Rav Shmuel Engel of Radomishla (1853-1935), one of the great gaonim in Galicia, came to his rebbe, the Divrei Chaim of Sanz for Shabbos. He had brought with him a lomdishe sefer, and he was perusing it between the aliyos. This did not find favor in the eyes of the Divrei Chaim, who said, “It is during this time that we recite a Mi SheBeirach, which is filled with berachos for your fellow Yid, and we recite a Mi SheBeirah for the sick people. The avodah of tzaddikim is to participate in this! To pay attention, and join the tzibbur in fervently wishing them well!”
Sometimes we see people coming up to the gabbai and giving him more and more names of cholim. You know that many of them are critically ill... join in the tza’ar. Daven for them. Say a perek of Tehillim for them. When we do actions of caring for others, we become transformed into ohavei Yisrael.
Rav Chaim Brim of Yerushalayim related that he once asked the Chazon Ish how to grow in his ahavas Yisrael. The Chazon Ish answered, “Make a list of all the sick people in Haifa and daven for them. In this way, you will awaken ahavas Yisrael in yourself.” It must be noted that Haifa of those days was a secular city, and nevertheless, the Chazon Ish...
