We have a principle that the death of a great person can save the lives of many others. The Chofetz Chaim had a son-in-law who passed away at a very young age. His daughter asked him why Hashem took her husband, as there are so many other people in the world. The Chofetz Chaim answered gently, “It was either your husband or a quarter of the world.”
The story is told that on Sunday, the 17th of Cheshvan in 1984, the Baba Sali said, “I see that much Jewish blood will be spilled — children and adults, simple and great people.” He then davened and fasted that entire day, despite being over age 90.” The next morning following Shacharis, he announced with a sigh of relief that the terrible calamity was averted as one of the tzadikim gave away his life for the generation. People who heard this didn’t know if he was speaking of himself. As they were wondering the Baba Sali asked which tzadikim of Yerushalayim were sick. On Wednesday, R' Mordechai Sharabi suffered a heart attack (1912-1984). One of R' Sharabi’s students, R' Yosef Dayan asked the Baba Sali to daven to which he responded, “I davened and did many tikunim for R' Sharabi but I feel like a wall is blocking me which is preventing my tefilla from ascending to heaven. it seems that Hashem wants to take R' Sharabi’s soul and it is impossible to prevent it. Tomorrow his soul will return to Hashem.” These words came true R' Sharabi’s soul returned to its Maker on that fateful day in Cheshvan.
