The heilige tzaddik Rebbi Levi Yitzchak of Bardichev had a loyal Chosid, a young man named R’ David, who fell seriously ill that he was unable to do visit the tzaddik to receive a blessing for a Refuah. His friends, also devoted Chassidim of the Rebbe, had formed a strong bond between them, and decided that they would seek a remedy for R’David’s health. They agreed to travel to Bardichev to find salvation by the Rebbe.
Upon arrival in Bardichev, they shared the purpose of their coming with the tzaddik, who listened intently and felt very sorrowful. After a few moments of thought, the Rebbe expressed that they should convey to R’ David a blessing for his healing.
The Rebbe then instructed them to return home and share his exact words with him. Upon their returning, R' David was gratified to see his friends, and inquired whether the Rebbe promised that he be healed or merely offered a blessing. They answered that he only provided a blessing!
R' David encouraged them to return to Bardichev to ask the Rebbe to grant him a complete healing, rather than just a blessing. The Chassidim were convinced that their Rebbe had this capability, they willingly returned to Bardichev, and requested the Rebbe to grant a cure for their friend R’ David;
After a few moments of thought however, the Rebbe did not deliver a promise that he be healed, and again only gave a blessing for a complete healing. R’ David remained uneasy to only receive a blessing and called for them to come again. This episode occurred three times, each time they came to the Rebbe, he only gave a blessing.
R’ David didn't lose his calm and begged his friends to try just one more time, and they obliged. This time it was a different scenario. The Rebbe didn’t hesitate, on the contrary he instructed them to go to R’ David and communicate that he would be healthy and strong, have a good livelihood, a son will be born to him, and he would find suitable matches for all his children.
The Rebbe bid them to depart Lechaim U’Lshalom. The Chassidim finally felt joy that the Rebbe had offered a promise! They noted the precise moment the Rebbe stated his holy words. Upon their return, they found R’ David feeling somewhat better, already lying in bed.
When R’ David heard the tzaddik's words, he felt happiness and renewed hope that he would soon recover, and they inquired when his improvement began, discovering it coincided the precise moment with the Rebbe’s conversation. Thus, day by day, he grew stronger until he was able to rise from the bed and walk.
One day he told his wife he wants to visit the neighbors to request some food, and he went to a neighbor who, elated upon seeing him healthy, received him warmly and provided ample food for the whole household. The following day, he did the same thing, but to his astonishment, just before arriving at his friend’s house, a young man approached him, expressing a desire to sell him a fox hide at a good price.
R’ David, knowledgeable in this area, recognized that he could profit from it. He instead asked his friend for a loan to purchase the fox hide. The friend was more then glad to help. R’ David sold the hide, and earned a significant profit. R’ David had already gathered enough funds to purchase food and settle the loan for fox hide, so he pursued additional business ventures until he became quite wealthy, which allowed him to find suitable matches for his daughters. That same year, a son was born to him.
Once R. David had fully recovered, he visited the Rebbe to express his gratitude, who was delighted to see him. R. David humbly inquired the connection of being blessed with a prosperous livelihood and a son, with regaining his health!
The Rebbe smiled and explained: “When your loyal friends first came to seek a remedy, their comradeships brought me great joy, yet there was no cure available. I approached the angel of livelihood on your behalf, and he consented due to their unity. The second time they came, I still found no cure, so I went to the angel of children and secured a son for you. On the third visit, without observing any cure, I appealed to the angel of matches, and they secured shidduchim for your daughters.
“Now I had three angelic endorsements. I cared for your need for livelihood, a son, and matchmaking, yet there was no cure available for you! But everything changed when your friends sought me out for the fourth time. This created immense joy in heaven, that ascended to the highest level. Such a bond of unity without boundaries was rare!
“Seeing this, I already had three angelic signatures in hand—livelihood, a male child, and proper matches—I approached the angel of life, presenting the signatures, and asserted that he too must sign for life, as provisions and support are granted to the living, and he agreed. Thus, I could assure you of life as a reward for the unity among your devoted companions.
Reprinted from the Parshas Ki Teitzei 5785 edition of Pardes Yehuda.
