The World Is Poorer When A Tzadik Passes On

Today was the yahrtzeit of my dear friend R' Avraham Yehuda ben Pesach Eliezer Kordish ztz"l. He was filled with simcha and he had reason to be. He never had to do anything for himself because he had a "servant" do everything for him.

You see, R' Avraham Yehuda was a paraplegic. He didn't move a limb from his early twenties [when he was shot senselessly by a Vietnam veteran] until his passing at the age of about 67. He never complained and didn't seem to understand people who wondered how he could be happy despite such horrible daily struggles. He said everything was just great.

The Rebbe Shlita was once talking about how the word את comes to include someone or something else. So what, asked the Rebbe Shlita [in the name of the Abudraham], does the את in the pasuk ואכלת ושבעת וברכת come to include?

He saw that R' Avraham Yehuda wanted to say something so he asked him what he was thinking. R' Avraham Yehuda said "The Rebbe":-). Pashut. If there is someone to bless - it's the Rebbe.  For him, everything was about being able to connect to Hashem and His tzadikim. He was zocheh to learn through all of Shas despite his handicap and his late start in learning.

He often had guests over at his house. One guest was formerly a great athlete who was injured and unable to play any longer. R' Avraham Yehuda told him simply - "What's the problem - you take what you have and start over." He was talking about himself.

There are hundreds and hundreds of stories about him and his tremendous drive to serve Hashem. One of my favorite qualities of his was his generosity. He gave and gave and gave more. Recently I wrote about those people who hoard money. He was the diametrical opposite.

My worst-worst-worst day would be far better for him than his best day, yet never a word of complaint or self despair. Complete emunah in Hashem with thanks for all of his constant chesed were his guiding lights.

He never ever ever missed a shiur or tisch of the Rebbe Shlita, despite the hours it took to get him dressed and ready to go daily [and the fact that I don't think he even understood the Yiddish the Rebbe spoke]. He would go to mikva [no easy task for him] and then come to shul early or in time so that he could say everything  - including korbanos.

Last night we had a tisch in his memory and the Rebbe Shlita asked everybody to learn at least one mishna in his memory as he left no children. Please do so and may you be blessed with many.