Rav Nattan Meir Wachtfogel, zt”l, the Mashgiach of Beit Midrash Govoha, a big Yeshiva in Lakewood, once visited Eretz Yisrael. The trip was particularly strenuous at his advanced age, especially since many people wished to meet with him and ask him for a Brachah.
One day, Rav Nattan Meir went to Daven at the Kotel. After he had finished praying, he turned around to see a long line of people waiting to talk to him!
Rav Nattan Meir patiently spoke with each person, listening to their requests and offering his Brachot. Later that evening, Rav Nattan Meir reviewed the day’s events. He said, “Who am I, and what am I, that people should come to me for Brachot?” the Mashgiach humbly exclaimed to his student. “I want to clearly acknowledge the truth about myself. I carry a heavy burden on my shoulders for all the precious time that I’ve taken away from learning Torah. Moshiach will soon come, and everyone will find out who I really am. I will be so ashamed!”
The next day, the Mashgiach called someone who was having trouble with his personal relationships. This man had a very strong character, and his dominating personality was causing much strife.
Rav Nattan Meir told him, “Yesterday, I went to the Kotel to pray. When I finished, I turned around to see a huge line of people waiting. Do you know who they were waiting for? They were waiting for me. They wanted a Brachah from me. Why did they want to come to me for a Brachah and not someone else?
“Why don’t they go to you for a Brachah? Do you know why they were waiting for my Brachah and not for yours? It is because for my whole life, I have worked on being humble to others. Please,” Rav Nattan Meir gently encouraged him, “please treat others with respect. Treat people respectfully, and be humble. Then they will also come to you for Brachot!”
Reprinted from an email of Torah U’Tefilah.
