Rav Yaakov Yosef Herman, zt”l, was once walking with a former student, Rav Mordechai Yoffe, who grew up in Baltimore and had spent six years learning in the Yeshivos of Lomza, Mir, and Kamenetz. As it became apparent that war was imminent, Rav Mordechai returned to America in 1938, and settled in New York, where he decided that it was time to get married. However, he wanted a wife that would encourage him to learn, and that was hard to find in those days.
As they walked, Rav Yaakov Yosef realized that Rav Mordechai was very discouraged, and said, “Let me tell you a story. There was a rich Jew in Warsaw, who had a very profitable business. When he passed away, his son inherited the business. Though the son followed the same procedures as his father, he did not meet with success, and after some time, the business was close to failure.
“It was then that the son sought the advice of his Rebbe. The Rebbe listened carefully to the son’s discouraging tale and asked him, ‘Tell me, what did your father do when there were no customers in the store?’
The son answered, ‘Whenever my father had a moment to spare, he became engrossed in Torah study, or he recited Tehilim.’ The Rebbe continued, ‘And what do you do when the store is empty?’ to which the son replied, ‘Oh, I’m not like my father! I read a newspaper or talk to a neighbor.’
The Rebbe nodded and said, ‘Now I have the answer. When the Satan saw your father busy learning Torah or reciting Tehilim, he was troubled. He therefore sent many customers to make sure that your father should not occupy himself with Torah! Of course, the business flourished! In your case, the Satan is quite content when no customers appear, as you are busy with mundane activities.’”
Rav Yaakov Yosef continued, “Reb Mordechai, you also are pleasing the Satan. He notices that you cannot concentrate on your Torah studies and he keeps you occupied trying to find your Shidduch, but he does all in his power not to allow her to reach you. Start learning Torah again in earnest, and the Satan will see to it that your partner will put in her appearance very quickly.”
Rav Mordechai listened to his Rebbe’s advice and once again became dedicated to his Torah learning. Not long after that, he met his wife, Chana. Rav Mordechai later said that he followed this excellent advice through many different phases of his life, and it has always proved to be correct! Rav Mordechai Yoffe and his wife brought up a generation of Bnei Torah, and he became the Rosh Yeshivah of Beis Torah in Monsey, New York!
Reprinted from the Parshas Tazria-Metzora 5785 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah
