I heard a wonderful story about a young Yerushalmi man, from my dear father, the righteous Rav Zvi Zev, zt”l, author of Ma’adanei Hashulchan. About a month after his wedding, he was struck by severe abdominal pain. Rushing to the doctor for thorough examinations, he was shocked and dismayed by the diagnosis. It was revealed with certainty that he was suffering from a severe and life-threatening illness. According to the doctor’s prognosis, he was unlikely to survive more than a few months, as his internal organs were severely damaged and deteriorating, as clearly shown in the medical imaging. Tragically, the doctors could offer almost no hope of a cure.
His young and devoted wife, deeply concerned for her newlywed husband’s life, inquired extensively with the doctors about possible treatments to save him. The doctors recommended a specific treatment that might address the illness, but due to its advanced stage and rapid progression, they gave the treatment only a very slim chance of success.
The young bride did not despair and urged her husband to enter the hospital and begin the recommended treatment immediately. However, her husband, a talmid chacham and a God-fearing man, insisted on first traveling to Bnei Brak to seek the counsel and blessing of the renowned Chazon Ish, zt”l.
In those days, the journey to Bnei Brak took several hours. Traveling from Yerushalayim to Tel Aviv and then on to Bnei Brak was a lengthy and exhausting trip, especially for someone in his frail and critical condition. Yet, the patient was adamant about undertaking this journey, declaring that it was a clear directive from the Gemara in Bava Basra (116a):
“Rav Pinchas ben Chama taught: ’If one has a sick person in his household, let him go to a chacham and request mercy on his behalf, as it states (Mishlei 16:14), The wrath of a king is like messengers of death, but a wise man will appease it.’ ”
After the difficult and grueling journey, he arrived at the holy residence of the leader of Yisrael, the Chazon Ish zt”l. Bursting into tears, he recounted the severity of his illness and begged for a blessing, explaining that the doctors had given him only a short time to live.
When the Chazon Ish heard the doctors’ prognosis, he smiled and said:
“Why would we need a blessing to overturn the doctors’ verdict when an explicit passuk in the Torah can change everything? It states (Shemos 20:12): Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be lengthened. Take this blessing that the holy Torah offers you, and you will merit long life and good years.”
Hearing these sacred words filled the young man with renewed vitality. He immediately changed his plans; instead of heading to the hospital for the grueling and prolonged treatment, he eagerly traveled to his parents’ home in Yerushalayim. Upon arrival, he greeted them warmly and wholeheartedly, rolled up his sleeves, and began assisting them in every way he could.
He constantly asked his father and mother: “How else can I help? In what other ways can I honor and serve you?”
Seeing his son’s great desire to fulfill the mitzvah of honoring them, his devoted father remarked that he had long been seeking a good chavrusa for learning in the evenings after he closed his small shop in Yerushalayim during the early evening hours.
The young son was, of course, overjoyed as though he had discovered a great treasure. He began visiting his parents’ home every evening, studying with his father as chavrusa in good spirits, not before serving him a hot cup of tea with some light refreshments. Even after the learning session, he continued to assist his mother and father in every way possible, striving with boundless love to honor them.
He did not enter the hospital but instead continued his new daily role at his parents’ home. After a very short period, when he returned to the doctor for a thorough check-up to evaluate his severe illness, the doctor was stunned to find that the disease had reversed course. Instead of worsening and spreading as expected, the body was fighting back and eliminating the illness at its root!
A few more months passed, during which the man returned for bi-weekly check-ups, and his medical condition completely transformed. The disease vanished as though it had never existed. All the doctors noted this as a medical miracle, preserving in their archives the initial scans and reports showing the disease’s devastating progression, alongside the sudden and complete reversal that led to his full recovery.
The son concluded that his father ultimately lived to an advanced age, close to 90 years, fulfilling the Torah’s blessing: Honor your father and your mother so that your days may be lengthened.
From this remarkable story, we learn the immense value of the mitzvah of honoring one’s parents and how essential it is to believe with complete and pure faith in the observance of the Torah and mitzvos. The blessings of the Torah and the words of Chazal are true, for they are our life and the lengthening of our days.
