Rav Avrohom Chaim relates a story about Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, who was especially attuned to the effects his actions would have when he was dealing with poor people. One day, a car pulled up in front of the Yeshivah to take Rav Moshe to an important meeting. There was no time for delay. As Rav Moshe was about to get into the car, a poor man asked him for some Tzedakah.
Rav Moshe gave him some money, but the man wished to speak with Rav Moshe as well. The man drew out the conversation, and the driver who was waiting started to become impatient. A few students attempted to tell the man that Rav Moshe was in a great hurry, but Rav Moshe motioned for them to wait.
After ten minutes, Rav Moshe excused himself, shook hands with the poor man, and finally got into the car. Rav Moshe explained to the driver and to his students, “You must understand that to this man, the conversation meant more to him than the money. My Mitzvah of Tzedakah included showing him that I care about what he has to say, and that I am not too busy to speak with him!”
Rav Chaim Brim, zt”l, was once learning with the Chazon Ish, zt”l, late at night in Bnei Brak. When they had finished their session, there weren’t any more busses at that hour to bring Rav Chaim back to Yerushalayim, where he lived, so the the Chazon Ish invited him to stay the night by him.
The Chazon Ish’s brother-in-law, the Steipler Gaon, zt”l, also lived in that house. Rav Chaim Brim said that that night, three great people were serving him: the Chazon Ish, the Steipler, and the Steipler’s Rebbetzin. The Chazon Ish was giving the directions, and one person brought the Negel Vasser, one brought him some food, and so on.
Rav Chaim was very uncomfortable that they were all serving him, and he said to the Chazon Ish, “Please, this isn’t necessary. There is no need to do all of this for me!”
The Chazon Ish replied, “Since when does an Esrog tell the person who holds him how he should be handled? Right now, you are a Mitzvah, and you shouldn’t be telling the people who are obligated from Har Sinai to do this Mitzvah, how they should perform the Mitzvah!”
Reprinted from the Parshas Vayigash 5784 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
