A World Filled With Good

We learned in A Special Letter from Rabbi Arush that kindness can give us a reason to live, and Pour Down Blessing to the entire world. This is because mercy, kindness, and helping others is the reason why the world was created in the first place. 

Now in this third story, we see how even a single act of love and kindness can give others the desire to live for the rest of their life – even in the depths of Hell. This is a very special story out of the Holocaust by a student of Rabbi Shimon Shkop:  

I was a young man in a poor village whose only desire was to learn Torah. My parents saw my abilities and I dreamed of learning in the Yeshiva in Grodno – but there was no money.  

My mother wouldn’t let that stop her. She sent me off with whatever she could give me, and I spent two weeks walking on foot to the Yeshiva. I slept on the benches of whatever synagogue I happened upon, and here or there was lucky enough to get a bite of bread from someone who had mercy on me. I spent the entire journey worrying about how I would pass the difficult entrance exam… 

Upon arrival at the Yeshiva, exhausted and in tatters from the long and hard journey, I was directed to the home of the Rosh Yeshiva himself in order to be tested. The Rosh Yeshiva himself answered the door, and immediately noticed my thin, dusty appearance. I explained that I wanted to be tested for acceptance to the Yeshiva. 

The Rosh Yeshiva welcomed me into his house warmly saying, “I have only two questions for you. If you answer them correctly, you’ll be accepted to the Yeshiva.” I took a deep breath, trying to garner my last reserves for the surely difficult questions to come in hopes of achieving my dreams. 

“Young man, tell me – when was the last time you had a hot meal?” the Rosh Yeshiva asked. 

“Two weeks ago,” I answered sheepishly. 

“In that case, I am pausing the test, and I insist that you eat something before we continue.” The Rosh Yeshiva then stood and proceeded to make me a hot meal himself! He explained that the Rebbetzin was currently away, apologizing, “I am afraid you’ll have to manage with my own cooking…” 

Cooking back then is not like it is today. It was a major project just to make a cup of tea! And here, a Gadol Hador stopped everything to make me a satisfying hot meal. The meal didn’t just revive my exhausted body; it revived my soul. I felt to the depths of my being how much he loved me, cared about me, and was prepared to sacrifice everything for my sake. 

“Now young man, are you satisfied? Are you ready for the second question?” asked the Rosh Yeshiva. I nodded in agreement. 

“When was the last time you slept in a proper bed?” 

“Two weeks ago,” I answered again. 

“Excellent! You answered all the questions correctly, and you’ve been accepted into the Yeshiva! Now, follow me.” The Rosh Yeshiva prepared his own bed for me with clean sheets. He laid me down to bed and covered me with his blanket like a loving father… 

After I awoke totally refreshed, the Rosh Yeshiva arranged a learning partner to teach me. I applied myself with all of my abilities, and I caught up to the level of the learning in the Yeshiva in only three months!  

But I never, ever forgot that meeting with this giant in Torah, giant in kindness and giant in loving others, who was more like an angel than a human. This interaction with someone who truly modeled himself after His Creator left a deep impression in my heart and mind. 

I cannot put into words what I went through during the War. But every time I almost despaired of everything, I remembered my master and teacher, Rabbi Shkop. I said to myself, “If there is in the world a Torah that can turn a human being into an angel, it’s worth it to try to keep living.” This was the only thing that keep me alive during those dark years. 

Why does doing good for others have such tremendous strength? Because we instill emuna in ourselves and those around us that G-d is good, and the world is inherently good and filled with goodness.  

Therefore, we are required to do good for others with all of our strength! If this is what Hashem wants for the world, then it must also become our greatest desire. 

The power to bring down the personal and global salvations we need rests in our hands! To have mercy and help others. To smile at someone, encourage them and listen to them. To support those around us – both in our communities, and even more importantly, at home. 

Now is the time to put all other considerations aside, and simply give and love without boundaries or expectations. Without thinking about whether or not the other side deserves it. Without considering the past and our hard feelings. 

And every time you do something good for someone else, I want you to pray this prayer to the Creator of the World: “Master of the Universe, I am just flesh and blood. And yet, I am throwing everything aside to love and have mercy without cause. Please Hashem, Merciful father, have mercy on us and save us even if we don’t deserve it, and redeem us with mercy, without wars, without suffering and without sickness…” 

The holy books explain that we are still suffering from the sin of the sale of Yosef and the hatred of his brothers – because until today, the brotherly hatred has still not stopped.  

Now is the time to correct everything by loving and helping each other without any other considerations!