Rav Yechiel Spero relates an episode of Chesed which teaches us a number of powerful lessons. The story is about an elderly, lonely Jew, a Holocaust survivor, who had lost everything. Through various events, he ended up making Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, New Jersey, his home.
The Yeshivah provided him with a bed and meals, and the Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Aharon Kotler, zt”l, provided him with friendship. Rav Aharon was a world leader with the concern of world Jewry constantly on his mind. Yet, he found the time to give Chizuk and encouragement to a lonely Jew. His sympathetic ear was always listening for an opportunity to help this elderly Yid, as well as many others.
It was Yom Kippur, and the man, whose name was Leibel, approached Rav Aharon and said that he did not feel well. Rav Aharon placed his arm around Reb Leibel and told him to lie down. Rav Aharon continued with his intense Davening, and Reb Leibel went to the dormitory.
The rest of the day was uneventful. The Yeshivah Davened with its usual fervor, with Rav Aharon setting the tone for the intensity and Ruchniyus. The sun was setting, and Tefilas Minchah was coming to an end. Everybody was preparing for the concluding Tefilah of the day, Ne’ilah.
This was where everybody raised their hearts and souls to Hashem in a last appeal for a positive conclusion to the day. Suddenly, Rav Aharon left his seat and went over to an older student, and said, “I want you to go to the dormitory and Daven Ne’ilah in Reb Leibel’s room. If he is up to it, Daven with him. If not, just stay at his side and Daven on your own.”
The student replied, “But, Rebbe, we are about to Daven Ne’ilah. How can I miss the most important Tefilah of the year and Daven without a Minyan? What kind of Davening could that be?” Rav Aharon just stared back at the young man and said, “I am referring to a Chesed for an elderly Yid, and you are bringing up the issue of Ne’ilah?”
The student did not need any more encouragement. He understood what the Rosh Yeshivah was asking of him, and he quickly listened to Rav Aharon’s directive. Rav Aharon taught him that too often, we get wrapped up in ourselves and our own personal Ruchniyus, that we forget that there are people out there who need us. A smile and a good word can make a world of difference for another Jew. It takes so little, and it can accomplish so much!
Reprinted from the Yom Kippur 5782 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’ Tefilah.
