By Rabbi Yisroel Besser
During his later years, R’ Dovid Feinstein’s visits to Lakewood attracted much attention. One night, he came to a parlor meeting for R’ Michel Feinstein’s kollel, and the organizers made it clear that there would be no time for personal brachos. It was late, and there were just too many people.
R’ Dovid sat down, and one person pushed forward and said he needed to speak to the Rosh Yeshivah. He had his arm around a young boy, and he said: “Rosh Yeshivah, thirteen years ago, my wife was expecting a baby and the doctors insisted that the baby would not make it. They said that unless we terminate, my wife’s life would be in danger.
“I called the Rosh Yeshivah, whom I didn’t know, and he said that there was nothing to worry about and everything would be alright.” It was quiet in the room as the man concluded his story:
“Here is my son, a bar mitzvah bachur... and he’s here because of the Rosh Yeshivah’s bracha and assurance.”
R’ Dovid looked at the boy and quietly said, “You must have special zechusim. Hashem wanted you here,” effectively taking the attention off of him and his bracha, and investing it in the young bachur who stood shyly before him.
(Excerpted from the ArtScroll book “Reb Dovid”)
Reprinted from the Parshas Bo 5785 email of The Weekly Vort.
