The Sefer Nachlas Tzvi cites a story involving the Divrei Chaim, Rav Chaim Halberstam of Tzanz, zt”l, whose son, Rav Meir Nosson, zt”l, passed away at a young age. The Levayah took place on an Erev Shabbos.
That night, the Divrei Chaim came to Shul and Davened with the same warmth and enthusiasm that he had always been known for. The Chasidim could not understand how just a few hours earlier, he was crying at his son’s Levayah.
During the Rav’s Tish, when the Chasidim gathered together with the Rav to hear Divrei Torah and sing Zemiros, the Divrei Chaim explained his behavior:
“When a person walks along the street, and someone gives him a strong slap on the back, his first reaction is to turn around and see if the slap is from a friend or an enemy.
Enemy or Friend
“If it is from an enemy, his reaction will be anger, and perhaps he will even retaliate in response. However, if he sees that it was his good friend that slapped him, he realizes that it is not an angry blow.”
The Divrei Chaim said, “I received a slap from Hashem. It is a difficult and painful slap, but I know that it came from Hashem, and a slap from Hashem is like getting a slap from my friend, and there can be no anger!”
This response to his tragic loss reflected a sense of Emunah that is beyond the average person. The Divrei Chaim, however, was no ordinary human being. His wife could not overcome the tragedy as easily, and she was having a difficult time.
The Divrei Chaim came over to her and said, “If you would have any idea of the spiritual satisfaction and ecstasy that takes place in Shamayim when our grandson recites Kaddish for his father, you would not be so distraught.”
These powerful words consoled the Rebbetzin, and this boy went on to become the father of the first Bobover Rebbe!
Reprinted from the Parshas Devorim 5783 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
