Times of Challenge- Stories

Table of Contents

» In the Merit of Torah Study
» The Greatest Source of Merit
» A Life-saving Study Session
» Torah: the Ultimate Cure
» Who’s Supporting Whom?
» The Gift of Life
» The Strongest Weapon

In the Merit of Torah Study

There was once a great Torah scholar named Rabbi Aharon, who had a study partner, Rabbi Nachum. Each day, the two studied together diligently throughout the day. So intent was Rabbi Aharon on his studies, he did not leave the study hall even for meals; a designated individual would deliver his lunch to the study hall on a daily basis.
One afternoon, while delivering Rabbi Aharon’s lunch, the messenger noticed Rabbi Aharon weeping before the Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark).
“Tractate Bava Kamma,” Rabbi Aharon cried, “what will become of Rabbi Nachum? Tractate Yevamos, can you forget how much time I spent studying you?”
As it turned out, Rabbi Aharon’s faithful study partner Rabbi Nachum was deathly ill. Rabbi Aharon was imploring G-d to heal his friend and study partner in the merit of his Torah studies.
Rabbi Aharon’s prayers were answered. Shortly, Rabbi Nachum regained his good health, and the two friends resumed their precious Torah studies.
(Aleinu L’Shabaiach, Vol. V, page 257)

The Greatest Source of Merit

The author of the classic Torah work Machatzis HaShekel had three sons. One son was an exceptional Torah scholar; the second excelled in his service of Hashem through prayer; and the third, a wealthy philanthropist.
It happened that one of the grandchildren of the family took ill. Desperate for a Heavenly cure, the Machatzis HaShekel requested that each of his three sons undertake to gain merit for the child, using the sphere in which they excelled the most.
The three sons did as they were requested. The Torah scholar studied with more diligence than ever before; the pious son spent hours in prayer, beseeching Heaven for mercy; and the philanthropist distributed vast sums to charity, in the merit of the child.
The combined efforts of the three brothers were successful, and the child soon recovered. The joyous grandfather, the Machatzis HaShekel, thanked his three sons for their labors.
“All three of you put in your utmost,” added the Machatzis HaShekel, “and yet, I have no doubt that the recovery occurred primarily due to the merit of Torah study.”
(L’iluy Neshamah, page 103)

A Life-saving Study Session

Rabbi Yosef Kahaneman related a story that took place during World War I, when fierce fighting between the Germans and Russians was incessant.
The city of Shvahl, along the front lines, was known to host a German stronghold. In the early morning hours, the Russians took over the city. Immediately, they proceeded to the only house where there was light.
In the house was a visiting rabbi, the Gaon of Twertig, who was involved in his Torah study. The Russians saw the rabbi ostensibly talking to himself. Automatically, they assumed that the rabbi was really a German spy, speaking in a foreign language to hidden transmitters in the walls. Immediately, the rabbi was sentenced to death.
The rabbi asked the soldiers if they would grant him his last wish: to finish completing the study of the difficult passage of Rambam (Maimonides) that he was in the midst of.
Even though the Russians did not know exactly what the rabbi meant, they acceded to his request. Patiently, they waited until he was finished before they would kill him.
The intense Torah study took many hours. As the hours passed, the Germans advanced. Finally, the Germans recaptured the city, causing the Russians to flee in panic. In the merit of Torah study, the rabbi’s life was saved.
(Aleinu L'Shabaiach Vol. VI, pp. 518-519)

Torah: the Ultimate Cure

Rabbi Yitzchak Silberstein recounted that when he was a student in the Slabodka Yeshivah in Bnei Brak, there was a student who studied with incredible diligence, even during times when the study hall would be empty.
One Friday afternoon, when this student was studying alone, the great Rabbi Yechezkel Abramsky approached him and said, “In the merit of your Torah study, your mother will be cured.”
The boy’s mother suffered from a debilitating illness; the doctors had not put forth much hope for her survival. After the rabbi’s remark, the woman recovered from her debilitating illness, and lived another forty-five healthy years.
(Aleinu L’Shabaiach Vol. II, page 96)

Who’s Supporting Whom?

Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin related a story in the name of his father-in-law, Rabbi Eliezer Gordon. After his marriage, Rabbi Gordon lived in the home of his father-in-law, Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Neuser. His father-in-law undertook the young scholar’s complete support, while he studied Torah throughout the day.
After a number of years, many rabbinic positions were offered to the budding scholar. Since the Gordons already had numerous children, and Rabbi Neuser’s wealth was dwindling, Mrs. Neuser wanted her son-in-law to accept a rabbinical position, thereby easing the financial burden.
Rabbi Neuser disagreed, saying, “Who knows who supports whom? Is it us supporting him with sustenance, or him supporting us with Torah?”
After some time, when Rabbi Gordon was offered a more prestigious communities offered Rabbi Gordon a position, they decided to let Rabbi Gordon start his rabbinic career.
On the day that Rabbi Gordon was supposed to move with his family, Rabbi Neuser came home after the morning prayers, and collapsed, passing away instantly.
Utterly distraught, Mrs. Neuser cried out, “I am responsible for this tragedy! My husband, you said that we don’t know who is supporting whom. Now I know that our son-in-law-was supporting us!”
(Tuv’cha Yabiyu, Vol. I, page 302)

The Gift of Life

Rabbi Chayim of Volozhin relates a tale (Ruach Chayim 1:1) of a woman whose son was deathly ill. Desperate, the mother ran to the Rabbi David HaLevi, (the Taz), asking him to help.
Rabbi HaLevi replied, “I give to you as a gift the Torah that I am now studying. In this merit, may your son live!”
Within the hour, the boy’s fever broke, and he was on his way to recovery.
(L’iluy Neshamah, page 103)

The Strongest Weapon

During a war in the land of Israel, someone asked the Steipler Gaon (Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky) which Tehillim/Psalms would be appropriate to recite. The Steipler responded that the most important thing that one can do is to be involved with Torah study.
(L’iluy Neshamah, page 105)