One summer a Chassidishe Yid from Eretz Yisroel came to America and was hosted by a family in Seagate. The following day after Shacharis he noticed one person was still in the shul. [I was told that it was the composer Reb Yossi Green.]
He went over to him and said, I am here for a few months in order to visit some doctors and then I am to have a procedure. I would greatly appreciate if you would be willing to be my chavrusa every day during these few months, for whatever amount of time that you can.
The Chavrusa Learning Went Smoothly
Reb Yossi himself was thinking about learning extra in the summer as his family was upstate, so he replied yes. The guest wasn't particular on what to learn, and whatever Reb Yossi wanted to learn was good for him and it went smoothly.
On the afternoon of chof Av or perhaps later on, in the evening, his chavrusa said, tomorrow is the yahrzeit of my Rebbe the heilike tzaddik, Reb Aharon of Belz, and I had the tremendous zechus (merit) to be one of his attendants for a period of time. My custom is that I prepare a small seudah on the day of his yahrzeit and learn some mishnayous in the Rebbe's memory, but I need a minyan.
Yossi, I don't know the people here, can you please arrange that a minyan remains after shacharis. I see that almost everyone leaves immediately after davenning. Of course, I will pay for the seudah and he gave him money to purchase the necessary items.
Reb Yossi had to call much more than ten people, until he received assurances from another eight that they will attend.
However, after davening only seven of them were present, while Yossi and the guest made it nine, and they were missing one for the minyan.
The man pleaded. can one more Yid be found that we would have a minyan, and while they called many numbers, no one was locally around to attend.
Yossi’s Father Agrees to Drive Over to Make the Tenth Man
Suddenly, Yossi said I will call my father, maybe he can come. His father heard the situation and said although I am almost an hour away from Seagate, if the people would remain, I will drive over.
When he arrived, they began the seuda and then the Yid said, I will relate a story that I personally witnessed in the period of time that I was zoche (merited) to be an attendant by the Rebbe.
He then related; there was a man who was married for many years and was not blessed with a child. Each year when he had come to the Rebbe, [author’s note: I believe the person speaking noted that it was motzei Yom Kippur] the Rebbe blessed him that Hashem will definitely help, however, the brocha had not yet come to fruition.
The Rebbe Says “You Will Merit to Have a Son This Year”
One year he decided that he would not move from the Rebbe’s presence until the Rebbe guarantees him that he will be blessed with a child. When he came to the Rebbe and the Rebbe said, Hashem will help, he poured out his heart and then said, Rebbe, I am remaining here until the Rebbe guarantees that we will be blessed with a child.
The Rebbe heard his pain and anguish and concentrated deeply for a few moments. He then said You will merit to have a son this year.
Hearing these words from the Rebbe, the Yid answered Amen and began walking joyfully home. But before he was able to take a few steps, a chashuvah Yid said to him, I want to be the sandek at the bris.
The Yid was in seventh heaven and he happily replied, Yes.
As the Rebbe promised that Yid had a son and the Yid also kept his word.
Yossi Became Concerned About His Father’s Pale Face
Throughout the story everyone present was enraptured by the way this Yid became so alive when he was saying the story, they felt they were witnessing the person reliving it, that they weren't paying attention to anything else. When the story ended, Yossi looked at his father and became startled.
His father was no longer wearing his hat, his face was pale and he was sweating profusely, while he was dabbing it with napkins to remove the sweat.
Tatte, are you OK. Should we call the Hatzalah, he cried out nervously?
Yossi, Boruch Hashem I am OK. Please give me some water, everything is good.
A Most Shocking Revelation
After drinking more than one cup water and wiping the sweat of his brow, Mr. Green began speaking in a choked voice. And what he said shocked everyone.
Yossi, my son, the story this man said is true in every detail. The man in the story was me and you my dear son is the son that the Heilike Rebbe, Reb Aharon may his merit protect us, blessed us with.
Reprinted from the Parshas Shoftim 5784 email of Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon’s Weekly Story.
