A fascinating story about the power of forgiveness occurred in Israel. A 38-year-old man, who is hard of hearing, was a passenger on a bus in the city of Ashdod. He had recently gotten closer to Judaism, and he had decided to cover his head, but not with a Yarmulka. He wore a cap and he was also wearing his work clothes that day.
One of the passengers on the bus was a little tense about a recent wave of terror, and he noticed this man’s dark complexion, and that his cap and clothing were a bit different than the norm. Not realizing that this man was hard of hearing, he also thought his behavior seemed strange, and he suspected that this man was an Arab about to carry out a terror attack.
He told other passengers about his suspicion, and a commotion resulted near this man, who didn’t even notice the tumult due to his hearing impairment. The passengers then approached the driver and told him about the “suspicious” bus passenger.
The driver stopped the bus, approached the man, and after speaking with him briefly, it became clear that the passengers had made a mistake. Understandably, this man was very hurt and embarrassed by the incident, and he told the other passengers that he is not Mochel them, and will not forgive them for what they had done to him.
The passengers tried to apologize and appease him, but he remained agitated and upset, and he continued to repeat that he’s not Mochel (forgiving) them. One of the passengers who was on the bus, later called Rav Chaim Feinstein, Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivat Ateret Shlomo, and told him about what happened on the bus, and asked him what to do. The Rosh Yeshivah asked to speak with this man personally.
The passenger found this individual and told him that one of the big rabbis wished to speak with him. The man agreed to meet the Rosh Yeshivah the next day after Shacharit (morning prayers) at the Yeshivah. The next morning, Rav Chaim sat with this man for a long time and spoke with him, taking an interest in his life.
After finding out that he was still single and very much wanted to get married, the Rosh Yeshivah explained to him that if he removed his hard feelings that he had against other people, Hashem would remove any hard feelings that are against him, and the Gates of Shidduchim (matchmaking) will open up for him. The Rosh Yeshivah also added that when the Gates of Shidduchim in Heaven open up, things move quickly.
The man accepted the Rosh Yeshivah’s words and said that he forgives the passengers on the bus who suspected him of being a terrorist. As he was on his way out of the Yeshivah, he met a young fellow who happened to be driving to Ashdod, and said he was happy to give him a ride home.
During their conversation on the ride together, it occurred to this young fellow that this man would be a perfect shidduch for his wife’s sister, who was also an older single who recently became closer to Judaism. Additionally, she also suffered from a medical condition, and she wouldn’t be put off by the man’s hearing impairment. Just a few months later, the couple got engaged, and the engagement was celebrated at the Rosh Yeshivah’s home in Bnei Brak!
Reprinted from an email from Torah U’Tefilah.
