Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach, zt”l
“I began to plead with Rav Shach that I needed this job for my parnassah. I added that if I gave up this job, my shalom bayit would unravel, and my children would go hungry. Rav Shach opened a Shulchan Aruch (Even HaEzer 22] and showed me that the prohibition of yichud also applies with a gentile.
“I replied, "But Rebbe! What connection do I have with a black woman? I have no interest in her!" Rav Shach replied, "Don't try rationalizing this issue. ‘Zot Chukat Ha’Torah! —this is the decree of the Torah.” If the Torah doesn't permit, we can't transgress. We can't be smarter than the Torah." He explained that one isn't allowed to say the reason behind a prohibition doesn't apply to him. What the Torah forbids is forbidden, and there is no room for rationalizing and making loopholes.”
“But I didn't pass the test. I was desperate to earn a living, so I continued working there. I will not elaborate, but the black woman and I became friendly with time. I divorced my wife, left my young children, and married this black woman. We moved to her country of origin. Throughout this whole time, I knew I should have listened to what Rav Shach said. So, when my son was born, I called him Shach, after my Rebbe, Rav Shach zt'L (This is why the son said "Shah' when Rav Aboulafia asked him for his name. It is difficult for non-Jews to pronounce the sound of a “chaf,” so he called himself "Shah" instead of 'Shach.")
“I also immediately had my son tattooed with the words “Chukat Ha’Torah” as a reminder of my Rebbe's words. I wanted a constant reminder of what caused my destruction and downfall. I thought I was clever. I thought I could outsmart the Torah. And now, look what happened to me. From then until today, I have had no life. With one foolish act, I buried myself in heartbreak and sin.”
May we all take care to learn Torah every day as the antidote to our evil inclination. May we raise our children with a unified voice. And may we always follow the mitzvot no matter our personality type and see great rewards in the future! Amen!
Reprinted from the Parashat Ki Tetzeh 5784 email of Jack E. Rahmey based on the Torah teachings of Rabbi Amram Sananes.
