By Rabbi Paysach Krohn
Rabbi Asher Fleishman traveled throughout the world for the benefit of his yeshivah. During one of his trips to New York, he suddenly became ill. He had been under a New York doctor's care for many years because of a heart condition, and always carried his physician's phone number with him so that he could call him if necessary.
The very sharp chest pains that he felt made him realize that he had to get medical attention at once. He broke into a cold sweat as weakness began to overtake him. He fumbled for his telephone book to get the right number. Although feeling faint, he mustered enough strength to reach for the phone. Slowly he dialed the number, trying to control his panic. He prayed that the line would not be busy.
The phone rang. After it rang a second time, a woman picked up. "Hello?"
"Is Doctor Miller there? This is Rabbi Fleishman," he said, in a low, husky voice.
"Yes," the woman said in surprise. "The doctor happens to be here. I'll get him to the phone."
Told who it was, the doctor ran to the phone to see if the Rabbi was all right. "How are you? Is everything all right with you?" the doctor asked quickly. R' Asher described his pains, and the doctor assured him that he would be over to see him in a few moments. "But how did you know that I was here?" the doctor asked. "I didn't tell anyone where I was going."
"You're not in your office?" asked the surprised R' Asher.
"No," replied the doctor. "I'm on an emergency call a few blocks from my home. Not even my wife knows where I am. I said nothing to her, because I thought I'd be right back."
"I just dialed your regular number," the incredulous R' Asher insisted.
Then the doctor looked down at the phone from which he was speaking. The numbers were precisely the same as his office phone except for one, in which the number was one digit off. By inadvertently dialing one of the numbers incorrectly, R' Asher had actually dialed the "right" number!
Later, after having been taken to the hospital, the Rabbi was told that his life had been saved only because he had reached the doctor in time. (The Maggid Speaks)
Reprinted from Parshat Ki Tabo 5785 email of Shabbat Shalom from Cyberspace.
