The following story, connected with the possuk in this week’s parsha ורפא ירפא and the drosho of Chazal on it, was shared with me by Rabbi Nechemiah Deitch, who heard it from Rabbi Leibel Groner, a”h. He also kindly shared with me a voice note of Reb Leibel telling it to his balebatim, during a trip to NY. Zechus horabim toluy bo:
One day, Rabbi Groner received a call from the Rebbetzin, telling him that she noticed that the Rebbe is in a lot of pain in his foot. (She said that the Rebbe had tried to hide it from her, but she noticed it regardless). She asked the Rebbe if she can arrange for a doctor to examine him, to diagnose the cause of the pain, but the Rebbe told her it’s not necessary. So, she asked Rabbi Groner to ask the Rebbe to allow him to bring a doctor.
Rabbi Groner received permission from the Rebbe, and sent in a doctor, who determined what he felt was the cause of the problem, and prescribed a medication. But, the Rebbe refused it. He said to the doctor: “I don’t understand you! If I am enduring pain and suffering, it is clearly being ordained by G-d A-lmighty, for a purpose. What right, then, do you have, to mingle in the business of the Al-mighty?!”
The doctor came out of the Rebbe’s room, and relayed to Rabbi Groner the Rebbe’s response. Rabbi Groner told him: “Please go back in to the Rebbe, and tell him that in the parsha of last week we learned ורפא ירפא, and our sages derive from that נתנה רשות לרופא לרפאות - that a doctor has permission to heal. The need for permission is, seemingly, because otherwise it could be considered mingling in the Al-mighty’s business. So, according to that, it should be perfectly OK for you to cure him!”
By the time he finished the conversation, the Rebbetzin herself showed up in 770. She went into the Rebbe’s room with the doctor, had Rabbi Groner pick up the prescription, and (the Rebbetzin ensured that) the Rebbe took it!
[From others, I heard a similar story, also in the name of Rabbi Groner, with a toothache. According to that version, the Rebbe told Rabbi Groner off, for trying to “deprive him of his yissurim”. I don’t know whether they are two different stories, or two versions of the same story].
