Rabbi Shlomo Lorincz was struck with typhoid fever shortly before Rosh Hashanah of 1951. He was admitted to a hospital where the staff carefully monitored his progress and diet. As his illness lingered, Rav Lorincz realized he would remain in the hospital for Yom Kippur, and the doctors may insist that he eat on the holiest day of the year. His premonition was correct, and his doctor told him that he would not be allowed to fast.
Devastated, he asked his wife to consult with the gadol hador the Chazon Ish. Mrs. Lorincz came with all the pertinent information, and after evaluating the report, the Chazon Ish said, "If Dr. Frei feels that he must eat on Yom Kippur, then I concur with his decision."
Mrs. Lorincz returned to the hospital to relay the psak, but it devastating to her husband. To miss out on being in shul on Yom Kippur because he was stuck in a hospital was bad enough. But to have to eat as well was too much! On Erev Yom Kippur, in the early afternoon, there was a knock on Rabbi Lorincz's door.
"Come in," he said.
To his absolute astonishment, it was the Chazon Ish himself. He was overwhelmed. It was only a few hours before Kol Nidrei, and surely there were important things that the Chazon Ish could be taking care of. What had brought him all the way here?
"I have come to tell you," began the Chazon Ish, "That just as a person must be happy to fulfill the mitzvah of נפשותיכם את ועיניתם by fasting on Yom Kippur, he must be just as happy to fulfill the instruction of מאד לנפשותיכם ונשמרתם. Therefore, you should be happy to fulfill the mitzvah to eat on Yom Kippur. I wish you a Gmar Chasimah Tova and a Freilichen Yom Tov."
In his immense concern for his fellow Jew, the Chazon Ish went through the hassle of taking three buses and spending over an hour traveling on Erev Yom Kippur. To the Chazon Ish, helping someone else in need was well worth giving up additional time
Reprinted from the Seuda Stories of Shabbos Chayeinu, Parshas Re’eh 5784. Compiled by Tzvi Schultz.
