Rav Yehuda Davis, a rebbi in Yerushalayim, shared a touching story that shows how powerful our tears can be. As a fifth-grade rebbi, Rav Davis worked hard to teach his students the basics of Gemara. He wanted to build a strong foundation for their future learning.
However, one boy, Yossi, just couldn’t understand the lessons, no matter how hard he tried. Every day, Yossi came to school with a positive attitude, but he always left in tears because he felt like a failure. Yossi’s struggles didn’t just affect his learning. During recess, the other boys made fun of him and didn’t want to play with him. They called him names and treated him like the “class dummy.” The constant teasing took its toll on Yossi. He lost his confidence, and the spark in his eyes began to fade. Until that school year, he had been such a happy, cheerful kid. Now, he was a shadow of his former self.
Yet Nothing Seemed to Help
Yossi’s parents were very concerned. They took him to various experts, to try to find out why he was having so much trouble. They hired extra tutors, bought him special school supplies, and offered him rewards for his efforts. Yet nothing seemed to help. Yossi’s mother was heartbroken. She couldn’t stand to see her son so unhappy and so discouraged.
Then, one day, something incredible happened. Yossi came to school with his head held high. His frown was gone, replaced by a smile that stretched from ear to ear. He participated in class, asking questions and giving the correct answers. During recess, he played with the other kids, laughing and having fun.
His rebbi, Rav Davis, was amazed. He hadn’t done anything differently, yet Yossi was suddenly thriving. Curious about what had caused the change, Rav Davis called Yossi’s mother. He told her about Yossi’s remarkable improvement. Then he asked, “Can you tell me what happened at home that brought about such a change?”
The Mother Deeply Felt Her Son’s Pain
Yossi’s mother explained, “I was so worried about Yossi that I cried for months. I couldn’t sleep. I imagined him struggling in class and being left out during recess. Worst of all I was hearing him cry every night, as he soaked his pillow with tears. As his mother, I felt his pain deeply.
“Then, I thought of an idea. I told Yossi that there is one special time every week in which I daven very hard for him and all of my children — when I bentch licht (light Shabbos candles). During that time, I recite a special tefillah for the wellbeing and success of my children. It’s a special time, an eis ratzon, when I can pour out my heart to Hashem.
“‘Why don’t you stand next to me when I light the candles,’ I suggested to Yossi, ‘and daven with me? Together, we can pour out our hearts to Hashem. Maybe that will help you.’
“Yossi was so miserable that he was willing to try anything,” continued his mother. “So, on that Friday night, as I lit the candles, Yossi stood next to me. We both covered our faces and cried and we whispered our tefillos to Hashem. After a few moments, we were finished. Our eyes were red from crying, but we felt a sense of relief and hope.
“From that moment,” Yossi’s mother went on, “everything started to change. Yossi’s confidence returned, and he began to succeed in school. I believe it was our heartfelt prayers and tears that made the difference.”
Reprinted from the Parshas Pinchas 5784 edition of At the ArtScroll Shabbos Table. Excerpted from the ArtScroll book – “A Most Meaningful Tisha B’Av.”
