Rav Elya Svei, zt”l
Rav Paysach Krohn shared a great story. A Talmid of Rav Elya Svei, zt”l, had a child after seven years of marriage. His wife gave birth to a little boy who was born prematurely, and weighed just close to three pounds. The baby was placed in the High-Risk Unit of the Hodges Hospital in Milwaukee. After two and a half months, the family was told that their son was well enough to be taken home.
The Talmid wanted to buy the nurses a gift. Unsure of what would be appropriate, he called his Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Elya Svei, for advice. He was surprised when the Rosh Yeshivah said, “Don’t buy a gift. Of course, you should show your appreciation. However, my advice is, every year on your son’s birthday, bring him back to visit the unit.”
That is exactly what the family did for the first six years. Over the next few years after that, there was always another reason for not going back. However, the year of their son’s Bar Mitzvah, he came with a Bar Mitzvah invitation and handed it to the head nurse, along with a warm letter of gratitude. He thanked everyone profusely for what they had done years earlier, and he brought a special cake for the staff.
A few weeks later, the family received a beautiful letter from one of the nurses in that unit. The letter read: “My name is Jodi Campanella, and I am a nurse in the High-Risk Nursery at Hodges Hospital where your son had an extended stay years ago. While at orientation, I heard all about your son and your wonderful family.
“A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting you when you brought an invitation to the Bar Mitzvah, along with a letter that you had written about our staff. It touched my heart. You reminded me of why I became a nurse in the intensive care unit. Candy and flowers are a nice sentiment, but what you and your family do is something that helps us make it through the rough days. My most sincere thanks, Jodi C., RN.”
Rav Elya Svei taught that one does not have to show gratitude with lavish gifts. A sincere letter or a kind gesture is far more everlasting!
Reprinted from the Parshas Vayikra email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
