Stories Of Greatness

The following story was told by Rav Avraham Hillel Goldberg z”l, a prominent student of the holy Chofetz Chaim, HaRav Yisrael Meir Kagan zt”l, and later Rav of Kfar Pines in Israel. He recorded the episode, which he was privileged to witness:

The following story was told by a Canadian businessman who marvels at the manner in which Hashem speaks to each and every individual. He relates:

The Rebbe of Rimanov, Rav Tzvi Hirsch HaKohen zt”l, was not born into an illustrious lineage, nor was he a child prodigy. He was born into a simple family and was orphaned at a very young age. He was taken in by a local tailor, who tried to teach him a trade, but Rav Tzvi Hirsch had a lofty soul and was handpicked by Rav Menachem Mendel Rimanover zt”l to succeed him as the Rebbe of Rimanov. Many people flocked to Rav Tzvi Hirsch for his wise and sage advice.

 In order to make a covenant with Lavan, Yaakov told “his brothers” to take stones. Yaakov had only one brother, Eisav, who was not with him at the moment. The midrash cited by Rashi points out that his “brothers” refer to Yaakov’s sons, whom he called brothers. The question is, what are the midrash and Rashi teaching us here? Why does the Torah refer to Yaakov’s sons as his brothers? Let the Torah call them his sons. Rav Shlomo Wolbe zt”l explains that part of chinuch is to have your children become your partners. If a child feels that he is a partner in his parents’ mitzvah and chesed activities, he does not feel that he is being forced to do something, or that his parents are providing for someone else rather than attending to the child’s needs. Quite the contrary, he feels honored by the responsibility (Zeriah U’Vinyan B’Chinuch, page 27).

The following story was related by the rabbi of a large and prominent congregation. He remarked that one does not realize the power of one’s words and its effect on others, and often even a small and innocent comment can generate shockwaves and repercussions that last for days, months – even generations to come.

Chazal tell us that the “Toldos” of a tzadik are his good deeds. What one does in this world will truly be his descendants, for a person’s good deeds truly shape his eternity. The following story began seven months ago, but the “Toldos” are forever. A chareidi man from Bnei Brak pulled up to a gas station in central Israel to fill up his car’s gas tank. He saw a secular man looking very troubled. He went over to him and asked, “Achi, my brother, you look like something is wrong. Is there any way I can help you?”