By R’ Yoni Schwartz
A man once walked into the office of Rav Chaim Kanievsky, ZT”L, distraught, with his face penetratingly serious. His emotions were almost tangible. Next to him stood his son about which he explained to Rav Chaim that the doctors told him he had a serious illness that affected the eyes and was destined to lose his vision very soon.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Rav Chaim immediately gazed deeply into the boy’s eyes, as if he was looking into his soul. After a long while, Rav Chaim looked up and offered a solution.
“I want you and your family and everyone you know to accept upon themselves the sanctity of Shabbos,” said Rav Chaim. “Accept upon yourselves to keep Shabbos earlier and due to that commitment, your child’s vision will be fine.”
He immediately went home and told his wife. Together they made phone calls to the community and together, everybody began ushering in Shabbos a little bit earlier each week with love, enthusiasm, and sanctity. They did not just passively observe Shabbos - they actively lived it, beautified it, and enjoyed its holiness.
Shortly after, the boy visited the doctor for his routine exam. The doctor was shocked! He exclaimed, “I do not know what happened. I checked your child and his vision is perfectly clear.”
Reprinted from the Parshas Va’eschanan’5784 email of Torah Sweets.
