“Toldot” in Parshat Toldot
In the week of Parshat Toldot in the year 5777 (2016), Rabbi Tzvi Grenevitz sat down with his study partner, Reb Moshe Rub, to study the book Zera Shimshon, as was their daily custom. During their study, they discovered a fascinating and captivating passage dealing with faith and trust in Hashem. The teachings left no room for doubt regarding true faith in Hashem Yitbarach, offering those who study it a clear and uplifting faith that elevates them to new spiritual heights. The Zera Shimshon states (Parshat Toldot, Letter 12):
“Incidentally, one can derive a life lesson: every person must recognize in all their actions the wonders of Hashem’s deeds, for no one has the power to do anything without the kindness of Hashem. No person even snaps their fingers in this world unless it has been decreed from above. Likewise, in any gain a person achieves, one must not attribute it to his own efforts but to the grace of Hashem. If one attains greatness, one must not say it was due to his wisdom, but only due to the kindness of Hashem.”
The author proves this through the words of Yaakov Avinu. When his father Yitzchak asked how he had prepared the requested food so quickly, Yaakov responded: “Because Hashem, your God, brought it before me.” Yet the goats he brought had already been in Rivka’s possession, so there was no need for Hashem to “bring” them specifically to him. From this, the author concludes that a Jew must know that even what they already have at home, and seems natural, is also a kindness of Hashem. Nothing is obvious or natural on its own.
Rabbi Tzvi and Reb Moshe were deeply moved by this gem they had discovered. Rabbi Tzvi exclaimed with excitement, “A passage so prominent and valuable about faith must be shared with the renowned Maggid, the Gaon Rabbi Elimelech Biderman, shlita! Tens of thousands of Jews hear his teachings every week; we must grant them the merit of hearing these words of faith from the author. This way, we achieve a dual merit: strengthening Israel with a message of faith, and fulfilling the will of the tzadik in an extraordinary way, by spreading his teachings among tens of thousands of Jews and ensuring that his lips continue to utter Torah eternally.”
Without delay, Rabbi Tzvi contacted Rabbi “Meilech” to share this gem with him.
At the time, Rabbi Tzvi was in need of a personal salvation and thought to himself: “May it be that this merit of spreading these words among the People of Israel benefits me!”
Rabbi Meilech himself promptly reviewed the Zera Shimshon and was deeply inspired by its message. During his two regular lectures that week, both in Hebrew and Yiddish, he repeated the author’s words. Before citing them, he announced that studying the lessons of the Zera Shimshon could bring about miracles and wonders:
“We must learn this life lesson: every person must recognize in all their actions the wonders of Hashem’s deeds, for no one has the power to do anything without the kindness of Hashem.”
The Be’er Ha’emunah publications distributed that week also featured this inspiring message at the beginning of their articles, allowing tens of thousands of Jews to read and hear these Torah words and be strengthened by them. Since then, each year, when Parshat Toldot arrives, Rabbi Meilech, shlita, passionately repeats these words from the Zera Shimshon.
The leaders of the Worldwide Organization for the Dissemination of the Torah of Zera Shimshon met with Rabbi Tzvi and told him: “You have had the merit of tens of thousands of Jews studying the Zera Shimshon! Undoubtedly, the tzadik author will show you his power of salvation, for you were the messenger to bring his uplifting words to tens of thousands of homes in Israel.”
Though Rabbi Tzvi regularly studied the Zera Shimshon, over time he forgot this episode.
A year passed. On the Monday of the week of Parshat Toldot in 5778, Rabbi Tzvi and his wife were blessed with the birth of a daughter after years of waiting and yearning for more children.
During the grand Kiddush celebration he organized, Rabbi Tzvi had no recollection of what had occurred the previous year during the same Parshah. After the Torah reading, announcing the baby’s name and finishing the tefillah, the congregants sat down to enjoy refreshments at the Kiddush. A little later, even members of nearby synagogues came to offer congratulations. Among them was Rabbi Yisrael, one of the foremost students and promoters of the Zera Shimshon. Approaching Rabbi Tzvi, he said directly:
“Do you remember what happened last year during Parshat Toldot? Do you recall finding that wonderful passage about faith and sending it to Rabbi Meilech? I was one of those who told you then that your merit was very great! Thanks to you, tens of thousands of Jews studied the Zera Shimshon! Do you still have doubts that you would see salvations through this merit?”
Rabbi Tzvi immediately recalled the events of the previous year, and a great emotion overtook him. An incredible miracle! Exactly one year after having the merit to spread the author’s inspiring words during Parshat Toldot (toldot means “descendants”), he himself was blessed with a descendant—a daughter—during the same Parshah. Toldot in Parashat Toldot!
In a recent conversation with the leaders of the Worldwide Organization for the Dissemination of the Torah of Zera Shimshon, Rabbi Tzvi testified about the heavenly process that began when Rabbi Meilech Biderman, shlita, started quoting yearly the Zera Shimshon thanks to him. Each year, around the time of Parshat Toldot, he experiences personal salvations in the matters that he needs. Truly an extraordinary phenomenon!
