Times of Joy - Stories

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» The Best Birthday Present
» On the Right Foot
» Who’s Supporting Whom?

The Best Birthday Present

Rabbi Shmuel Wosner of Bnei Brak related a story about his teacher, Rabbi Meir Shapiro, founder of Yeshivah Chachmei Lublin. Rabbi Shapiro’s love for his students was legendary. To Rabbi Shapiro, his students were like his sons, and the students reciprocated that love. Every moment that they spent with their great teacher was precious.
The seventh day of the Jewish month of Adar was Rabbi Shapiro’s birthday. On that day, one of his great students asked the rabbi what he wanted as a birthday gift from the students at the yeshiva.
Instantly, Rabbi Shapiro responded, “The Talmud! I want the Talmud to be studied in its entirety today!” The students divided the entire Talmud amongst the student body, and the intensity of their Torah study that day was indescribable. When the Talmud was successfully completed by the end of the day, Rabbi Meir Shapiro’s joy was beyond description.
(Aleinu L’Shabaiach, Vol. II, pp. 228 -229)

On the Right Foot

At a lively wedding, amidst much dancing and singing, the guests were perplexed to see a scholar seated in the corner, diligently studying Talmud throughout the proceedings without pausing for a moment.
Puzzled, the guests asked the parents of the young newlyweds to explain this unusual phenomenon.
The hosts revealed that they had wanted to ensure that the young couple begin their new life on the right foot, through the safe guardianship of Torah study. However, the parents felt uncomfortable asking the guests to be involved in Torah study while at the wedding. Therefore, they hired a Torah scholar to come to the wedding hall, and study Torah without interruption throughout the entire wedding.
(Aleinu L’Shabaiach Vol. III, pp. 124-125)

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)