During World War I, many Jews were uprooted from their homes. Whole families were forced to move into single rooms in other people’s homes or into public buildings. The conditions were extremely difficult. Organizations were created to deal with the hardships and alleviate the suffering of the many who were distressed, and often penniless.
At that time, the Rabbanim and community leaders held a meeting which Rav Chaim Brisker, zt”l, attended. The topic of discussion was how to better help these people, who had poured into every neighborhood in the city. They were suffering greatly from lack of supplies, and some were even going for days without proper food.
One of the Rabbanim then asked, “Why are only talking about the physical needs of these people? What about the fact that many may be without Tefilin and Taleisim? Those present nodded their heads, and wondered why they had not thought of this.
However, Rav Chaim dismissed these questions and pointed out that while all the people could fulfill the Mitzvah by sharing one pair of Tefilin, they certainly could not all satisfy their hunger with one loaf of bread!”
Reprinted from the Parshas HaAzinu 5786 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
