A story occurred with Rav Yaakov Galinsky, zt”l.
Chazal teach that the reason why Moshe Rabbeinu’s name does not appear in the entire Parshas Tetzaveh is because after the Aveirah of the Golden Calf, Hashem intended to eradicate the Jewish people and create a new nation out of Moshe’s descendants. Moshe begged on the people’s behalf and told Hashem (Shemos 32:32), “And now, if You would just forgive their Aveirah. But if not, erase me from Your book that You have written.”
Even though Hashem did in fact forgive Bnei Yisroel’s Aveirah as a result of Moshe’s Tefilah, Moshe was nevertheless erased from one Parshah in the Torah, Parshas Tetzaveh. The lesson we learn from this is powerful, and that is: A word is a word. When a person makes a statement, he must keep his word. Once Moshe said, “Erase me from Your book,” meaning the Torah, Hashem held Moshe to his word, and He did indeed erase him, but only from one Parshah.
Every year, on the night of Purim after Krias HaMegilah, thousands of people gather at Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey, for a festive Purim Mesibah. The gathering is always spectacular and uplifting, complete with beautiful singing and Divrei Torah from the Roshei HaYeshivah and Mashgiach. For many years, the annual Mesibah was held in the Israel Henry Beren dining hall of the Yeshivah, but more recently, due to the large crowds, the gathering has moved to the larger Bais Aharon Bais Medrash a few blocks away.
One year, the Yeshivah was honored to have a special guest. The renowned Maggid, Rav Yaakov Galinsky, zt”l, was in America on a fundraising trip, and for Purim, he was thrilled to be in Lakewood. Rav Yaakov was an exuberant person, and the liveliness of the Bachurim and Yungerleit at the Mesibah fit him perfectly. He sang and danced with them and spoke more than once. It was one of the more memorable Purim gatherings that the Yeshivah held.
Suddenly, in the middle of all the festivities, six older, single Bachurim pushed their way through the crowd and approached the head table where Rav Yaakov sat with a smile on his face. After a bit of pushing, the six men got Rav Yaakov’s attention, and they begged him for a Brachah that they all become engaged in a short time.
For some reason, Rav Yaakov was hesitant to do this, but the group was insistent. Finally, one of them said, “Rebbi, if you guarantee us that we will all become Chasanim this year, we guarantee to raise all the money you need for the entire budget of your Kollelim in Eretz Yisroel! You will not have to go collecting or raise a single penny. We will do it all for you!”
Rav Yaakov laughed and gave them a Brachah, but the leader said he would only guarantee the money if Rav Yaakov would guarantee, with a Havtachah, that they would have success in Shidduchim.
This time, Rav Yaakov paused for a few moments, and they could see that he was thinking furiously. Finally, he looked at them and said, “I guarantee it! This year!” The entire gathering heard the Havtachah and called out, “Amein!”
The very next morning, these six men came over to Rav Yaakov and gave him an envelope containing the entire amount of money that he was looking to raise! Rav Yaakov remembered the incident of the previous night, where he had given these men his word, and they were fulfilling their end of the bargain. Rav Yaakov said, “What I said last night cannot be taken back. A word is a word. However, since I cannot be sure that my word is really any good, I will make you the following proposal. I will take this money, but I will put it aside. For the next year, I will Daven that my ‘Havtachah’ should be realized. If it is, I will then use the money. If it is not, if even one Bachur is not engaged by the end of this year, then the whole arrangement and ‘guarantee’ is off, and you will take back the entire amount of money. Do we have a deal?”
The six agreed and went on their way. A few months later, the phone rang in Rav Yaakov Galinsky’s home. The Rebbetzin answered and automatically said that the Rav was not home. The person on the other end of the line said, “This is a call from Lakewood, New Jersey. Please tell the Rav that last night, the sixth Bachur got engaged.”
Later, when Rav Yaakov came home and was told the good news, he ran to the cabinet and pulled out the envelope that was filled with money. He said, “A word is a word. It was important for them to let me know so that I can finally give the money to the Avreichim!”
Reprinted from the Parshas Tetzaveh 5786 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
