Living Long for the Sake of the Public
The Yid Hakodesh of Peshischa zy”a once went to visit the Chozeh of Lublin zy”a and became very sick while he was there. As he lay in his sickbed, his son, Rav Yehoshua Osher of Parisov zy”a, went to ask the Chozeh to daven for him.
The Chozeh told him, “The Torah says: ‘Shelach lecha anashim.’ The meaning of this is that Hashem sometimes sees that a person has accomplished all he was meant to do in this world and that he has already rectified his soul completely. Therefore, it is time for him to die. However, Hashem desires the prayers of tzadikim (Yevamos 64A) and He wants the righteous man to serve Him some more. Therefore, He sends anashim (men) to him, so that he can help them and guide them in their lives. He now has a new purpose in this world. He has to rectify the souls of others. This allows him to remain amongst the living. The pasuk is saying: ‘Shelach lecha anashim.’ Hashem sends men to you for you to teach and guide. ‘V’yaturu’ – and you will be allowed to live.” (The word “v’yaturu” can be translated to mean “to live”, in addition to meaning “to scout”.)
These words bore fruit Above and the Yid Hakodesh was immediately healed. He regained his health and, suddenly, people began to flock to him to learn from his ways. It was clearly evident that his life was returned to him for this purpose.
