One day Rav Yankel Galinsky was walking on the street in Bnei Brak. A car stopped, the window rolled down and the driver asked, "where does the Rabbi need to get to?"
"What's the difference," asked Rav Galinsky?
"Wherever the Rav needs I will drive the Rav."
Rav Galinsky entered the car, turned to the driver and asked, "tell me, you'll really take me wherever I need?"
"Yes, wherever the Rav wants."
"I am heading to Yerushalaim."
"No problem." And the driver started heading out to Yerushalaim. Rav Galinsky said to the driver, "I have two requests. One please can you stop by the bus stop to Yerushalaim."
"No way, I have the Mitzvah and am taking you all the way to Yerushalaim," cut in the driver.
"Second, please can you explain why you are willing to drive me anywhere?"
"My pleasure, for that I have the next hour till we get to Yerushalaim."
The driver told over the following story. As a child I went through a very rough childhood. My father was very tough and we had a lot of clashes. Life was bitter at home. One day I heard by chance that there is a Government hostel for homeless and abused kids near Zefas. I was sure that the kids there were just like me. I decided to leave home and go to start a new life in the home. But deciding was easy, doing it was a different story.
“But one night I had a big fight with my father and I walked out, slammed the door and left without anything, not even my Tefillin. I had a bit of money in my pocket so I took the bus 450 from Jerusalem central station till Tel Aviv train station. I checked when the next train to Zefas was and I had an hour and a half wait. I couldn't sit for that long waiting,
“I was too worked up and very hungry. I walked out the station to the nearby streets. There I saw a Shul with a sign outside that they were having a "Yom shekulo Torah" - a day of Torah study, something very popular on bank holidays etc. I remembered going to one with my father a few years back and remembered that there was cake and drinks there too. So, I walked inside just as a Shiur finished and joined everyone to have some cake, borekas and drinks. But I still had another hour till the train so I decided to sit and listen to the next Shiur.
“The next Shiur was given by you Rav Galinsky. And I remember what you said. You told over a question from the Ponevaz Rav. The Mishna in Pirkei Avos (5-14) says that there are four different people who go to the Beis Hamedrash to study. There is the person who goes but doesn't understand what he learned but he actually went to Shul. This person is rewarded for going to Shul.
“Then there is the person who doesn't go but learns, he learns at home. He is rewarded for his studies. Then there is the person who goes and studies in Shul, he is a Chassid - a righteous person. Finally, there is the person who doesn't go to Shul and doesn't learn at all, he is a Rasha - a wicked person.
“The Ponevaz Rav asked if the person doesn't go to Shul and doesn't learn at all why is he mentioned as one of the four going to the Beis Hamedrash? He has no connection at all. The Ponevaz Rav gave an answer with an important message. The person who goes to Shul and studies Torah has the great spiritual pleasure and elevation from his studies. But the person who goes to Shul and doesn't understand his studies doesn't enjoy his time in Shul and doesn't get pleasure, that person begins to consider whether he should continue coming to Shul, after all what is the point. He sees other people sitting and studying and having such enjoyment but how can he enjoy his studies if he doesn't understand.
“There is the person who comes to Shiur after a long day’s work completely exhausted and try as he may but he is too tired to concentrate and appreciate the brilliance of the daily Shiur. So, he also begins to reconsider if I'm so tired I may as well just go to sleep. But then he looks at the people who don't come to Shul to study at all, they don’t even study on their own at home either and sees what kind of life a Jew looks like without any Torah and realizes that although now he doesn't understand the Gemara but if he continues with diligence Hashem will open his mind to understand. He understands that maybe now he's too tired to concentrate but there will be days in the future that he will be able to be fresh and alert during the Shiur.
“So these people don't give up, they continue coming to the Beis Hamedrash. But who helped them? Those that don't come and don't learn at all. They are the cause that others should go to the Beis Hamedrash. So, they are also players in those that go to Shul to study. Their lifestyle caused others to go to the Beis Hamedrash. So, the Tanna mentions them as well.
The driver continued and said I realized that I fitted just into your lecture. Here I was come from an observant home with difficulties trying to run away and give up. True life was tough at home and I wasn't getting along with my parents to put it mild, but I had a future. I was nearly finished with Yeshiva Ketaneh ready to go to Yeshiva Gedolah, then get married and set up a nice Jewish home. Instead I was running away to a hostel of non-religious kids that could ruin my future life.
“Then you carried on and mentioned about how Hagar ran away from the house of Avraham Avinu because Sarah Imeinu made her life bitter. The Malaachim asked her where are you running away from and where are you going to? Hagar answered I am running away from Sarah my boss. The Malaach replied go back and suffer. Why didn't Hagar explain what suffering she was enduring?
“The answer lies in the words of the Malaach. Yes you may be suffering but where are you running away from? From the home of Avraham the Tzaddik. Where are you going to end up with in the desert? Better go back to the home of Avraham Avinu and suffer there but at least you're in an environment of Torah and Emuna. And I realized, said the driver that your whole lecture was applicable to me. So, I went home and it wasn't easy but Baruch Hashem I went through Yeshiva, got married, have a nice family, set up a good and successful business, and Baruch Hashem things are all OK. But my whole life was saved by those moments that you happened to be the speaker in a Shul that I happened to enter for some food.”
We have been through the month of Tishrei, we had Rosh Hashanah Yom Kippur, Succos, Simchas Torah, a month that hopefully left us with spiritual energy for the new year. Our aim is to carry on through the year and live in our homes a life of Torah, Chessed, Emuna and good Middos. A life that shines happiness and spiritual growth to our children and our family that every Malaach looks at our home and says who would want to leave such a special home?!
Reprinted from the Parshas Lech Lecha 5786 email of Inspired by a Story by Rabbi Dovid Caro.
