Rav Elazar Shach
Once, a Shul in South Africa received a very generous donation from a wealthy man who was not a Shomer Shabbos. Since their Rav had a strict policy not to use money given by such a person, the Gaba’im held back from cashing the check.
Meanwhile, the donor visited Eretz Yisroel. One of his acquaintances from South Africa was, also there, and he suggested that they go together to meet with the famous Rosh Yeshivah of the Ponevezh Yeshivah, Rav Elazar Shach, zt”l.
When they appeared before Rav Shach, the acquaintance introduced the man from South Africa to the Rosh Yeshivah as a generous supporter of Torah institutions in his home country. The wealthy man lowered his head to receive a Brachah from the Gadol.
Rav Shach placed his hands on the wealthy man’s headmand spoke directly, and lovingly, to his visitor, instead of giving him a Brachah. He said, “My son, if you want amBrachah, you should keep Shabbos, because Shabbos is the source of all Brachah.
“Every nation has its flag, and the flag of the nation of Israel is Shabbos! Shabbos is the symbol and the sign that we are Jewish. Shabbos is the guarantee of the continuation of the Jewish nation forever. If we do not identify with our flag, we are in grave danger of losing our Jewish identity. Without Shabbos, we are in serious trouble in so many ways. What guarantee do you have that your children will remain Jewish? Who will guard them from marrying out of the faith, if not the Holy Shabbos herself?”
These warm and heartfelt words penetrated to the heart of the man. They affected him so profoundly, that right after leaving the presence of the Rosh Yeshivah he announced, “From this moment on, I will be a Shomer Shabbos!”
The acquaintance who had brought the wealthy man to meet Rav Shach immediately called the Rav in South Africa to tell him the good news, and the Gaba’im were then able to deposit that check, which was so vital to the Shul!
Reprinted from the Parshas Noach 5787 email of Rabbi Yehuda of Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.