Rav Mordechai Becher, famous Gateways Lecturer and Rebbe at Yeshivas Ohr Same’ach, shared the following story:
A taxicab pulled up and the driver, who was not wearing a yarmulke and who was not visibly religious, asked Rav Becher whether he studied and learned at the yeshiva and if so in which shiur? Surprised, Rav Becher responded in the affirmative and that he learned and studied in Rav Moshe Shapira's shiur.
"Because of him, I keep Shabbat," the driver said to a surprised Rav Becher.
"What’s the story? Rav Becher asked. The driver told him the following:
“Rav Moshe Shapira lives in my building. Once, a few days after he had just moved in, it was a rainy day and I saw him going out, obviously in a hurry. He looked like a respectable personage, so I called over to him and said, ‘Kevod haRav, come; I will give you a ride in my taxi free of charge.’
“Thanking me, he got in. I placed the keys in the ignition and as I started the car, I felt his hand on mine.
‘You don’t drive on Shabbat, do you?’ asked Rav Moshe Shapira. There was something about the way he said this – I could just tell that if I responded that, yes, I did, I would hurt him very much.
“I could not bring myself to say, ‘Yes, I drive on Shabbat’ to this Rav, though the truth was that I did. I also felt that I could not lie to him. It was raining outside; his hand was on mine and I paused. At that moment I took a mental oath, a shavua, that from then on, I would never drive again on Shabbat – and so I was able to tell him truthfully, “No, I do not drive on Shabbat.’ And that is why I keep Shabbat.” today – because of Rav Moshe Shapira!"
