Yahrzeit of Rav Menachem Nochum ben Rav Tzvi Zy"a The Me'or Einayim of Chernobyl
Tefillah Makes an Impression in Shomayim:
The Me'or Einayim's father and mother died when he was very young, and he was raised by his uncle, who was known as Rav Nochum the Blind. His uncle once returned home from a long trip, bearing small knives as gifts for his young children. However, he did not bring anything for the young orphan who lived in his house. The next day, he saw that the boy was holding a knife that looked identical to the ones he gave his children. He wondered if he had taken it from one of his children, but he checked it out and discovered that they all still had their knives. He then thought that perhaps he stole it or bought it with stolen money. He was very concerned about this.
Rav Nochum asked the boy where he got the knife from, but the child tried to avoid the question. The uncle persisted until he said, "My father gave it to me."
"What do you mean?" Rav Nochum asked in amazement. "Your father is no longer alive. How could he give you anything?"
The boy answered, "I didn't mean that father. I meant that my Father in Heaven gave me the knife."
"Are you telling me that this knife fell to you from Heaven?" the uncle asked.
"Yes," the orphan said. "It was just like the time when I was learning in my room, and an angel threw down some coins to me from Shomayim."
"That was me," his uncle said. "I was in the room with you, and I threw down the money."
The boy said, "Even if it was you who threw the money that time, this time it was definitely an angel. When you gave knives to your children, and not to me, I was very upset. I davened to Hashem and said: 'Ribono Shel Olam, I have no father to give me presents. Since You are my only Father, I ask You to give me the same kind of knife that my cousins got.' As soon as I finished davening, a knife fell from the sky into my hand."
Rav Nochum had a hard time believing this story. He thought the child might be imagining things. He said, "Let's try this again. I will give some money to my children, and none to you. We'll see if it happens once more."
The Me'or Einayim agreed. He walked over to the table, opened a siddur, lifted his hands to the Heavens, and in a singsong voice said, "My Father. You know that I am a good boy. I try to do all the mitzvos, and I learn Your Torah. I listen to my uncle, even when he doesn't give me gifts. Please give me one coin!"
A few seconds later, they heard the sound of a coin falling on the table. The boy picked it up and said to his uncle, "Here it is!"
R' Nochum couldn't believe his eyes. He saw what a powerful impression the pure tefillos of this young orphan made in Shomayim. He now felt terrible that he hadn't treated him as well as he treated his own children. He realized that this boy was destined to become a great man, and he began teaching him personally and revealing the secrets of the Torah to him.